Monday of Holy
Week
(Isaiah 42:1-7; John 12:1-11)
Of all the signs that a person leaves behind at death,
none can be greater than her body. The
dead body, of course, looks like the living person. It often indicates whether the person
suffered before dying. In order to
preserve the body temporarily, perhaps as an aid to mourning, Jews anointed the
dead body. Anointing became a sign of
respect for the dead person and perhaps an honor due her.
In today’s gospel Mary anoints Jesus’ feet. Her motive is not stated. Perhaps she does it in thanksgiving for
Jesus’ resuscitating Lazarus. Jesus,
however, interprets the act as preparation of his body for burial. He realizes that the time for him to complete
the work of redemption is at hand.
Although she may be unaware of it, Mary is prophetically proclaiming
Jesus’ death.
With Jesus we all die.
At least, this is our belief and also, quite counterintuitively, our
hope to overcome death. If we die with
him in love with God and neighbor, then we will rise with him. Death has lost its finality for us Christians
living in self-sacrificing love. Whether
we anoint our dead or cremate them, we know that death will give way to the
resurrection. This is the Easter faith
that we celebrate throughout this long Holy Week.
