Life's real name is Choices.

I am who I am today because of the choices I made yesterday. - Eleanor Roosevelt: (884 –1962: She was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, having held the post from March 1933 to April 1945 during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four terms in office)

Gospel Text: (JN 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 him, 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.

At the beginning of this Holy Week, we see that that many people were working against Jesus. His death was not an accident. But for every person whose choices helped put Jesus on the Cross, there was a choice. We remember that on the Cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Every one of us who is a sinner, has the chance to accept this prayer, and know that even on the Cross, Jesus is our Good Shepherd, who wants to offer us His mercy and forgiveness.