Feeling Distracted?

Gospel Reflection for March 25, 2024

“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 aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one [of] his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, ‘Why was this oil 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 Jesus, 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.” (John 12:1-11 NABRE)

Sometimes life pulls us in so many different directions. We have so many responsibilities to keep up with, whether it be with our work, school, home, health, spouse, children, family, friends, and the list could go on and on. Each and every day is filled with a variety of things to accomplish, and often times it can be fairly overwhelming.

But in today’s Gospel we learn that this is always going to be the case in our lives. There will most likely always be a lot going on, whether it be in our own lives or in the world in general. And what does Jesus teach us about this?

He tells us that in our lives:

How often do we get caught up in our responsibilities, problems, and distractions, and fail to spend time with the Lord and to focus on our relationship with Him? We will always have things to do and problems to solve and people to serve and care for. But in the midst of these things, do we forget about our Lord? Do we not always truly keep Him with us because we allow ourselves to become distracted from Him?

May we make sure to set time aside in the course of our busy daily lives to “anoint” Jesus, or to honor and glorify Him as Mary did. May we make the Lord our priority, keep Him first, and always truly have Him with us in our hearts!!