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Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." (John 12:1-8)
Jesus was in the home of three siblings who really loved Him. He had, after all, raised Lazarus from the dead at the request of the two sisters who loved their brother. Jesus had also been at the house before, when Martha did all the housework and Mary sat at Jesus' feet, and told Mary that her sister truly understood what was more important. And it is during this visit, the last He would make to this home, that the Spirit prompted Mary to anoint Jesus' feet and to wipe them with her hair; it was her way of saying goodbye to Jesus. But there was a thief in the house with them who asks why the expensive perfume was not sold so that the money could be given to the poor. The writer of the gospel knew now that this thief was also the treasurer of the group and helped himself to the money. Jesus' reply is to say that she was only doing what she had been told to do by God and in this way she was hoping prepare Him for His burial. Jesus then says, "You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
Of all the characters in the house there was one who had tasted death and had been blessed by resurrection. There was one who was a good host and worked hard at making sure all the requirements of treating visitors nice, especially one as important as Jesus, and so did all that needed to be done in her opinion to welcome Him. There was one who looked out only for himself, caring not for the poor; wanting money to steal; and there was one who "got it," who understood Jesus and His mission and loved Him for all He had shared with her, especially a message of forgiveness and love from God. Where would you have been in this story?
I pray we all say that we would be like Mary, who "get it" and seek to do all we can for our Lord; making room in our hearts to welcome Him, cleaning out that which does not belong in there to allow His stay to be a long and pleasant one; and truly realizing who He is and anointing His presence with the goodness of our faith. That's who I want to be in this story.
PRAYER: Loving God, help me to realize what I should be and do for You and for Yours. Make right my spirit so that I will always serve You. This I pray in Jesus' name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord.
Eradio Valverde
