Gospel Reading: John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, the man he had raised from death.

2 They prepared a dinner for him there, which Martha helped serve; Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at the table with Jesus.

3 Then Mary took a whole pint of a very expensive perfume made of pure nard, poured it on Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The sweet smell of the perfume filled the whole house.

4 One of Jesus' disciples, Judas Iscariot—the one who was going to betray him—said,

5 “Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins and the money given to the poor?”

6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would help himself from it.

7 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone! Let her keep what she has for the day of my burial.

8 You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me.”

9 A large number of people heard that Jesus was in Bethany, so they went there, not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from death.

10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus too,

11 because on his account many Jews were rejecting them and believing in Jesus.

Reflection:

          “Why wasn't this perfume sold for three hundred silver coins” said by Judas Iscariot. Judas thinks about what he will receive if the perfume was sold. For him, a thing is useless if he cannot benefit from it. That kind of thinking is what we must not imitate. It is like planting a tree because you want its fruit, not for the help it can give to our earth’s atmosphere. God created all of the things as a gift to mankind. We humans should be thankful from it and serve God in return. Serving comes from the heart. Willing to serve without any compensation. Service means sacrifice. But what is sacrifice if you are benefitting from it? It is not bad if we receive something as a token of gratitude. But always remember, “We serve not to receive, but to give thanks for all the gifts that God gives to us.”