Victory of Justice

April 2, 2012

Monday of Holy Week

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. Isaiah 42:6-7

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him. John 12:9-11

Piety

Inspire us to develop a maturity in the Fourth Day. Guide us in our change. Take away and final roadblocks to peace as we prepare to pick up our cross daily and follow you.

Study

Martha still serves those assembled around the Jesus. Mary still is the epitome of piety, blessing the head of the Lord. As the faith they have in Jesus reaches a maturity, there is none of the jealousy about how they embody action in their faith. They have seen it pay off in the miracle which brought their brother Lazarus back from the dead.

Yet there is something more going on here. They are not the only ones who are changing the direction in which they are looking for happiness.

Jesus began his public ministry asking those who would hear "Repent." Change. Leave aside your old ways of life. And we get the feeling as we count down the last few days of Lent, that the seeds of his message have fallen on fertile soil. And THAT is precisely why the plot against him now takes hold. Before this he was seen as an itinerant preacher and the carpenter's son. Now, as he builds a following, he is seen as a threat to the powers-that-be in his community. Even as we sense the "victory of justice," the dark clouds of defeat are looming.

Action

God did not make us to worship Him. The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God created us to help each other. He wants us especially to help the blind, the imprisoned, and all who live in darkness.

May the darkness of the Easter Vigil help inspire us to reach out to those in need in our Lenten fasting, almsgiving and action.

Remember to place your daily gifts in your "rice bowl." For a reminder about the program, look to the CRS website www.crs.org for ideas about how to experience solidarity with the poor -- the kind of solidarity that Mary, Martha and Lazarus developed with Jesus.