Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Monday in the Holy Week, March 30th, 2026

Delivered by Christine Gunawan from the Parish of Saint Joseph Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Pontianak, Indonesia. Isaiah 42: 1-7; Rs psalm 27: 1.2.3.13-14; John 12: 1-11.ENDLESS LOVE Our meditation today is entitled: Endless Love. Whatdoes an endless love mean? When Jesus was dining with his close friends, awoman named Mary, according to theGospel of John did something that only love can do. She took the most valuabletreasure she had and used it only for the Lord Jesus Christ. A sincere and genuine love does not use calculations.Mary's love to Jesus is an endless love. What she did to Jesus was based on herlove and gratitude to Him who bestowed an endless love too on her and herfamily. God of mercy empowered her, strengthened her faith and presented her asa model of faith to others. Mary did an act of love that should not be made inpublic by a Jewish woman. She let her long hair loose in front of Jesus andseen by many present. She washed Jesus's feet with her tears. According to thecustomary rules, a woman on her wedding day must tie and cover her hair. Sowhat Mary did at that moment was prohibited by law. Meanwhile, a married womanwho let hair loose in public to be seen was a very bad sign and considered asinner. Mary's action certainly annoyed everyone around herexcept the Lord Jesus. But she did not care about the reactions of those peoplepresent. She just wanted to express her pure love for the Lord. In humility shebent down to anoint Jesus' feet and wiped them with her long hair. What Mary'sdid to Jesus indeed gives us a message, namely, to remind us on how many timeshave we shown our greatest form of gratitude and love to God! The perfume oil that she used to anoint Jesus, madethe entire house filled with fragrance (Jn 12.3). Those present and the houseitself were all made fragrant and pleased both physically and spiritually. Onlyan endless love can do this act. This is enough to illustrate that any womanand man can do some great acts love to the Lord Jesus Christ like what Maryfrom Bethany did. It is not impossible for any of us to do such love in anysituation and context. Jesus Christ always gives us an example to share anendless love. In this holy week we will find ourselves in moments of ponderingand meditating His acts of love. Today we are given the image of Jesus theservant of God, who was willing to suffer like a bruised reed or a fadedsmoldering wick, but He would not be broken or faded away. He will still upholdthe law of justice and truth on earth. His love lasts forever on this earth.Jesus will not disappear or finish just by undergoing suffering and dying. Heactually, goes through all this and continues to live in all of us Hisfollowers. Let'spray. In the name of the Father ... O Lord Jesus Christ, teach and strengthenus to always be able to endure the difficulties and sufferings that confrontus, even when we have to sacrifice our lives. Our Father who art in heaven...In the name of the Father ...