Monday of Holy Week
We are within Holy Week, a time to reflect prayerfully on the final journey of Jesus to his Passion. Yesterday’s Gospel, the Passion according to St. Matthew, told us how much Jesus suffered for us. Today’s Gospel, from John, is different.
Yesterday, most of the people Jesus met in his final days were against him. In today’s gospel story, also in the week before he was crucified, he was honored in a most personal and inspired way. One evening, while dining with his friends in Bethany, his hostess, Mary, went to great expense to show her devotion to him.
In spite of the sarcastic words of Judas, Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with expensive perfume and dried them with her hair.
Mary of Bethany, the sister of Lazarus, was inspired to anticipate that servant spirit of Jesus himself. Her extravagant gesture was an inspired act that mirrors how Jesus gives himself to all of us. Despite the cost of the ointment, Jesus defends her generous act as preparing him for his death and burial.
He welcomed the anointing as a loving gesture that mirrors his love for us, the kind of honor we ought to show to each other. Sometimes we are blessed to meet people like Mary who affirm and encourage us when we most need it. Hopefully, we too can be for others what she was for Jesus, a generous friend in an often-harsh world.
Reflection: Do we notice when people are kind to us? Do we thank them?
Reflection by Archbishop Jerome Hanus, OSB
Posted in Articles for Lent, Daily Reflections, Lenten Resources