Holy Wednesday*

*(Sung on Tuesday night)

Themes: The faithful woman who anointed the head of Jesus with costly, fragrant oil; the selfishness and greed of Judas; Jesus as a suffering servant.
Gospel Reading: John 12:17-50
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ, On this day, we remember the woman who used very expensive oil to anoint the head of Jesus (Mt. 26:6-13).  Christ says that she did this “For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.”  This was done shortly before Jesus’ passion, or just before He was to suffer for all of mankind.  Christ even says, “Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.”  Of course, these words are true today.  Throughout the world, her gift to Christ has been made known.  In fact, on Tuesday night, we hear the Hymn of Kassiani, which describes this selfless act of love towards our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Even the disciples thought the money she used on the oil would be better used if given to the poor.  But Jesus says she did a great thing because we will always have a chance to help the poor around us, but we may not always get the chance of helping Christ Himself.

Also, we remember the terrible selfishness of Judas, who is plotting to betray Christ for 30 pieces of silver.  On the one hand, we have the faith and reverence of the woman towards Christ, who spends a great deal of money on oil to anoint Jesus.  On the other hand, we have Judas who was willing to turn over the Savior to be arrested and ultimately killed.

Those are the two main themes in the service.  However, I would like to focus on a line from the Gospel:

…because Isaiah said again: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.”

First, we have to know what is going on here.  Jesus is quoting the prophet Isaiah.  From Whom does Isaiah receive the prophecy?  From Jesus!  In this passage, Jesus is quoting Himself!  Jesus gave the words for Isaiah to speak.  How do we know this?  Look at the line, “…so that “I” should heal them.”  The “I” is Jesus because that is exactly what He does in His earthly ministry and what He offers through His death on the Cross.

And this brings us to the point.  Since the fall of Adam and Eve, sin has been the cause of all the evil and everything bad in the world.  It is a sickness that infected the world – the first true pandemic.  Jesus came to restore all mankind to proper spiritual health through His passion, death, and resurrection.

First and foremost, Jesus came to heal us from the effects of sin (death).  The healing He brings is the exact opposite: righteousness (eternal life).  The first words Jesus Himself uses in His ministry are: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”  He sits amongst the tax collectors, harlots, and other sinners.  Upon healing people physically, Jesus grants them forgiveness of sins.  And even after they are healed, He tells them, “…go, and sin no more,” offering them preventive spiritual medicine.

The brokenness of mankind is still about us, but through Jesus Christ, we have the opportunity to be restored and made whole, again. 

The Bridegroom services of Holy Monday, Holy Tuesday and Holy Wednesday offer us the opportunity to pay attention and be alert to the wholeness, redemption, and eternal life that Jesus offers through His own death, for our spiritual well-being in everlasting life.  Amen.
With Love in Christ,
+Fr. Nick