Jesus had been anointed with the costly ointment, oil of
nard, by Mary of Bethany*. When that had occurred some of the disciples, and in
particular Judas Iscariot, had complained that this was an over the top gesture
towards Jesus. The cost of such ointment was estimated at over 200 denarii –
and we get an idea of how expensive that was if we realise that 1 denarius was
the day’s wage for the average worker. So the ointment of nard cost the wages
of a worker for 200 days. So Judas and some of the others rebuked Mary for
“wasting” this on Jesus, suggesting that it be sold and the money given to the
poor.
The generosity of Mary reveals how much she values Jesus.
For her, no gift is too much for her Lord and Saviour. This is in complete
contrast to Judas Iscariot who not only betrays Jesus but does so for money. He
only values Jesus at thirty pieces of silver, which is the price of a slave (Ex
21:32).
What do we give our Lord? How generous are we? Or are we
grudging in our gifts? Perhaps we think our Lord does not need our gift, and
there are better uses for it? There is a world of difference between the giving
of Mary and Judas. So how willing are we to give generously to our Lord? Let us
not give a gift like Judas.
Fr Ian
* Although Matthew does not reveal who anoints Jesus and
merely says “a woman” (Mt 6:7), in John’s gospel we hear that it was Mary of
Bethany who anointed Jesus, and it is primarily Judas Iscariot who objects.
