A sower went out to sow....

Monday in the Holy Week

Bethany was an oase for Jesus, a place where He found rest among friends. But soon the peaceful scene turns ugly. The outpouring love is met with jealousy, hypocrisy, and bitterness. Judas represents the threat that hangs over Jesus' head. His act of betrayal did not come suddenly. He had already nourished ill feelings in his heart toward Jesus for some time. He had not listen well when Jesus one day spoke about evil thoughts in the human heart which, if left uncontrolled, will issue an evil acts.

Jealousy, hypocrisy, bitterness. At the beginning of the Holy Week it would be good for us to check whether one or the other of these hidden evils might be lurking in our hearts.

Jealousy - When I look around and see other people having more than I have; when they can afford what I cannot; when I see that bad people live a good life while I have struggle; when somebody else gets a better position or promotion…. The list is endless which makes us aware that jealousy is not far from our life.

Hypocrisy - Jesus said to Judas, "Leave her alone… You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." Jesus' words are not against the poor. They are addressed to Judas. Judas wanted to stop Mary from anointing Jesus' feet with the expensive oil. He suggested that the perfume could be sold, and the money from the sale could be used to help the poor. What a good and noble idea! Inside himself, however, Judas had another motivation: he wanted the money for the common purse because he could help himself with such money. When we are not sincere with our motivations and intentions, we are hypocrites. It is not enough that one does good. I often hear people mouthing this simplistic saying: "Even if you do not pray, provided you do good to others, you will go to heaven." No. Jesus says that our doing good should go with the right reason and motivation. God does not only see what the hands do; God reads the heart. What is in your heart when we do good for others? Personal gains?

Bitterness - Frustrations, disappointments, hurts, betrayals, cause so much bitterness. They rob us of joy and peace; they kill our love for others. They make us retreat from others and look at the world in anger. Bitterness - another attitude of Judas that can easily threaten our faith life.

Are there any of these attitudes in our hearts? During this Holy Week, we try to detect and eradicate those attitudes which caused Judas to hurt Mary and betray Jesus. Once detected, we can work on it and stop it from developing and causing problems, hurts and suffering for us and others.