REFLECTIONS TODAY

Mary’s anointing of Jesus anticipates three crucial events in John’s passion narrative. First, as the response of Jesus to Judas suggests, the anointing anticipates his death and burial. Jesus will be anointed again before he is laid in the tomb (19:38-42).
Second, the anointing of the feet rather than the head of Jesus anticipates the washing of the disciples’ feet (13:1-20), an invitation to service, discipleship, and participation in his suffering and death. Third, it anticipates the commandment which Jesus speaks of at the Last Supper: “I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another. This is how all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (13:34-35). The extravagance of Mary’s gift is indicative of the depth of her love for Jesus. Indeed, she shows us what it means to be a disciple: to serve, to love one another, and to share in Jesus’ death.

First Reading • Is 50:4-7

The Lord God has given me a well-trained tongue, that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them. Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear; and I have not rebelled, have not turned back. I gave my back to those who beat me,/ my cheeks to those who plucked my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. The Lord God is my help, therefore I am not disgraced; I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.

Gospel • Jn 12:1-11

Six 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. *Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail:*[*[email protected]*](mailto:[email protected])*; Website:*[*http://www.stpauls.ph*](http://www.stpauls.ph)*.*