Find out more about Pope Leo's Apostolic Exhortation, Dilexi te
A community garden in Rushinga, north of Zimbabwe
Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
We have reached the last week of Jesus’ life, and he returns to his friends Mary, Martha and the newly-raised Lazarus. In the house at Bethany, Mary kneels and anoints Jesus’ feet with an expensive ointment.
Judas objects and, though we know of his duplicity, perhaps his critique seems fair – surely the money could have been used in a more practical way to help the poor? Yet Jesus commends Mary. In performing this act, she does not just fill the house with the beautiful aroma of the perfume. As she pours out the precious nard, she fills the house with love.
Reflecting on this story at the beginning of his apostolic exhortation Dilexi te, Pope Leo XIV writes: “No sign of affection, even the smallest, will ever be forgotten, especially if it is shown to those who are suffering, lonely or in need, as was the Lord at that time. Love for the Lord, then, is one with love for the poor. The same Jesus who tells us, “The poor you will always have with you” (Mt 26:11), also promises the disciples: “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20).
This Holy Week, as we reflect on Mary’s quiet, unprompted act of generosity, let’s pray that we may show the same love, recognising Jesus and ministering to him as he appears in our lives today.
Prayer
Abundant God,
fill us with the generous love
that Mary had for Jesus,
so we may give of our ourselves
and our resources to others.
Amen.
Act
Take some time to find out more about the inspiring and powerful message of Dilexi te.