Reflecting on Mark's Gospel - Mark 14:3-9

As so often, Jesus is being hosted for a meal. This is at Bethany, and he is at the home of a man named Simon, who is identified as a leper. Jesus was not concerned about the background of those who hosted him. There are other people around and, in this instance, Jesus is approached by a woman who has brought an expensive jar of perfume. This woman is an unlikely candidate for being an example of faith and commitment, and her attitude and action makes a stark contrast with what we see of the male disciples during these days when they are in the Jerusalem area with the Passover crowds. I wonder whether we are ready to learn from unlikely people.

This woman certainly gets her action noticed. She breaks open the jar and pours the ointment on Jesus’ head. One assumes this had an immediate impact on everyone’s sense of smell. It usually takes just a drop of perfume to produce a pleasant aroma. This act will have produced a nice, but powerful, fragrance. Everyone will have been aware that something unusual had happened.

It certainly annoyed some of those who were present, and they suggest that the perfume could have been sold to raise funds for the poor. The implication is that this is a waste of money. But Jesus rather identifies it as a special act of love, and as something to be commended. He comments that the poor will always be there, and so they will. That could appear as a rather cold comment but is probably more a statement of fact – and a reminder that we are not actually able to solve the world’s problems. As Bonnie Bowman Thurston (Preaching Mark) comments – “we all need a little perfume in this life. And Jesus not only allows this, but commends it.”

Jesus recognises the generosity of this woman. She has anointed his body for burial, a comment that was probably not really understood. It is also interesting that he mentions that her story will be told because of what she has done.

If just one thing were said of us, I wonder what we might hope that would be. I wonder whether we ever engage in acts of extravagant generosity. I wonder how we express our love for God, and in a way that others can see.

Of course, this story is not just about giving, but also about receiving, and Jesus models something important for us. As Thurston asks – “I wonder how many of us could be Jesus in the story, could accept such an act of love and generosity. Jesus sets an example for us in allowing people to love him.”