The Human Becoming: A Lenten DevotionalShembull

Holy Week: Monday | Anointed | Sue Hudacek

Jesus went to Bethany for a celebratory meal. You can sense that Bethany was a special place for Jesus. It was a town where his friends Martha, Mary, and Lazarus lived. Their home was called the home of Martha (and Mary) and not the home of their brother, Lazarus. Lazarus never speaks, even when he is risen from the dead, and yet is the center of his family.

Jesus knew that this was the last time he would be in Bethany, for the next day he would leave for Jerusalem. This meal was special, a time with his friends. Maybe a time to forget, for a little while. A time he would remember in the days to come. It was as important to Jesus to have Lazarus there as it would be for us to have our closest friends.

Martha is serving the meal. Mary, out of extravagant love and gratitude, takes a large measure of costly perfume and anoints the feet of Jesus. Then, as scripture tells us, she wipes his feet with her hair. Imagine the scent in the air during this moment of incredible tenderness. Visualize the look that must have passed between them. No words were necessary. Their silence spoke volumes and lasted a lifetime.

But Judas reacts violently to this gesture of tenderness and love. “What a waste of money!” It makes you question Judas and the disciples’ reaction to Mary’s simple act. It makes one wonder why they were so upset. Could it have been jealousy? Judas seemed to struggle with relationships. Who were his friends? He could handle the closeness of Jesus, John, and Peter. But what was it about this woman? Was it more than just the cost of this precious ointment that is used for burials? More than the fact that he was a thief who would help himself to their own funds?

Jesus silences him rather harshly while proclaiming his love and support for her. Jesus confirms her in her passion, her gentleness, her dignity as a woman of faith. He liberates her love. He frees her. In Jesus’ response, he also liberates us. He frees us from the norms. He confirms us in our dignity as people of God. He calls us to a deeper intimacy with him. Jesus shows only compassion and love; how can it be that others only want to reject him and kill him?

I love imagining Jesus, then, on his way to Jerusalem, with the memory of the warmth and tenderness of touch while smelling the perfume still on his feet.

The first time I arrived in Jerusalem happened to be on Easter Sunday. Entering the Holy Sepulchre, several friends and I observed a lot of women kneeling and anointing a marble slab. They were weeping as if they were anointing the body of Jesus and preparing him for his burial. I remember how we looked at each other and without words joined these women on our knees. They looked at us, and immediately made room for sharing this precious nard, so we, too, could anoint the stone. Again, it was a moment that lasted a lifetime. The smell of these precious oils lingered on our hands for days afterward. I have reflected on this moment often and what it means to anoint another. Do I allow myself to receive love and tenderness when I am anointed?

Reflection

Is there a word or phrase that stands out to you? What is it calling forth?

Discussion

What audacious and generous acts of love have you experienced or witnessed? Are there times where you or others have confirmed another in their dignity, value, and worth? Why do you think others only wanted to reject Jesus and kill him? Can you share an experience of anointing where you experienced tenderness, warmth, and love?

Public Action

Either wash or have someone wash your feet. Look into each other’s eyes and without words, share your gratitude and gratefulness. Spend a few moments feeling the touch and tenderness afterward.