While [Jesus] was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on His head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Mark 14:3-9
“Jesus must be served while His time remained, and then, after His departure, be consoled by our service to the poor, whose care He accepts as if it is given to Him [cf. Matthew 25:40]. How dear the poor ought to be to us, for they hold the place of Christ! Let us kiss their feet. Let us take part in their humiliations and their weakness. Let us lament their misery and suffer together with them. Let us pour out oil upon their feet as a consolation for their pain and a balm for their sorrows. Let us wipe them with our hair by sharing our abundance, and let us deprive ourselves of adornment that we might care for them.
At the same time, let us anoint Jesus. Let us breathe out from our hearts tender desire, chaste love, sweet hope, continual praise. If we wish to love and praise Him worthily, let us praise Him by our entire life; let us keep His Word. Let us open our hearts to Him and say with St. Paul that He is “our wisdom, our righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Let us sing to Him the sweet songs of the people He has redeemed: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12)! This is what every creature ought to sing to Him; this is the costly oil of anointing that we should pour forth from our hearts.”
Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (1627-1704) in Meditations for Lent (Manchester: Sophia Institute Press, 2013) 159.
Now that we are about half way through Lent, let us start integrating our almsgiving, prayer, and fasting so they become part of everyday life after Easter. We will do this by looking at scenes that lead up to and include the historical events of the passion week and see how such integrated thinking is necessary for us.
Consider the dynamics of this scene from Mark’s Gospel. Jesus is chilling in the home of Simon the Leper. While many would have labeled that guy as unclean, Jesus fellowships with Him. Do we fellowship and show the love of Christ to everyone, including outcasts from society?
Then the woman (identified as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus in John 12:1-8), holds nothing back. She anoints Jesus with with expensive perfume. Do we spare no expense in our giving to Jesus?
Some sneer at this gift, saying it should have been spent on the poor. John’s Gospel identifies Judas Iscariot as the critic of her generosity. Do we judge others in their giving to Jesus or limit our giving for fear of what others will think?
Mary emerges as the celebrated character in this scene for all time!
The “costly oil of anointing” flows from her heart and I pray flows from each of ours. Like her, we must not hold anything back from Jesus, and He too will celebrate our giving. Why do this when society, even fellow disciples, might sneer at us? Let’s do it in praise and worship of Christ.
Not sure where to start? Put the practices of Lent together.
Fast. Set aside your desires for whatever resources you have. Pray. Do this without ceasing. Abandon a life of independence. Take a posture of daily dependence on God. Give alms. When you give to the poor you are giving to Jesus. Share the abundance you have from God as your “costly oil of anointing” and know that Jesus, who sees your giving, celebrates.