John 12:1-8 (NRSV)
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Chapter 12Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. Verse 2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Verse 3Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. Verse 4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, Verse 5"Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" Verse 6(He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Verse 7Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. Verse 8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
Devotion
Caring for the body; it is one of the last things we do for those we love. Tending to the corpse, which in Jesus’ day meant anointing with expensive spices and ointment, is among the last offerings we make out of devotion. Here Mary exercises this loving care before Jesus dies, while he can still feel it. Others are offended. He understands both her care and her prophecy. She prepares him for actual death. He knows it is coming. Jesus defends Mary’s devotion just as he desires our own. It is the gift we can give on the way of the cross.
Prayer
God, please allow us to love and serve you as you have loved and died for us. Amen.