March 30, 2015

A Love That Knows No Limits

When we love someone, we give our time and attention, and share the best things that we have with the person we love. Some may even question the extravagance, time and effort that we accord our loved one.

The Gospel reading speaks of love, a love that knows no limit. Mary showed her love and gratitude to Jesus by using costly ointment to wipe Jesus’ feet. Even if it seemed “wasteful,” she gave the best that she had out of love and gratitude for God’s mercy. Her utmost concern was to please the Lord. On the other hand, Judas was counting the cost and thought of it as wasteful. He also loved Jesus, but he was thinking more of his own benefit instead of giving more to God. It is so easy to “hold back” when we are beset with so many worldly things and concerns.

Jesus showed the greatest love by sacrificing his own life for us to save us from our sins. How do we show our love in return? Have we done something extravagant for him? Let us pray for the grace to love Jesus with all that we have, with our very selves: he gave everything for us until the very last drop of His blood.

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 31, Issue 2

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Holy Week

Isaiah 42:1-7
View Readings

Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14

John 12:1-11
Similar Reflections

NEVER ENOUGH

"The chief priests planned to kill Lazarus too, because many Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in Him on account of Lazarus." —John 12:10-11

Jesus, the Life (Jn 14:6), will not even quench a smoldering wick (Is 42:3). In fact, when the smoldering wick, that is, Lazarus, was extinguished and was buried, Jesus raised him back to life (Jn 11:43ff).

The chief priests, however, were not content with putting Jesus the Life to death; they planned to kill Lazarus too (Jn 12:10ff). When you choose death instead of life, one death is never enough. Once you make a covenant with death (Is 28:15), you are the slave of death. Only Jesus, and those who make a covenant with Him, have victory over death. "Death has no more power over Him" and those who are in Him (see Rm 6:9).

Many of you may have chosen death, particularly through abortifacient contraceptives which caused a chemical abortion that you aren't aware even happened. You may have made a covenant with death, and death is a cruel master. Repent! Come to Jesus. Let Him break the power of death and give you life to the full (Jn 10:10).

In this holiest of weeks, ask Jesus to break any bonds of death in your life. Make a full Confession. Place yourself under the protection of Jesus, the Life (Jn 11:25; 14:6). "I have set before you life and death...Choose life...that you...may live" (Dt 30:19).

Prayer: Father, use me to help overturn this present culture of death and replace it with a civilization of love and life.

Promise: "The Lord is my life's Refuge; of whom should I be afraid?" —Ps 27:1

Praise: Mel, a company vice-president, receives the Eucharist each morning before starting his workday.