In today’s Gospel proclamation, St.John tells us a different story about Martha, Mary and Lazarus and says it happened six days before the Passover. The proclamation says, Mary washed the feet of the Lord Jesus with some expensive perfume and Judas found fault with her, saying that it would have been better for her to sell the perfume and give the money to the poor.

St. John was known to be close to the Lord Jesus and the Gospels say that he was the disciple whom the Lord loved most. St. John’s Gosepl was written long after the crucifixion of the Lord after Judas betrayed him. Scholars say that is why he took a hard shot at Judas saying, “not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief.”
But the heroine of the story is Mary. As she looked to the Lord Jesus she went to him the way she was, acknowledging her sinfulness and unworthiness. Moved by a prophetic spirit she chose to do the unthinkable. Spend a precious perfume on anointing him. She might have known the significance of what she was doing or might not have known the depth of her actions.
What was the Lord Jesus’ response, “Leave her alone.’ He knew she was doing the will of the Father.

This brings us to the first reading where Isaiah shares a powerful word which is good for us to digest. I, Yahweh have called you for the sake of justice; I will hold your hand to make you firm; I will make you as a Covenant to the people, and as a light to the nations, to open eyes that do not see, to free captives from prison, to bring out to light those who sit in darkness.
This is what our Lord wants to do in our lives. When we begin to journey with Him, we will be moved to do things that might or might not be understood by people – a similar example was Noah. We will be misunderstood by the world but feel a compelling urge to do what we need to do. In doing so we will become a light to the nations.

Prayer: Abba Father, I pray for the grace to listen to you, hear your voice and respond to your urge no matter how odd or absurd it may seem. Amen