Be A Mary of Bethany!

 

Monday of Holy Week

Isaiah 42:1-7; Psalm 27; John 12:1-11

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

Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany.  This is Monday in Holy Week.  Jesus is staying in Bethany, a town about 2 miles southeast of Jerusalem.  According to St. Mark’s Gospel it was here that the disciples found the donkey He rode on into Jerusalem and they returned here after the events of Palm Sunday.  According to St. John, Jesus is staying with His friends, Lazarus, and his sisters, Mary and Martha.  This is the same Lazarus who Jesus raised from the dead.  And this is the same Mary and Martha who were known for waiting and listening at Jesus’ feet [Mary] and being busy with work and details [Martha]. 

Something stunning and amazing happens here.  Mary is so moved by Jesus’ presence that she does something extraordinary.  She takes some very costly oil and anoints the feet of Jesus.  Then she wipes them with her own hair. The humility and extravagance of the act are striking.  Humility is seen in her stooping to anoint Jesus’ feet.  Extravagance is seen in that the oil is very costly.  What motivates the action?  Was it in gratitude for the restoration of the life of her brother?  Was it deeper?  Did Mary see through eyes of faith that Jesus was indeed the Son of the living God, the Messiah?  Did she understand that He must die?  We cannot know what was in her heart and the Gospels are silent on the issue.  But her action demonstrates the deep love of the contemplative soul.

Mary is seemingly oblivious to those around her; perhaps even to the stinging rebuke from Judas.  Jesus interprets it in light of the extraordinary events to come.  “Let her keep this for the day of my burial.”  We see in chapter 19 of St. John’s Gospel that such oil, or something similar, was used in Jewish burial practices as this is what they did for our Lord when they took Him down from the cross.

Let’s return to this moment with Mary.  St. John comments, “The house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”  I’m sure he meant that literally.  But let us consider some spiritual implications.

The word, “Christ”, means “Anointed One”.  We who take this name- Christians- become the anointed ones.  We are anointed literally in Baptism and Confirmation.  But spiritually it is a reference to our identification with Christ and our anointing from the Holy Spirit.  Then shouldn’t we live lives filled with this anointing?  And if that is the case, could it be said of us that the fragrance of that anointing fills the places where we are?  As St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, “We are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,” [2 Co. 2:15].

Now notice the criticism of Judas.  This reminds us that there will always be critics.  And too often they come from religious leadership where one would naturally count on finding support rather than criticism.  Pay it no mind.  Jesus didn’t.  Mary didn’t.  Extravagant love and worship are more important. 

There is a great deal of difference between doing something to be seen of others and the extravagant love that is so focused on the Lord that it doesn’t care who sees it.  Only we can know our own motives.  So criticism of others runs into sketchy territory.  If we are all focused on worship, we won’t have time to be critical of others.

You can get put out because the Mass isn’t done exactly as you think it should be.  Or you can offer God the best Mass you are capable of offering.  The former is to identify with Judas and the latter with Mary.  I will freely confess I have too often been in the Judas camp.  I want to be with Mary!

We should also note that we cannot allow criticisms to keep us from offering the extravagant worship that is so pleasing to God.  When our hearts are right and all we desire is to show Him our great love, this is pleasing to God. 

I find it significant that such an event took place at the outset of what we now call Holy Week.  I think it characterizes the spirit of worship that should be ours.  Let’s not fuss about how long the Triduum liturgies are or find excuses for missing them.  Rather, let us devote extra time and attention to them and enter with our Lord into these sacred events. 

Spend an hour of prayer after the Holy Thursday liturgy, if possible in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament at the altar of repose.  Spend an hour- or three- from noon to 3:00 p.m. on Good Friday in prayer and reflection.  Attend the Easter Vigil.  Arrive early.  Spend time in prayer shrouded in darkness in anticipation of all that is to follow.  Let your heart be immersed in the deepest love for Jesus whose heart was so moved with love for us that He gave Himself on the cross.

Let us be a Mary of Bethany- humble, loving, adoring, and unafraid of the cost of true devotion!