Jn 12:1-11 No Good Deed Goes Unnoticed

Monday of Holy Week
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By FR ALFONSE NAZZARO

Six days before Passover where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.  They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him.  Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair...

Flashback.  A Pharisee invited [Jesus] to dine with him, and he entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at table.  Now there was a sinful woman in the city who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.  Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment, she stood behind him at his feet weeping and began to bathe his feet with her tears.  Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.  When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner."  Jesus said to him in reply, "Simon, I have something to say to you." ...Do you see this woman?  When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You did not give me kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.  You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment.  So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love... (cf Lk 7:36-50).

Mary and the sinful woman.  Although these two stories sound very similar, it is a mystery whether or not Mary and this sinful woman are one and the same.  They may very well be.  I'm not sure, only God knows.  After all, the composition of places are quit different:  one takes place in the house of a Pharisee around the city of Nain, the other in the home of Lazarus in the town of Bethany.  Regardless of the differences, we cannot deny the similarities:  a woman takes costly aromatic nard and anoints the feet of Jesus and dries them with her hair. 

It's easy to get distracted by questions we cannot answer.  Let's focus on the one fact that is obvious in both stories: great love was expressed and showered upon Jesus, and it will never be forgotten.

Hospitality.  It was customary for dignified hosts to have water, a towel and oil ready for their guests upon their arrival, for the roads were dusty and walking was brutal.  The guest would first wash his feet, then dry them, and then anoint them with oil.  When the Lord arrived at Simon's home, nothing was prepared for him.  Nothing.  This was not forgotten by the Lord.  And it apparently wasn't forgotten on the part of Mary. 

As soon as her Lord came into their house, Mary anointed His feet with oil and dried them with her hair.  She didn't use any sort of oil.  She used the best - the finest, the most expensive.

Mary's Love.   Love knows no limits.  The oil Mary used cost a lot of money - weeks, months, maybe even a year's worth of wages.  It didn't matter to her or to anyone else.  It was worth it.  Mary had discovered Christ's worth, and He was worth more than all their possessions.

Christ's Love.  There's an old saying:  "No good deed goes unpunished!"  This may be true when it comes to human beings, but it not true when it comes to God.  God never forgets a good deed.  NEVER!  No act of love is too small for Him or too insignificant for Him, for love runs deep in His veins.  It is who He is!  

Hence, when the Lord witnesses Love, He never forgets it.  In fact, He takes note of it and even imitates it, like when He washed His disciples feet! 

And it was recorded in the minds of His followers for all eternity.  

What a difference between God and humans.  Humans tends to take note of their brothers and sisters weaknesses and failings.  We tend to remember the bad, not the good; the sins of others, not their good deeds.

God forgives sins and never forgets love. 

During this first day of Holy Week, let us never forget the value of a good deed, an act of love, for no good deed goes unnoticed or forgotten.