Daily Gospel Reflection for April 14, 2025: Monday of Holy Week

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: John 12:1-11

The Gospel of John names the woman who anoints the feet of Jesus as Lazarus' sister, Mary. Mary again sits at Jesus' feet, where she is the first time we encountered her and Martha. This time, Mary anoints His feet with costly perfumed oil and dries them with her hair. While this is happening, we learn Martha is present, and she is serving. Wait, what? Wasn't she livid last time Mary sat at Jesus' feet while Martha did all the work? Yet, we hear no complaints. There's no more entreating the Lord to make Mary get off the floor and do something helpful.

This vignette between the sisters and Jesus occurs after their brother Lazarus is called from the tomb—already dead for four days! We witness Martha's first conversion of heart when she comes out to greet Jesus after her brother has died. When she professes to know and believe Jesus is the Messiah and that her brother will indeed rise again, but on the last day, little did she know what Jesus had planned. The beauty of this exchange is that she believes and accepts before the miracle; she has taken Jesus' lesson to choose the better part to heart, which is evident in her behavior going forth from that first exchange.

Martha understood her role in serving others, while her sister served the Lord by anointing His feet. No longer blinded by her inward focus, Martha accepts the earlier instruction, not as chastisement but in the caring and lovely manner Jesus intended—to grow her in virtue and holiness. Healed from her particular blindness and no longer deaf to Jesus' teaching, she now serves with a joyful heart. Following Jesus' example, as best demonstrated when He washed the Apostles' feet, He came to serve and not to be served.

Ponder:

How does Martha’s transformation demonstrate the power of being open to following Jesus’ teachings as well as the importance of choosing the better part?

Pray:

Lord, I long to sit at your feet, using that time with You to prepare my heart and mind, meditating on Your ways, so I rise and go forth to love and serve in Your name and as You did.

CM DGR daily sq