The first reading for Holy Week weekday Mass is the first oracle of the Servant of the Lord. The prophet Isaiah tells us that that one who would "open the eyes of the blind, bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness" – would be the "servant who [God] upholds, his chosen one with whom he is pleased, upon whom he put his Spirit." He will bring forth justice to the nations, not crying out, not shouting, but making his voice heard in the street. He will be o so gentle and loving, a bruised reed he shall not even break, and if a wick is smoldering he will not be the cause of it going out – until he establishes justice on the earth!
The establishment of justice was and is Jesus' primary activity in this world: but not the kind of justice we might think! His justice is a justice of reconciliation. His justice was to take those who were his permanent and unable-to-do-anything-about-it-themselves enemies and make them his friends – by the self-sacrifice of his own life. Once we were thus justified and reestablished as God's friends – then, with his help and the power of the gift of the Spirit – we could maintain that relationship in a new kind of justice – one that seeks to preserve the way and the truth and of which Jesus himself is the life.
In the gospel passage, we see the death of Jesus anticipated shortly before it happens. Mary is concerned about honoring and loving Jesus; Judas is concerned about his own wallet. Mary's love will be rewarded when she sees Jesus' risen from the dead; Judas will not see that day!
Hail to you, our King, Lord Jesus; you alone are compassionate with our faults – and you alone can truly do something about them!
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