Jesus and the Poor!

Monday, March 30, 2026

Is 42: 1-7; Jn 12: 1-11

Today’s Gospel invites us to make Jesus the center of our lives so that we may love people in the periphery in a selfless and unconditional manner. 

The text presents an evocative moment at Bethany where Mary anoints the feet of the Lord with a costly perfume and wipes them with her hair. While it is a powerful gesture of Mary’s love and devotion towards the Lord, it does not go unchallenged. Judas objects, saying, ‘Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?’

While Judas’ apparent concern turns our attention to the poor and the welfare initiatives towards improving their plight, Jesus’ words point otherwise. Jesus says, ‘You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’ When we evaluate both statements, it looks as if Judas is more ‘other-centered’ while Jesus is more ‘self-serving.’

This is where the text needs some unpacking. John rightly notes that Judas had a deeper motive in making the statement. His concern was not the poor. It was only a cover-up for his greed for money. John lets us understand through Judas’ statement that even the noble act of caring for the poor can be used to conceal disordered love. 

Now how should the issue be resolved? Should we divert our attention from Jesus and focus instead on charitable works? But our own experience and scientific data seem to suggest otherwise. Studies reveal that ‘practicing Christians’ give five times more than the average citizen of any nationality. Contrarily, ‘less God, less giving’ is true as well. 

In my own way, I have come to understand that as long as Jesus remains the center of our lives, our love for the poor will not only be unwavering but also profound. It is our love for Jesus that helps us recognize the plight of the marginalized and empowers us to work towards their betterment. 

Our devotion to someone who taught us that love can be selfless and unconditional will certainly enable us with the same capacity towards others. In other words, so long as Jesus remains the center of our lives, the poor will not be left to suffer in the periphery.

Let us pray that our love for Jesus may ever be deepened so that our concern for others will ever be widened. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar