Jesus' anointing also points to him as King and Messiah,

“Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ .”

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Isaiah 42:1-7

Here is my servant

Whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight. I have put my spirit upon him, and he will bring justice to the nations. He does not shout or raise his voice. Proclamations are not heard in the streets.

A broken reed he will not crush, nor will he snuff out the light of the wavering wick. He will make justice appear in truth. He will not waver or be broken until he has established justice on earth; the islands are waiting for his law.

Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread the earth and all that comes from it, who gives life and breath to those who walk on it: I, the Lord, have called you for the sake of justice; I will hold your hand to make you firm; I will make you as a Covenant to the people, and as a light to the nations, to open eyes that do not see, to free captives from prison, to bring out to light those who sit in darkness.

 

 Ps 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14 The Lord is my light and my salvation.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where he had raised Lazarus the dead man to life. Now they gave a dinner for him, and while Martha waited on them, Lazarus sat at the table with Jesus.

Then Mary took a pound of costly perfume, made from genuine spikenard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Judas Iscariot – the disciple who was to betray Jesus remarked, "This perfume could have been sold for three hundred silver coins, and the money given to the poor." Judas, indeed, had no concern for the poor; he was a thief, and as he held the common purse, he used to help himself to the funds.

But Jesus spoke up, "Leave her alone. Was she not keeping it for the day of my burial? (The poor you always have with you, but you will not always have me.)"

Many Jews heard that Jesus was there and they came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests thought about killing Lazarus as well, for many of the Jews were drifting away because of him, and believing in Jesus.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

"To share in the cross."

Mary's extravagant anointing of Jesus clearly expresses her allegiance and love of our Lord.

Judas considers it to be a huge waste of money, but Jesus understands Mary's gesture. Anointing meant many things:

joy, luxury, consecration, but here Jesus knows that Mary is doing this to prepare him for his burial.

 

Nard is an amber-coloured, intensely aromatic oil that was used for a variety of purposes at that time in Egypt, the Near East and Rome.

It's part of the Valerian plant family, so it has strong sedative properties.

So apart from its use in perfume and incense to disguise bad smells, nard was also used as a sedative.

 

Mary is preparing Christ for the sleep of death. Jesus' anointing also points to him as King and Messiah,

but with the full understanding that the Messiah must die to save his people. Mary wipes Jesus' feet with her hair.

This means that she, too, bears the scent of the nard on her body.

It shows an intimate connection with Christ – an imitation that will involve sharing in his suffering and death to share in his glory.

We, too, share in the cross, so that we can share in the resurrection.