Gospel 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.

Reflection

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.

Surely Martha had the heart of a servant (Luke 10:38) and left no detail undone in preparing and serving a dinner out of love for Jesus.
Mary had the gift of listening (Luke 10:39) and was attentive to His wisdom. Having seen Jesus call her brother from the tomb, only her most valuable possession would serve to honor Him. With joy Mary poured the expensive ointment on Jesus’ feet. Love calls us to give the best of what we possess.

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.

A selfish and envious heart resents the generosity of others. Witnessing the selflessness of Martha and Mary, Judas’ heart was consumed with anger and resentment.

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.”

No truer words were ever spoken. Two thousand years have passed since Jesus was resurrected and there are more poor in the world than ever before. Half of the world’s population, 3.3 billion people, live on less than $5.50 a day. The average price of a medium coffee and breakfast sandwich is $6.09.

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.

Out of fear of losing their power and control over the people, the Chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead.
Through the example of His life Jesus taught that leadership is born from love of service to others, not from exercising power over people.

“The key that opens the gate of Heaven is the love we give away.” Unknown