It is 6th April 2020. We are in the Holy Week. The readings are from Isaiah 42:1-7; and the Gospel from John 12:1-11. When someone is chosen by God for something, it is for suffering and purification of the community. We have one of the four songs of the Suffering Servant of Yahweh attributed and applied to Jesus. Suffering does not purify oneself alone and it has the antidote to heal the humanity around. The first reading is from the Book of Second Isaiah describing a mysterious person chosen and set apart to act on behalf of God as a witness of light and truth in front of the nations. The vocation to adhere the proposed suffering by God needs an obedient heart to bring about justice and to teach by word and deed. “Here is 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.” (Is.42:1). God consecrates and designates some of us to be a servant, to suffer and to heal humanity. God allows someone to suffer because of the confidence and trust God has placed in a person. Suffering is not a burden but a privilege for the one who loves and serves God. To be heard one need not raise the voice. The inner voice is louder than the noise of the throat. The purpose of suffering is to gather people around the table of the Lord and to bring them to face the justice of God. Tolerance, gentleness, non-judgmental approach, and non-violence are those qualities of a suffering servant of Yahweh, the Son of God, the Messiah needs to be seen in all of us who believe and follow Him. “I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to 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.” (Is.42:7). As the Holy Week unfolds, we experience the inauguration of a New Covenant in the person of Jesus. The mission entrust to the suffering servant of God is entrusted to us during and after the Holy Week. We are not mere spectator of the passion, death and resurrection rather we need to continue the mission to all especially those are illtreated and unjustly condemned by the society and institutions. Suffering for the other is not a choice but a vocation from God that we need to respond with openness and generosity. The Gospel sets the tone for the passion of Christ with His closest friends. Love of Mary shown in her anointing the feet of Jesus remind us the anointing before burial. Loving poor is the act of loving God and vice versa. But burying the dead was held as the greater act of mercy among the Jewish people. Jesus pointed out the hypocrisy of Judas. Are we willing to stand near Jesus during the Passion of Christ? Are we ready to be a witness of love, truth and the healing power of Jesus as Lazarus? Let us spend a quality time to meditate how much willing are we to accept suffering for Christ. May the Lord grant us courage to accompany the sick, the vulnerable, the blind, the prisoner and the poor. God bless you.