Monday of Holy Week

Good morning. We see in today’s Gospel how in some ways the life of Jesus was very ordinary. In today’s reading from John, He is at a dinner party with his closest friends, dining and enjoying the friendship of Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha. Apart from Jesus’ awareness that the time was drawing very near for the completion of things here on earth, the scene depicted in John’s Gospel could be any of us out back sitting around the grill enjoying the company of family and friends. In fact, as I ponder the unfolding of events that began yesterday and will continue throughout this coming Holy Week, it is rather interesting just how very much the various events that transpire reflect our own lives. We begin this week with a moment of celebration and festivity with the arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem. In each of our lives there are many moments of joy and happiness, and just as in the liturgy from yesterday these moments of joy are sometimes quickly taken from us with disappointments and at times tragedy. And too we are reminded in yesterday’s Palm Sunday liturgy how just as the Jews turned against Jesus, we also in our lives, even in the closest of relationships, do not always remain faithful. Later this week we shall witness the Last Supper, and the washing of the Apostles’ feet by Our Lord, a reminder that in love we are called to give of ourselves to one another. We likewise see in the various activities that unfold throughout that Passover night the ways, just like the Apostles, we respond to the events and the people in our lives. Like the Apostles we respond to people and events at times out of fear or selfishness. Like the Apostles we sometimes turn away or run from things we do not understand or wish to face. Sometimes our pride gets in the way of doing the right thing. And like anyone standing in the court yard, we sometimes lack the conviction to stand firm against the voices of others around us. And, come Good Friday, we recall the suffering and death of Our Lord and we see in the actions of those involved the continued reflection of our own selves and finally we are reminded of our own invitation to walk to Calvary. No matter where we might find our own selves in the events of this week, the wonderful thing is we know as people who believe, the story has a great ending. We know through the victory of the cross and through the resurrection there is a better life for those of us who believe. May you and your family have a blessed Holy Week. Make a great day!