Jesus, what was it like when Mary anointed your feet?
Was there daylight or was the room lit with candles?
Did she anoint your right foot first?

Was the spikenard warm?

How long did it take to pour out the entire bottle?
What did it feel like to have her hair wiping your feet?
Just how fragrant did the room become?

What was Mary feeling? Immense gratitude, unbridled love, melancholy?
Did she have any idea that she was preparing your body for burial?

What was the tone of Judas and the disciples who objected?
Were any of them really thinking of the poor?
Would I have joined them in their disdain?

How sharp or gentle were your words of correction?
Did they have any idea that you would be washing their feet soon?

How did Mary receive your words defending her?
Did she smile, or did her eyes become wet?
How did she feel when you shared that you would not be with them much longer?

What was it like to be with you that evening, Jesus?
Be close to me as I follow you through Holy Week.

 

EM

_________________

 

 

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, 

    where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 

Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. 

Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 

Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; 

    she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. 

And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 

    “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? 

      It was worth a year’s wages.” 

He did not say this because he cared about the poor 

    but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, 

   he used to help himself to what was put into it.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. 

“It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 

You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”