Costly Perfume

A Meditation for Monday in Holy Week
March 29, 2021

Text: John 12:1-11

I speak to you in the name of our loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

In our Gospel reading appointed for Holy Monday, we hear the story of Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointing the feet of Jesus with perfume made of pure nard, a type of fragrant oil that was very expensive in the time of Jesus. In the story, soon after Mary anoints Jesus’ feet, she’s chastised by Judas Iscariot for wasting the perfume on Jesus when it could’ve been sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor. Considering the fact that, at the time, one denarius equaled an entire day’s worth of work for the common laborer, three hundred denarii was a lot of money. But, the writer of John’s Gospel is quick to point out that the reason for Judas’ criticism of Mary isn’t because he actually cared for the poor. It was because Judas carried the common purse and was a thief.

Mary’s actions are praised by Jesus, not because he seeks special attention or treatment, but because of Mary’s generous outpouring of love. He knows the reason why she’s anointing his feet. She’s preparing his body for burial. She knows what Jesus is about to go through. This is her way of giving to Jesus something of herself to show him how much she cares.

When I read this passage from John, I’m often reminded of how easy it is for us to be critical of others when we think we know what’s best or when we think we have all the right answers. Judas, for example, thought Mary was being wasteful by using the perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet. He didn’t see it for what it really was—an act of love and devotion. All he could see was another missed opportunity to take more for himself.

This Gospel lesson invites us to think about the ways we express our love for God and each other. God doesn’t call us simply to love. God calls us to love abundantly by giving up all we have, our whole selves, in order to love and serve others. The way of Jesus is the way of self-giving, sacrificial love. It’s the way of the Cross, the way of life and peace with God.

Yes, the expensive perfume that Mary buys and uses to anoint Jesus’ feet could’ve been used in other ways. It could’ve been sold and the money given to the poor, as Judas suggested. Or, it could’ve been saved and used sparingly over time. But, Mary doesn’t use just a little bit of the perfume when she anoints Jesus’ feet. She uses all of it, the entire pint. The perfume she breaks open and pours out represents everything she has to give, her whole self. She gives it all to honor Jesus, the one who will go to the cross and sacrifice his life for the life of the world.

On this Monday in Holy Week, as our journey with Christ continues, I invite you to consider the example of Mary of Bethany. How is God calling you to give of yourself and to love others abundantly? Like the costly perfume that Mary brings to Jesus’ feet, what are you willing to give up and pour out in order to show your love and devotion to Jesus? Amen.