Holy Week Meditations from Bishop White
Monday in Holy Week
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.
The Liturgy of the Word
Isaiah 42:1-9 ; Psalm 36:5-11 ; Hebrews 9:11-15 ; John 12:1-11
John creates something akin to an overture to the Passion in today's Gospel reading. Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and Judas all surround Jesus. The setting is Bethany, in the home of the one Jesus has raised. The stone separating the living and the dead was rolled away, and at Jesus' call, Lazarus came forth. "Unbind him, and let him go." The cloths of death were removed.
The women, symbols of service and love, are now at table with the Lord. Mary uses an expense oil to anoint Jesus. Guests of great importance received such anointing on their upper body. The ritual for anointing a corpse began with the extremities, the hands and feet. The fragrance fills the whole house.
Judas cannot bear what is happening. John wonders if he cannot stand that the purse will be missing money that Judas would have stolen. Perhaps it was such an amazing expression of devotion and act of love that caused his reaction.
Love, faithfulness, new life, foreshadowing of death, devotion and the betrayal. All themes we shall encounter in the days ahead. All themes that can be found in me. I need redemption, healing, and new life. Much in me must die in order for God to create in me a new heart and a new spirit. Unbind me, Lord, and call me forth.Hymn 474: When I Survey the Wondrous Cross  | | King's College Cambridge - When I survey the Wonderous Cross |
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.
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