last-minute spending spree
"Me you will not always have." —John 12:8
Mary of Bethany lavished thousands of dollars of perfume on Jesus (Jn 12:3). She was unknowingly preparing Jesus for burial.
Jesus lost an undetermined amount of money letting Judas continue as treasurer for Himself and His apostles. Jesus knew that Judas was His betrayer (Mt 26:21) and presumably knew that he was stealing from the common purse (Jn 12:6). Jesus may have let Judas continue to steal from Him so as to give Judas the maximum opportunities for repentance and many chances to avoid betraying Jesus and committing suicide (Mt 27:5).
Many people, even young people, are soon to die and be buried. Some are soon to die and be damned. We must spare no cost to worship Jesus by offering Him the gift of newly converted people on fire with love for Him (see Rm 15:16).
For many people, the time to receive Jesus' salvation is running out. For us, time is running out to share Jesus with them. May we spend ourselves so that many people go over to Jesus and believe in Him because of us (see Jn 12:11). Happy Holy Week!
Prayer: Father, I will become the slave of all so as to win over as many as possible (1 Cor 9:19).
Promise: "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." —Is 42:6-7
Praise: Seven-year-old Dorothy prays daily for the pregnant mothers she knows to have healthy children.
Reference: (For related teaching, order our leaflet, Evangelization and Worship.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, July 26, 1997
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 29, 1997