Without counting the cost

Monday, 06 April 2009 03:25 PM Neddie B. Simpas

Today's gospel focuses on three characters: Jesus, Mary Magdalene, and Judas. Judas disdains Mary's prodigality in anointing the feet of Jesus with costly perfume. Calculating the value of the perfume to be three hundred silver coins, Judas claims that it should have benefited the poor. While his practical bent could have been justified in cautioning what appears to be an imprudent excess, the gospel reveals that actually he couldn't care less for the poor since he is in fact a thief who has been helping himself with funds from the common purse. In defending the woman, Christ teaches us compassion for sinners. Judas misses the point because his heart is not in the right place and his love for money blinds him to Mary's sublime gesture of love.

In the same vein, "Father, forgive them for they do no know what they are doing" are the first words that Christ utters on the cross. Those responsible for his crucifixion are neither ignorant men nor are they criminals. They are teachers of the law, spiritual leaders or political learders who are either threatened by the growing popularity of Christ among the people, blinded by their rigidity and sense of righteousness, or afraid of offending the crowd. And yet Christ intercedes for this group who are driven by their love for power and popularity.

Those of us who belong to religious organizations or communities find ourselves at times with varying concerns and opinions, conflicts of interest that could be divisive or harmful to the group. It would be good to examine ourselves if we are still united in working for Christ or pushing for our selfish interests. May we learn from the magnanimity of Christ, forgiving those who have offended or hurt us and asking forgiveness in turn if we have caused pain to others. The Lord whom we have chosen to serve, so says the psalmist, reads the human heart and knows every fiber of our being.

Photo "Jesus on the Cross " by fa73_free on flickr; licensed under Creative Commons License BY-ND-2.0.

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