John 12:1-11
IX 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 Jesus, 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.
The Word
Today’s Gospel — the anointing of Jesus in the house of Martha and Mary in Bethany — opens with a note: "Six days before Passover." In choosing this reading, the Church wants us to prepare for the solemn feasts of the Paschal Triduum by being connected with the memories of the events of the first Holy Week.
Memories are very important in our lives: they form the basis of our actions and reactions, preferences, views, and biases. Memories are also the cornerstone of the Christian faith. The Eucharist is a memorial. The Holy Week is a memorial.
"Leave her alone… You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me." Jesus’ words make the ear tingle; they shock. Jesus has always been close to the poor. He identifies Himself with them. How is it then that now He seems to make a distinction between Himself and the poor?
The words of Jesus are not against the poor. They are addressed to Judas. Judas wants to stop Mary from "wasting" expensive oil, which can be sold and the money be used to help the poor. But deep inside, Judas wants the money for the common purse so he can help himself to such money. He is a thief.
It is not enough that one does good. We hear people mouthing this simplistic saying: "Even if you do not pray, provided you do good to others, you will go to heaven." No. Jesus says that our doing good should go with the right reason and motivation. God does not only see what the hands do; God reads the heart.
SOURCE: "365 Days with the Lord," ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: publishing@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.
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