"Your deed of hope will never be forgotten" (Judith 13: 19)

In today’s liturgy, the responsorial is from Judith 13: 18bcde, 19, which gives praise to God for the Blessed Virgin Mary, who conceived in her womb the Son of God, who took on human nature to save us from sin. We pray: “Blessed are you, daughter, by the Most High God, above all the women of earth; and blessed be the Lord God, the creator of heaven and earth [who assumed human nature through you].  Your deed of hope will never be forgotten by those who tell of the might of God.”

An angel of the Lord, Luke tells us in today’s Gospel, Luke 1: 26-38, “was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betroth to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.”  The angel greets Mary, saying: “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you….Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his Kingdom there will be no end.” Mary asks how this will come about because she has not had sexual relations with a man. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, [Mary,] and the power of the Most high will overshadow you….[T]he child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.”  The angel adds: “And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing is impossible for God.” Mary’s response: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

As with Mary, you and I are created to fulfill God’s purposes for our lives and to be beacons of hope. Mary’s purpose was to bring into this world Jesus, the Son of God, and care and support Him from birth to His death and spread His kingdom via good works:  works of justice and mercy, works of love and forgiveness. In short, she was to be an instrument in God’s hands, sharing the Good News of our salvation. Mary knew who she was: God’s handmaiden.   Who are you? And what is God’s purpose for your life? Have you asked the Lord or are you simply pursuing a purpose apart from what God may want of you? 

At your death, will people say: “Your deed of hope  (your trust)  will never be forgotten by those who tell of the might of God” (Judith 13:19).

The Conspiracy against Jesus

In today’s Gospel reading, John 12: 1-11,   Mary anoints the head of Jesus with expensive oil.  Just prior to that, Jesus had told His disciples that he will be handed over to the chief priests and scribes to be crucified. In John’s account, John says that “[t]he chief priests and Pharisees had by now given the orders: anyone who knew where he [Jesus] was must inform them so that they could arrest him.” In Simon’s house, when Mary anoints Jesus’ head and the disciples, especially Judas objects, Jesus says:  “Leave her alone. Why are you upsetting her?   ….[S]he has anointed my body beforehand for its burial”(Mark 14: 9).  

Jesus knew that the end was near. His hour had come and He was prepared to go to Jerusalem and enter into His passion for our sakes. Many times, previous, the people had tried to kill him but the hour for his passion, death and resurrection had not yet arrived.  His life was in His Father’s hands and so was ours.  Jesus and the Father were one in their intention to bring about the salvation of the world.  At this dark hour, when the scribes and Pharisees and the leaders of the people were arguing about what to do with Jesus to avoid an uprising that would surely lead to the loss of many lives, Caiaphas prophesied: “It is better for one man to die for the people than for all to die.” 

Involved in the efforts of the chief priests to find a way to trick Jesus and thus arrest Him was Judas, who had gone to the high priest and asked what they would be willing to give him if he handed Jesus over to them. They offered him 30 pieces of silver, the price of the life of a slave. From that moment on, Judas sought a way to turn Jesus over to the authorities.

Jesus, not only knew that the authorities were seeking to arrest Him, He also knew that Judas was involved and would betray Him. Judas, I believe, saw this as an opportunity for Jesus to escape, as He had done so many other times, and this time to become the King of the Jews and take possession of the Kingdom of Israel.  Is it possible that Satan was tempting Judas in the same way as he tempted Jesus in the desert when the Father of Lies  offered Jesus all of the kingdoms of the world if He worshiped Him? Judas, I believe, was caught by the lure of power and riches and worldly kingdoms, as so many are today!  

For which  kingdom are you  and willing to betray our true self? For which kingdom are you and willing to betray others? For which kingdom are you and I willing to betray our Savior? None, I hope!