Now when Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came up to him with an alabaster flask of very expensive ointment, and she poured it on his head as he reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste? For this could have been sold for a large sum and given to the poor.”  But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. In pouring this ointment on my body, she has done it to prepare me for burial.”

Mt. 26:6-12

Every time I read this passage I am struck by the contrast between the callous comments of the disciples and the tender feelings of the woman for Jesus. John, in his Gospel, tells us their names: the crass comment came from the thief, Judas Iscariot, who regularly stole from the communal purse. The woman was Lazarus’ sister, Mary, whose heart overflowed with gratitude for Jesus.

The disciples dispensed derogatory comments which cost them nothing. Mary poured out a life’s savings in a gift of love for her Master. If Judas was indeed the source of the opposition, we could be sure his concern did not extend beyond his pocket to the poor. Cheap words and little heart contrasted to great heart and expensive love. Many a sermon has been preached with Mary in the spotlight as a model of devotion. “Don’t be like the disciples. Be like Mary!” And there is a lot to be said for that.

And yet, if we read the Gospel carefully, that is not the main point of the passage. If we concentrate our attention on the drama in the room, we will miss the more significant scene outside the room. And as tragic as was the disciples’ heart toward Mary—shame on them!—the greater tragedy lay elsewhere. And it involved the same Mary and all Jesus’ disciples.

Stay tuned for part 2!