Thanksgiving anointing

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary for today touch on many themes which will enhance our contemplation of the journey of Jesus during Holy Week. The “collect” prayer which begins the liturgy for today seeks our revival through the Passion of Jesus. This outcome from mediation on events in which evil appears to have the day is not initially obvious. The Gospel of John tells of the two faced behaviour of Judas who responds with apparent righteous indignation that Mary should anoint the feet of Jesus with costly ointment that could have been sold to raise money for the poor. Much ink has been spilled over the relationship to the poor portrayed here. Spiritual revival is not rooted in condemnation of the treachery of Judas or even in the justice/injustice tension around decisions on how to use gifts given to people of God. The thread for spiritual revival is the thanksgiving expressed by Mary for the compassion and love of Jesus who restored life to her beloved Lazarus. This thanksgiving comes even as we here that the religious authorities have enlarged the web of evil by seeking the death of Lazarus. Mary is not disposed to cry out that this death sentence for her brother has meant Jesus action has been for naught. The prophet Isaiah describes the one who will heal the wounds of Israel, establish justice, and free people from their imprisonment by material and political concerns. This spiritual revival will be marked by gentle action, demonstrating the desire of God to be in Covenant relationship with people. The movement toward spiritual revival will be through a personal experience of the love and compassion of God. The journey with the Suffering Servant of God is the gift for our restoration at this time of year.