First Reading

Reading from the book of Isaiah

Isaiah 42:1-7

Behold my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I take delight.
I have put my spirit upon him;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry out, nor shout,
nor make his voice heard in the street;
he will not break the bruised reed,
nor quench the smoldering wick.
He shall promote justice faithfully;
he shall not waver or be crushed
until he has established justice on the earth,
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint John

John 12:1-11

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; thus the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

Then Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.

So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.