Monday of Holy Week Mary
anoints Jesus
Readings: Isaiah
42:1–9, Hebrews 9:11–15, John 12:1–11
Jesus was staying
with friends in the run-up to the Passover and they’re relaxing at the table.
Lazarus - who Jesus raised from the dead - is the host, and was sitting at the
same table as Jesus, with a couple of others. As usual, Martha is serving and
Mary is listening intently. Guests are few, Mary is single and in a private
home so her head is uncovered - had she been in public, she would have had a
head covering. Nothing shocking about that, until she pulls out a huge pot
filled with exotic Indian perfume and pours it over Jesus’ feet, drying them
with her hair. Mary must have had significant funds because the perfume is in a
jar roughly twelve times the size of a usual bottle of scent - a rough estimate
in current terms is around £14,000 worth of perfume. No wonder Judas Iscariot was
jealous. He completely misses the symbolic anointing of Jesus before his death,
and he sees Mary’s act of devotion as wasteful and ridiculous.
The voice of Lazarus
“It’s the greatest
honour imaginable to have Jesus in my home, sitting at my table. He may be a
dear friend but since he called me in the tomb, woke me from my slumber and
raised me from the dead - how can I ever see him as a ‘normal’ friend? I have
no idea how to express my thanks because there are no words. We talk, share
food and time together but it will never be enough, and I find that
frustrating. But then Mary has a flash of inspiration. Maybe that’s why she’s
been particularly quiet this morning, because the jar she pulls from behind her
- like a stunning magic trick, perfume from thin air - is huge. She breaks the
seal and the oil falls onto Jesus feet, catching the light and the scent is
overwhelming. No one knows what to say. Judas is jealous of the apparent waste
of money; I’m jealous because Mary’s amazing expression of love, thanks, faith
and devotion is stunning. I have no words.”
Sometimes it’s hard
to know what to say, whether it’s ‘thank you’, ‘I love you’, or (especially
difficult) ‘I’m sorry’. How would you like to express your feelings in a way
that will be understood - with, or without, words? To whom would you express
your feelings?
Lord, give us wisdom
before we speak, understanding while we listen, sensitivity towards those we
meet, and the perspective of your kingdom. Amen.
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