Lent #30: Day before Holy Week

Leave her alone.

(Jesus, John 12:7)

It happened “six days before Passover” at “the home of Simon the leper” where Jesus and his disciples stayed just outside of Jerusalem. You may know him as Lazarus’ dad. Maybe they still called him “the leper” because Jesus healed him and made him whole. Simon’s home was always open to Jesus. His son Lazarus and Jesus became friends (phileō, Jn 11:3,36). One senses that Jesus felt at home with Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha.

There must have been something about the human love of Simon and his family that freed Mary to take “about a pint of expensive ointment and pour it on Jesus' feet and then wipe his feet with her hair. The whole house filled with the fragrance” (Jn 12:3). Such human warmth offended Judas. He made a big fuss insisting that Mary should have sold the expensive ointment and given the money to the poor. Judas has a point. It’s hard to argue with that. But, Jesus comes to Mary’s defense: “Leave her alone. She bought it for the day of my burial” (Jn 12:7). Somewhere, way down deep, Mary knows what Holy Week means. She alone anoints Jesus for what lies ahead. So, “Leave her alone,” Jesus says, “for she has done a beautiful thing” (Mk 14:6). Let her be. She knows.