A Memorial To Love
The Anointing by Mary of Bethany
Links:
Texts:
Matthew 26: 6 –13; Mark 14: 3-9; Luke 7: 36-50; John 12: 1- 8
The Setting:
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John record the anointing of Jesus. There are some differences in the manner in which each writer records the event. Matthew and Mark don’t give the woman a name. Luke identifies her as a sinful woman. John identifies her as Mary of Bethany. All four writers record the anointing of Jesus as taking place in Bethany.
Retelling the story:
What follows is a retelling based on the Biblical narrative. It is a composite rendering based on the accounts in all four Gospels and is an imagined creative reflection.
Mary Reflects:
There was much chatter in Bethany about our friend Jesus. In recent Weeks we became aware of rumours that the leaders in the Temple were planning to arrest him. It was six days before our Passover when I heard that Jesus was visiting in the home of Simon the Pharisee. Something prompted me to act. I bought a very expensive alabaster jar filled with fragrant oil and ran to Simon’s house. Without a thought I rushed in and stood behind Jesus. With no hesitation I broke open the alabaster jar and poured the oil on Jesus’ head. Then I knelt at his feet and let my tears wash over his feet. I had no towel to dry his feet so I used my long hair to dry them. All I could think of was that I wanted to anoint him before he was arrested and maybe killed.
As I rose there was a stunned silence in the room. Then I was accused of being extravagant and thoughtless in wasting such expensive oil. Someone said angrily that it would have been better for me to have sold the alabaster jar and given the money to the poor. Another said I was a sinful woman and had no right to use my hair to wipe Jesus’ feet. Only prostitutes carried out such acts on men. I looked into Jesus’ eyes. There was no anger or condemnation in them. Instead he spoke to the men at the table. He told them a story about 2 debtors who could not pay their debts. But the creditor cancelled their debt. Jesus asked the question “Which of them will like him more?.” Simon replied that it would have been the man who had the greater debt cancelled. Jesus said “You always have the poor with you, but you wont always have me.”
Jesus then looked at me and said to Simon: “Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home you didn’t give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t even pour oil on my head but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven and that is why she has shown great love.” Jesus then said to me “Your sins are forgiven.” The men started questioning Jesus’ words. But Jesus turned to them and said: “ You may be sure that wherever the good news is told all over the world, people will remember what she has done. And they will tell others.”
I needed to get home. As I hurried away I wondered what Jesus meant when he said that what I had done would be remembered in memory of me.
Ponder:
How would this story be recalled or understood today?
- An economist may write an article about sharing resources and the distribution of wealth.
- Social media may sensationalise the event as a gender issue.
- Once a year at Lent her story may be read in a church.
Do you remember Mary of Bethany?