Reflection
With today’s readings, let us settle our thoughts and focus on our journey through Holy Week.
In earlier readings, Isaiah allows God to fully engage his spirit, and accepts by saying, “Here I am, send me! Through Isaiah, God foretells of new things to come and states, “Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit.” Hearing that God has put His spirit on him, implies that we should listen to him.
Like Isaiah, Jesus is fully accepting of these new things to come as God and man. After His baptism, we hear God say, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased,” and at the Transfiguration, God adds, “Listen to Him.”
In John’s Gospel today, a banquet is held, we presume for Jesus, and celebrating the raising from the dead of Lazarus by Him. We can imagine a large gathering with the disciples, Lazarus and relatives including Martha and Mary. We hear how Martha serves, and Mary sits by Jesus. She uses an expensive oil to anoint his feet and dry them with her hair. Very up-close and personal. The oil was a genuine aromatic nard perfume. Its value then would correspond to 30 to 45 thousand dollars today. Judas objects to Mary using the oil saying it should be sold and value added to their purse; and used for the poor. Jesus, knowing Judas’s true self and that he stole from their savings, responds by saying, “Leave her alone.”
Right now, we should imitate Mary’s actions and give our highest value to the anointed One. Today, and especially this week, let the thought of aromatic perfume open our senses to HIS presence among us. Listen to Him and sit quietly. May we grow ever closer through our immersion and journey this week.
