St. Mary of Bethany was unsparingly generous, bringing Jesus a gift worth nearly a year's wages (see Jn 12:3, 5). The Magi, offering gold, frankincense, and myrrh, were unsparingly generous (Mt 2:11). Judas was the opposite. He did not give money to Jesus; he got money by selling Jesus for thirty pieces of silver (Mt 26:15). Additionally, Judas kept the money he stole from the common purse (Jn 12:6). Jesus had earlier warned: "You cannot give yourself to God and money" (Mt 6:24). Judas chose money as his master and betrayed Jesus as a result of his choice.
Judas correctly knew the value of Mary's perfume. Sadly, in his worldly wisdom, Judas did not know the value of Jesus, nor the value of unsparing generosity. This cannot be calculated from an earthly viewpoint; it requires a spiritual mindset (1 Cor 2:14-15).
Sin by sin, our minds are blinded to God's love (2 Cor 4:4). Our attraction to money and the things of this world (mammon) has serious consequences (see 1 Tm 6:9-10). Today, repent of all love for the world, which makes us enemies of the cross of Jesus (Phil 3:18-19).
Jesus was unsparingly generous in dying for us, in giving His blood for us. He did not calculate the cost for our salvation. In return, be unsparingly generous to Jesus today. Generously give Him your entire life.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, You gave Your life for me. I give my life for You. |
| PROMISE: | "I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living." –Ps 27:13 |
| PRAISE: | At a healing service, the Lord healed Rachel of the infirmity which confined her to a wheelchair. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College