THE FRAGRANCE OF LOVE! ~ CookingFood.Org

“GENEROUS LENT 2017”

Lenten Reflections

Monday, 10^thApril 2017.

Holy Week

Is 42: 1-7;

Ps 27: 1-3, 13-14;

Jn 12: 1-11.

THE FRAGRANCE OF LOVE!

Love knows no bounds. Today, Mary does something which only love can do. She took the most precious thing she had, the perfumed ointment and anointed Jesus’ feet with all of it. Mary’s action was motivated by one thing, and one thing only, namely, her love for Jesus and her gratitude for God’s mercy. It was also significant that Mary wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair, since well-kept hair contributed to a person’s dignity in the ancient world. Women took pride in long hair, which was considered attractive, and damage to one’s hair was considered degrading. By using her hair to wipe the feet of Jesus, Mary heightened the sense of humility already reflected in her willingness to serve him as a slave. Mary is generous and she is the model disciple. She does what Jesus will do later…washing of the feet.

Jesus was perfectly selfless in His love for us. By accepting to be anointed by Mary, Jesus reveals what each one of us needs to do. We need to worship Him, honor Him and make Him the center of our lives. We need to humble ourselves before Him and serve Him. Not because He needs us to treat Him this way, but because we need to treat Him this way. Honoring Him in our humility and love is what we need to do for our own holiness and happiness. Jesus knew this, so He honored Mary for this act of love. This story invites us to do the same. It invites us to look to Jesus and to make Him the center of our adoration and love. It invites us to willingly pour out all our labor for Him (symbolized by the perfume worth 300 days’ wages). Nothing is too costly for Jesus. Nothing is worth more than an act of our worship.

The gospel records that the whole house was filled with the perfume of the ointment. What Mary did brought sweetness all over, just like in a few more days, Lord Jesus would show us the extravagance of his love in giving the best he had by pouring out his own blood for us and by anointing us with his Holy Spirit. We see models of love in Mary and in Jesus, Let us pray that our lives to spread the love and fragrance of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, may I follow the example of this holy woman, Mary. Dear Lord, nothing in life is more important than You and my total adoration of You. Draw me in, dear Lord, humble me before Your glory and help me to love and worship You with my whole being. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.