Monday of Holy Week

March 26, 2018

Readings:

First Reading – Isaiah 42: 1-7

Psalm 27

Second Reading –

Gospel reading according to John (12: 1-11)

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Homily:  The Anointing at Bethany

Since it was not yet time for Jesus to die although he was not free to roam around in the city of Jerusalem, he skipped and he took the opportunity to visit the family of Lazarus in Bethany.   It was six days before Passover, as a commemoration of their liberation by God from slavery in Egypt and their freedom as a nation under the leadership of Moses, when Jesus visited the house of Lazarus, Martha and Mary.  “Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead” (John 12: 1).  As good family friend of Jesus and as good hosts, naturally they prepared food for their special visitor and friend.  As usual, Martha busied herself in the kitchen cooking and setting the table, while Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead, was in the group of Jesus discussing and telling his experience of death and dying and his coming back to life, a premonition also of death and rising (resurrection) of Jesus himself.  “They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him” (John 12: 2). 

They were eating and discussing the raising of Lazarus from the dead when suddenly out of nowhere, Mary, sister of Lazarus and Martha, appeared and brought a bottle of expensive perfume oil. “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” (John 12: 3).  What Mary did, she poured out all the costly perfume oil made of nard to the feet of Jesus and wiped them with her hair.  She did not retain any amount of the perfume oil left in the bottle.  Also, it is taboo to the Jews that a woman exposed her hair to men except if she is a prostitute.  But with Mary, she did expose her hair to Jesus as a sign of her love and respect to his Master and Lord.  Maybe Mary did not understand what she did except that Jesus was important friend and guest, and who raised his brother Lazarus from the dead.  She would like to give Jesus many thanks for what he did to her family; but, to Jesus it has a meaning.  Jesus understood what Mary did, from pouring of perfume oil to his feet to wiping them with her hair.

Suddenly, “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 give to the poor?’  He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held money bag and used to steal the contribution” (John 12: 4-6).  Judas knew the value of the perfume oil made of nard, and its equivalent amounting to three hundred days wage.  It was very expensive, and lots of money if it is sold to those who can afford it, especially the rich people.  Maybe, we can consider the family of Mary, Martha and Lazarus rich because they have this kind of perfume oil in their house or maybe Mary saved money from her work to buy this aromatic perfume oil.  Because Jesus knew the meaning of action of Mary at that time, “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’.” (John 12: 7-8).  The action of Mary symbolizes of his forthcoming death and burial.

Bethany is a small town, so nothing can escape from their attention, even minute things they can easily recognized.  And news went widespread.  The Jews went to Lazarus’ house to see Jesus by those who knew and those who did not knew him   “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” (John 12: 9).  They, too, wanted to know the truth about Lazarus’ death and Jesus’ miraculous bringing Lazarus back to life.  Even the chief priests were there but another intention.  “And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him” (John 12: 10-11).    They come to see if Jesus is there as well as Lazarus so that they can plan what to do in order to kill both of them because of their jealousy and pride.