Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion, Year B
We don’t know much about the woman who walks into Simon the leper’s house from our reading in Mark’s Gospel. But we do know that this was an important event for two reasons. First, because Jesus tells us that “wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her”. Second, this story is told in all four gospels. (If you’re interested, here are the references: Matthew 26.6, Mark 24.4, Luke 7.36, and John 12.1. You can see how details are added by the other Evangelists to this, the earliest account that we read today in Mark).
Picture the scene described in today's Gospel. Jesus is having dinner with Simon and this uninvited woman comes in off the street, breaks open an expensive jar of perfumed oil, and anoints Jesus’ head. There is more than a little disgust on how unreasonable this is. To do such a thing at the expense of feeding the poor was seemingly the source of their outrage. Its value was substantial, as scripture notes, worth than 300 days wages. But Jesus states an awful truth, “the poor you will always have with you”. How true, how sad and how real it is that we tend to the poor when we feel like doing so!
This act of anointing with oil proves comforting to Jesus as His hour approaches. A stranger, an outsider perhaps, appears on the scene, creates this intimate moment of holy anointing in recognition of He who it is she is kneeling before and then goes off into the night. Jesus needed to be strengthened and encouraged but he gets neither from His close friends and disciples, only from this stranger.
There are times in our lives when we have the chance to be an “angel of mercy” just like this woman with the jar. We have unlimited opportunities to lift someone’s spirits, give them some positive affirmation, encourage them or cheer them up. It may cost us some time and some energy. We may have to rearrange our schedules or go out of our way. But remember, it was expensive oil, a year’s salary. Remember too, as we come into Holy Week, that when we do any kind deed for another person, we are really doing it to Jesus who was so grateful for this act of kindness that He tells those seated around the table that she will be remembered as long as the gospel is proclaimed throughout the world. Isn’t it interesting St. Mark begins the story of Jesus' Passion with her anointing of His feet? Who will we anoint with our kindness, generosity or forgiveness this Holy Week?
Have a holy, Holy Week!
Deacon Tom
Image credit: riverwindgallaryart.com
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