MONDAY MARCH 25, 2024
MONDAY OF THE HOLY WEEK B
Isaiah 42:1-7
John 12:1-11
CHECKING THE OVERRIDING INTENTIONS IN OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH AND COMMITMENT
Judas Ischariot opposed the charity of the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus with a costly ointment on the grounds that it was a waste and that such costly ointment could have been better sold and the money used to help the poor. But Jesus saw through his intentions that he never cared for the poor but only used this noble reason to project his urge and greed so that eventually when the money gets to him, he would use it for himself.
In this Holy Week, it will be worthwhile to again reflect more deeply on the underlining and hidden reasons or what we hold supreme as the driving force in our Christian faith and practice. Most times, it is what drives our intentions that determines how we respond to, in our faith, our devotion and lifestyle.
Human camouflages so much and pretend to be good or seeking good when in actual fact we are always seeking our gains. No one can discover the secret intentions of another person from the facial appearances. And on the general note, our intentions are sometimes never pure and never what we tend to portray. In most cases, what motivates our intentions may be greed, personal gains, and lure for power, prestige and material gains.
It does happen not only when politician campaign for positions of authority, or when we seek spiritual powers, God’s help and even the very act of attendance at liturgical prayers. But it is even more when we exercise our faith in coming to the church, and joining church societies and sodalities. What is propelling or motivating our intentions?
The prophet Isaiah in the first reading demonstrates for us what must be the overriding intentions for our faith and actions. The suffering son of God is depicted to be doing the bidding of the Father. And in humility without shouting, the expected messiah is seen to establish justice on the earth. And in a most astonishing point Isaiah points to the messiah as one who comes as the covenant to the people, a light to the nations, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon and from darkness.
Our earnest desire and intentions must be to be rescued from the darkness of sin, the dungeon of iniquity and sin and delivered from the frailty of man. And to be delivered into a marvelous light where the goodness of God will flow through us to other persons and to the world too.
For such to be actualized, our intentions must be singleminded, focusing majorly towards sanctify of life,holiness of the human person and charity with justice extended to all.
The simplicity and total submission of Lazarus who was raised to life, the repentant intentions of Mary who anointed the feet of Jesus and serving role of Martha who cared for Jesus must be equally employed in our lives and our service of God and humanity.
Heavenly Father, we beg you, give us your grace to always purify the intentions of our heart in our service and desire for you. May our lives be rid of intentions for personal gain or mundane motivations. Rather, may our services be singleminded, pure and simply to give honour and glory to the Trinity and service to humanity through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Fr Norbert Uchuno
