What Did Jesus Do on Holy Monday?

Holy Monday is the second day of Holy Week and forms part of the immediate preparation for the Paschal Triduum, when the Church commemorates the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Within Christian tradition, this day is also known as “Monday of Authority”, because in the events narrated in the Gospels, Jesus reveals where His true authority comes from: not from force or human power, but from the merciful love of God.

The Church proposes that the faithful meditate, during the days from Palm Sunday until Holy Wednesday, on different aspects of Christ’s person and mission. Thus, each day has a particular spiritual emphasis:

• Holy Monday, called Monday of Authority;

• Holy Tuesday, known as Tuesday of Controversy;

• and Holy Wednesday, called Wednesday of Betrayal.

The Gospel that the liturgy proposes for this day is taken from the Gospel of John (Jn 12:1-11) and narrates the anointing of Jesus in Bethany. In the house of Lazarus of Bethany, his sister Mary of Bethany anoints the Lord’s feet with very costly perfume, while Judas Iscariot criticizes the gesture with an apparent concern for the poor.

Jesus’ response reveals the profound meaning of the scene: the love poured out on Him anticipates His burial and shows that His authority is born of love, self-giving, and mercy.

Holy Monday Biblical Readings

1. First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-7

Thus says the Lord:
“Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my chosen, in whom my soul delights.
I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street.
A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.
He will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged,
till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.”
Thus says the Lord God, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth with its
vegetation,
who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:
“I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you;
I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the
prison those who sit in darkness.”

2. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27, 1. 2. 3. 13-14

R/. The Lord is my light and my salvation.
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my
life; of whom shall I be afraid? R/.
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh, my enemies and
adversaries, they stumble and fall. R/.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, I will be
confident. R/.
I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be
strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! R/.
Verse before the Gospel
Hail, our King,
only you have had compassion on our errors.

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3. Gospel: St. John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom he had raised from the dead. There they made him a supper; Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, he who was about to betray him, said:
“Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; and having the moneybag, he used to pilfer what was put into it.
Jesus said:
“Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
When the large crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus also to death, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Holy Monday: Reflection by Saint Francis de Sales

Saint Mary Magdalene was always the Lord’s perfumer, whom He chose and called to Himself to perform this office. On the day of her conversion, she carried the precious ointment with which she embalmed Jesus. At the supper following Lazarus’ resurrection, she carried her flask of perfumes and also brought it to Jesus’ tomb. That is to say, she always performed the office of perfumer.

There is also another admirable thing about her: that she is always at Jesus’ feet: when she converted, at the banquet in Lazarus’ house, at the foot of the Cross, and at the Resurrection… How blessed you would be, dear daughters, if throughout your lives, for nothing would you cease to be at the Savior’s feet, living in humility and submission; imitating and following this queen of perfumers and even more so the Queen of all queens, the Virgin, our dear Lady, to whom Saint Mary Magdalene was so devoted that she never abandoned her.

Also, our Lady loved this saint very much, more than all the others who followed her. She accompanied the Virgin at the death of her Son, when He was buried, on the way back, and was always with her until she departed for the Holy Grotto, near Marseille, to continue her penance. There she lived a life more divine than human, without ceasing to be with her heart at the Savior’s feet.

How much we need, following the example of this great saint, to always make ourselves small and lowly, at the feet of our Lord!

But we must also offer perfume; we must bring to our Master a loving heart so that He may penetrate it and detach it from itself, just as precious ointment and balm, when they fall on cotton, mix and unite in such a way, more and more, little by little, that one no longer knows if the cotton is perfumed or if it is perfume; nor if the perfume is cotton or the cotton perfume. How happy is such a soul! In the tranquility of her heart, she lovingly preserves the sacred feeling of God’s presence.

(Sermon. X, 81, 87. Treatise on the Love of God, VII, 1. V, 10)

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What are the lessons of Holy Monday?

The scene in Bethany offers several teachings for Christian life and meditation during Holy Week.

1. True authority is born of love:

Holy Monday reminds us that Jesus Christ’s authority is not based on force or domination, but on the love given for others.

Christ has authority because He loves, forgives, and saves, not because He imposes His power. That is why His reign will be fully manifested on the cross.

For meditation:
Does my way of exercising authority—in family, work, or community—stem from love or from a desire to dominate?

2. Authentic love is generous and without calculation:

Mary of Bethany’s gesture seems exaggerated: pouring very expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet. However, the Gospel shows that true love does not calculate or measure.

Mary’s self-giving symbolizes the love that recognizes Christ as the center of everything.

For meditation:
Am I capable of giving God the best of my time, my heart, and my life?

3. The danger of spiritual hypocrisy:

Judas Iscariot’s reaction seems reasonable: sell the perfume and help the poor. But the Gospel reveals that his argument concealed selfish interests, because he was attached to money.

This shows that even seemingly good words can hide misguided motivations.

For meditation:
Do my actions stem from true charity or from a desire to look good to others?

4. Recognizing Christ as the center of everything:

Jesus’ response—“You do not always have me”—does not despise the poor, but reminds us that everything gains meaning when God occupies the first place.

When Christ is the center, love for God and love for neighbor unite.

For meditation:
Does Christ truly occupy the first place in my decisions and priorities?

Do you want to live Holy Week with devotion? Here are some articles that may help you do so:

• Holy Week Celebrations Guide: Discover what Holy Week is, what is celebrated each day, and how to live the Paschal Triduum according to the Catholic Church. Clear and complete guide.
  
• The 3 Pillars of Palm Sunday: What is the Palm Sunday liturgy like? Explore its 3 pillars: the blessing of palms, the procession, and the Passion narrative.