SR. CRISTINA GUEVARA*
JOHN 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.”
The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, 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.
REFLECTION
Considering and pondering today’s gospel from John 12:1–12 enlarged my spiritual growth during this Holy Week. It was helpful to look at the three characters in the narrative: Mary, Judas, and Jesus. The comparison between the relationship between Judas and Jesus and Mary and our Lord caught my attention as I prayed over this text. Both Mary and Judas were followers of Jesus. They both have heard the profound lessons of his teachings, seen the many healings and other miracles he performed and witnessed how much he cared for the underprivileged. Perhaps Judas witnessed more because he had journeyed with Jesus closely.
I noticed that Mary was attentive and focused on Jesus, not on what he could give her because she had a loving relationship with him. She was moved to anoint his feet with the expensive pure nard and wipe them with her hair as an expression of her extravagant love and devotion to him. Why? Mary, too, experienced Jesus’ tender mercy and loving attention. Mary treasured Jesus in her heart, her Lord and Savior. Meanwhile, Jesus allowed Mary to anoint his feet and warmly received her love offering for his coming burial. It must have consoled him as he felt her radical love for him.
On the other hand, Judas did not develop a genuine friendship and personal relationship with Jesus because his eyes and heart were fixed on himself. He did not care about Jesus because he was attentive and focused on the money bag that benefited his needs. He was blinded by his worldly attachment and treasured money and himself in his heart. Jesus knew Judas’s real intentions and why he objected to Mary’s loving action. It must have hurt Jesus that one of his disciples would betray him.
When I pour my attention and affection to Jesus in prayer or to others in need, am I not like Mary, who lavishes Jesus with the fragrance of love? However, when I am too concerned about self-gratification and material comfort, am I not like Judas, who is attached to the money bag?
My challenge is, can I lavish the Heart of Jesus this Holy Week with my personal love? What “money” bag should I surrender to Jesus?
Lord, with the grace of the Holy Spirit, help me sincerely focus on you, learn to detach from my own will, and be attentive to follow you closely, like Mary, with an undivided heart. Amen.
*HEART OF THE LAMB INTERCESSORS