Gospel
From the Gospel according to John. Jn 12:1-11
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.
Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?”
He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.
Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?”
He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions.
So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
The Most Despised Members
Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with perfume. It is indeed curious that she poured the costly perfume on His feet rather than on His head or chest… Who would think to anoint someone’s feet?
Saint Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12:23, “The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.” He speaks of the members of the Mystical Body of Christ, which is the Church, stating that “God has arranged the parts of the body, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,” so that, ultimately, all might receive equal dignity in how they are treated.
What if we applied this divine principle to our spouse when he has fallen into the indignity of sin? Would he not then deserve an even greater effort on our part to treat him with greater honor?
Applied to Married Life:
Jack: I really appreciate how you’ve been treating me with greater respect and dignity lately, especially now that I’ve fallen into sin.
Tess: Oh? You noticed?
Jack: Yes, absolutely. And it’s been incredibly helpful.
Tess: I was simply trying to follow the guidelines given by Saint Paul. But why has it helped you?
Jack: Because when you treat me with more respect, I tend to respond in a more respectful way myself. That, in turn, helps me rise out of the state of indignity in which I found myself. So, thank you.
Tess: You’re welcome. Thanks be to God.
Tess: Oh? You noticed?
Jack: Yes, absolutely. And it’s been incredibly helpful.
Tess: I was simply trying to follow the guidelines given by Saint Paul. But why has it helped you?
Jack: Because when you treat me with more respect, I tend to respond in a more respectful way myself. That, in turn, helps me rise out of the state of indignity in which I found myself. So, thank you.
Tess: You’re welcome. Thanks be to God.
Mother,
Jesus restores our dignity by treating us with dignity, just as the father did with the prodigal son. In this, especially, we desire to follow Jesus. Praise be to Him.