Assist us mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that we may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11(From The Lectionary Page)

John often tells stories that feature priests or scribes or others sitting around the edges, commenting on, taking issue with, or condemning what Jesus teaches or does. Thus, at several places in his Gospel, John weaves glimpses of the Kingdom of God with the reactions of those who oppose the in-breaking of that same Kingdom. And the sad irony is that most often, the religious leaders, those who should have been the first to recognize what was happening, are those who cannot see the Messiah in their midst.

When Lazarus was raised from the dead, they could not celebrate the new life Jesus brought; they could not enter into resurrection joy and thanksgiving. Instead, they chose to respond to new life with death, conspiring to have Jesus put to death from that point on. Now, as Mary anoints the feet of Jesus, this extravagant gesture of love and worship causes the chief priests to again respond with death, and it is decided that Lazarus, too, must die. The Life Giver and the Recipient must both die, eradicating all signs of new life.

In the Passion, God's love is poured out for all, even those who betrayed and crucified the Lord. Thus, it takes courage for us to submit to this new life. It takes courage to love extravagantly. It takes courage to die to self, that we might be raised a new creation. As we walk the Way of the Cross in this Great Week, let us focus both on the new life that is offered if we die to self, and on the life-giving response we are called to share with the world, as baptized people and together as the Body of Christ.

Let us pray.

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.