“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” (Jn 12:3). This is indeed some gift that Mary shares with Jesus, though Judas’ critical response showed that he missed the point of her offering, which went well beyond the material cost of the perfume. Mary even exceeded the gesture of hospitality by going beyond washing Jesus’ feet and anointing them as well. This act of caring could have been a bestowal of appreciation and gratefulness toward Jesus who brought Lazarus, her brother, back to life, but it was even more than that.
In Jesus’ correction of Judas, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial” (Jn 12:7), we may intuit the best source for interpreting Mary’s act. Mary comprehended better than any of the Apostles that Jesus’ death was imminent. Mary’s washing the feet of Jesus, anointing them, and drying them with her hair was a gift of love, of giving herself in service to the Son of God. This exchange mirrors the communion between God the Father, God the Son, and the love shared between them, God the Holy Spirit. Mary follows the will of the Father and plays her part in salvation history.
Martha is also present and seemed to have learned from their last encounter. She is again serving the meal, but this time she is not complaining nor anxious and worried about many things. Judas was the one corrected this time when Jesus told him to, “Leave her alone.” Mary has shown her spiritual growth as well. She is no longer sitting at Jesus’ feet but anointing them for his imminent death. Her generosity in pouring out such a large amount of perfumed oil was evident because the fragrance filled the entire house. Mary’s generosity foreshadowed the generosity of Jesus not just in his eventual washing of the feet of his apostles but ultimately, his total self-gift pouring out all of himself and holding nothing back on the cross.
We do not know how Mary came to possess this precious oil, but what we do know is much more important. She did not grasp or cling to the oil, she did not count the cost and just pour out a little bit. Mary was moved with compassion and generosity. The same compassion and generosity she experienced from Jesus, she was now sharing with him. May we be open to receive the compassion and generosity of Jesus and share without hesitation as he guides us.
Is there something or some way that God is calling us to pour out, not just for the sake of doing so, but in service to Jesus? The path to holiness and sanctity becomes smoother and the way clearer when can identify and let go of that which we are attached and clinging to. May we follow the lead of St. Mother Teresa who said that she sought to be just a pencil in God’s hand. The freedom of the pencil is that it moves and writes as the author does. Would that we become so free in the hand of our loving God and Father.
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Painting: May we follow Mary’s lead to love as Jesus teaches us to.
Spiritual Stepping Stones 