March 17
John 12:1–8
“Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of purenard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair.”(John 12:3a)
In times of difficulty it can be jarring when we noticeextravagance. When resources are precious it can seem
wasteful to toss them about. Yet today’s gospel reading is
about exactly that. Mary offers up extremely costly perfume
to anoint Jesus’ feet, as a gracious act of thanksgiving, and
Jesus affirms her act. Yet the actual cost is undoubtedly
secondary to the fact that Mary, through this generosity,
is recognizing Jesus as one worthy of all our thanks and
praise, no matter the cost. What has God done for you, that
might lead you to offer up all you have in thanksgiving?
