5th Sunday of Lent
Isaiah 43:16-21
Philippians 3:4b-14
John 12:1-8
Psalm 126
John 12:1-8
This remarkable act of Mary at the home she shared with her sister Martha and brother Lazarus in the presence of Jesus and his disciples opened wide the eyes of all those gathered that day.
Attending to feet was the work of a slave. No self-respecting lady would unbind her hair at dinner.
Cutting across conventions, Mary took half a litre of very expensive perfume and poured it all over Jesus’ feet, then wiped his feet with her hair.
Whether Mary was fully aware of what she was doing we don’t know. But Jesus interpreted that action as anointing in preparation for his burial.
Someone saw it differently. Judas reacted quickly: “Why wasn’t this perfume sold for 300 silver coins and the money given to the poor?” (John 12:5)
Judas probably thought Mary to be a fool to be so extravagant
We might think Judas’ reaction was because he had a genuine interest in the poor. But John’s footnote tells us that he was the treasurer and a thief who helped himself to the moneybag.
Jesus concluded this little scene with words which I believe have been often misinterpreted.
7Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’
Many people have interpreted that to mean that it’s OK to spend money extravagantly on beautiful churches, stained glass windows, pipe organs and so on. After all we are doing this for Jesus.
What I believe Jesus was saying is this.
“There will always be poor people to help, and it is good and right that you help them in every way.
For this one time, and for this one time only, Mary has done a beautiful thing. She has anointed me in preparation for my burial. She has done this now and this loving act can only be done once.”
“In the future,” I believe Jesus is saying, “you will have plenty of poor people to help and it is good and right that you should help them.”
Jesus was saying. “This is OK for Mary, but for you and the church in the future you can better spend money by giving to the poor”.
The sad thing is that Jesus was aware that there would always be poor people. In spite of his teaching about sharing coats and feeding the hungry and caring for the needy, Jesus knew that it was part of our self-centred nature to so structure the world that there would always be poor people.
The economic heap would be so structured that there would always be poor people at the bottom.
Sharing our resources, giving to causes which help the poor are worthwhile.
Fair Trade is a way we can re-structure the world.
Reflection
Consider that the most beautiful thing you can do for Jesus is to give to the poor and to ensure that the workers behind the products you purchase were treated according to the 10 Principles of Fair Trade.
As Jesus said: “I tell you whenever you did this for one of the least important brothers or sisters of mine, you did it for me!” (Matthew 25:40)
Prayer
Loving God, we thank you for the once and for all extravagant act of love performed by Mary of Bethany.
Help us to similarly show our love to you by our generous acts of love towards people in lower income countries.
Show us how, through Fair Trade, we can alleviate poverty.
Amen
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