So much of the gospel comes to us in the context of a meal

By Fr. Dan Debano
RR Ministerial

So much in the Gospels comes to us in the context of a meal.
In the Gospel of John (12:1-11), we read about a banquet given for Jesus in the little village of Bethany, where He had raised His friend Lazarus from the dead.
Lazarus is there, along with his sisters Martha and Mary, whom we see in the same roles as in Luke’s portrait of them: Martha as the busy hostess serving the meal, and Mary completely attentive to Jesus, (Lk 10:38).
Here again, Mary seems to have “chosen the better part” (Lk 10:42). Taking a pound of expensive ointment (the value of a year’s wages for a labourer), she anoints the feet of Jesus and dries them with here hair, and “the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil” (Jn 12:3).
On a spiritual level, what fills the house is the fragrance of Mary’s complete devotion to Jesus, her generous living out of His teaching that “where your heart is, there also will your heart be” (Lk 12:34). Christ’s presence is a priceless treasure to Mary. The ointment has not been wasted. It has been used to express the humble and reverent worship of an undivided heart.
The heart of Judas, on the other hand, has been drawn to the values of the world. Filled by the desire for wealth and personal gain, he sees only the monetary value of the ointment: “Why was this perfume not sold? It could have brought three hundred silver pieces” (Jn 12:5).
This contrast between Mary and Judas provides us with a great measuring stick to help us examine our own hearts. Does our heart belong completely to God, or do we allow it to become attached to the things of the world?
During this time of financial turmoil, it is easy for us to get caught up in the material world. Let us never forget that God never gives us more than we can handle, as long as we place our trust in him.