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Irapuato
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06 April 2020 Catholic Mass Daily Bible Reading. USCCB. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 12,1-11. Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had …More
06 April 2020 Catholic Mass Daily Bible Reading.

USCCB. Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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 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.

Saint Gertrude of Helfta (1256-1301)
Benedictine nun
The Herald of Divine Love, Book IV, SC 255


Offering hospitality to the Lord
Recalling the condescension of our Lord who, it is said, went to Bethany to the house of Mary and Martha at the close of that day (cf. Mk 11:11), Gertrude was enflamed with a longing to show hospitality to the Lord.
So she went up to an image of the Crucified and, reverently kissing the wound in his most holy side, she made the desire of the most loving Heart of the Son of God to penetrate her completely and entreated it, thanks to the strength of all the prayers that might ever rise from this infinitely gentle Heart, to be pleased to descend into the insignificant and very unworthy inn of her heart. In his kindness, the Lord, who is always close to those who call on him (cf. Ps 144(145):18), made her feel his longed for presence and said to her with sweet tenderness: "See, I am here! What is it you going to offer me?" And she in return: "Welcome to the one who is my only health and all my good; what shall I say my only one?" And she added: "Alas, Lord, in my unworthiness I have not prepared anything suited to your divine magnificence, but I offer my whole being to your goodness. Full of desires, I beg that you yourself be pleased to prepare within me whatever may be most pleasing to your divine goodness." The Lord said to her: "If you allow me to have this liberty within you, give me the key that will allow me to take away and return without difficulty all that may please me, as much for my wellbeing as for my delight." At which she added: "And what is that key?" The Lord's answer was: "Your own will."
These words made her understand that if someone wishes to receive the Lord as a guest they must hand over the key of their own will to him, surrendering completely to his perfect good pleasure and placing absolute confidence in his sweet goodness to work for their salvation in everything. Then the Lord will enter into that heart and that soul to fulfil everything that his divine pleasure may demand.
Irapuato
Book of Isaiah 42,1-7.
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, Upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
Until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his …More
Book of Isaiah 42,1-7.
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, Upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street.
A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
Until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching.
Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spreads out the earth with its crops, Who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk on it:
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations,
To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

Psalms 27(26),1.2.3.13-14.
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom should I fear?
The LORD is my life's refuge;
of whom should I be afraid?

When evildoers come at me
to devour my flesh,
My foes and my enemies
themselves stumble and fall.

Though an army encamp against me,
my heart will not fear;
Though war be waged upon me,
even then will I trust.

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD
in the land of the living.
Wait for the LORD with courage;
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD.