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?” John 12:4–5
Jesus was with His disciples at the home of Lazarus, Martha and
Mary. He regularly spent time at their home and was close to them.
This meal took place just before Jesus entered into Jerusalem for
the first Palm Sunday and Holy Week. It was six days before Jesus
would die on the cross.
Recall that Lazarus had recently been raised from the dead by Jesus
and also that Mary, Lazarus’ sister, was deeply devoted to Jesus
and is recorded as the one who sat at His feet, while her sister
Martha served. During this visit, Mary offered another act of
devotion to Jesus when she anointed Him with “a liter of costly
perfumed oil.” She offered Him an act of love and devotion. The
Scripture passage above records Judas’ response as he also was at
the meal. Jesus rebukes Judas and defends the act of devotion given
by Mary, and the meal continues on.
One clear lesson this teaches us is that nothing is too good for
our Lord. It’s true that we must do our part to help care for the
poor, but Jesus’ response to Judas is quite interesting. He says,
“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.”
Jesus was not downplaying the importance of caring for the poor; He
was emphasizing the importance of offering acts of love and
devotion to Him.
As we enter into this the holiest week of the year, we are given
this image of Mary lavishing upon Jesus this liter of costly
perfumed oil as a way of inviting us to do the same. Though we
serve Christ in others who are in need, we must also seek to
regularly offer Him devotion and love directly, even in ways that
others may think is excessive. Honoring Him, expressing our love,
spending time with various devotions, praying for extended periods
of time, and even offering Him our financial resources are all ways
in which we give Jesus the glory that is due Him.
Reflect, today, upon ways in which you can imitate this act of
loving devotion offered by Mary to Jesus. In what ways can you pour
forth in an abundant way your time, money, talents, and energy upon
our Lord? How can you best express your devotion to Him this Holy
Week? Seek out ways to do this directly for the one and simple
reason that you love our Lord and want to express that love this
week.
My glorious Jesus, You are worthy of all praise and honor. You
are worthy of our deepest devotion and love. As I enter into this
Holy Week, I pray that it will be a time in which I may express my
deepest love for You. Help me to pour forth that love in abundance
this week so as to show You the glory and praise You deserve.
Jesus, I trust in You.
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Featured image above: The Ointment of the Magdalene, By James
Tissot, via Wikimedia Commons
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