Reflect on Mary’s lavish act of love towards Jesus during Holy Week and consider how we can offer our best to Him.
Today's Gospel: John 12:1-11
After Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, He returns to Bethany and dines with Lazarus and his sisters. Mary lavishes Jesus's feet with costly aromatic nard. Around them, crowds press in to gawk at the miracle worker and see for themselves the man who, rumor has it, staggered out from his tomb.
Judas Iscariot then accuses Mary of wasting the costly oil that could have been used for the poor.
A good moral reprimand is satisfying as long as we’re not on the receiving end.
Jesus says,
“Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial."
Jesus’s response refers not to the poor but to what's to happen in a mere six days. When we avoid distractions such as neck-craning and nodding at reprimands, we may notice something else: the Lord’s message.
“Let her keep this for the day of my burial," He says. I wonder what He means by this. Certainly, the "keep this" wasn’t referring to the costly oil that’s all absorbed into His skin by now and no longer available to keep.
When someone dies, we recall the last things we said and did with them. While Mary may not have known, Jesus knew that her most lavish act would be her last encounter with Him while He was alive.
When she heard the shocking news of His death, what a consolation it must have been for Mary to have given Jesus her best, The "this" in “let her keep this,” I conclude, refers to the memory of her last time with her Savior.
Mary didn't know of Jesus's imminent departure, yet she lavished oil upon Him. Unlike Mary, we do know what's to come during Holy Week.
Ponder:
Think about a time when you were most generous with someone and why.
Pray:
Dear Jesus, help me to set aside distractions and keep You company during Holy Week.
Pray Together:
What can we lovingly lavish upon Jesus this Holy Week?
Copyright 2026 Frances Smit
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