Monday of Holy Week
(Isaiah 42:1-7; John 12:1-11)
Everyone is familiar
with Martha and Mary. In Luke’s gospel
Jesus famously visits their home. Martha
complains to him that Mary has left her with the work. Meanwhile Mary listens attentively to
Jesus. Today’s gospel shows what appears
to be another visit to Martha and Mary’s home.
Martha is characteristically serving while Mary shows that she has probed at least part of the mystery of Jesus.
John’s gospel is
supremely aware that Jesus’ death literally crowns his life. His offering of self, much more than
sacrificial bulls on the altar, atones for human sin. Without it the world is condemned. Mary acknowledges the awesomeness of Jesus’
death before it happens. She anoints
Jesus with an immense amount of precious oil to recognize the value of Jesus’
self-giving.
We are aware of the
debate over the question: do we do good works because we are saved or are we
saved by our good works? Mary’s
anointing of Jesus and, indeed, the Gospel of John leave no doubt that we can do
good works because of Jesus’ salvific death.
it sets us free from evil’s tenacious grasp so that we can truly
love. Like Mary does in today’s gospel,
we will recognize this mystery in the reading of the Passion on Friday.
