Mary was taken aback. It was a dinner hosted in honour of Jesus. He had raised Lazarus, her brother to life after four days of putrefaction in the grave. Mary's heart was overwhelmed with gratitude. Lazarus was there at table. Martha was expressing her sentiments in her characteristic role -busy serving. Silently, but with a heart filled with exultation, Mary entered the dining hall and made straight for Jesus. Deftly she broke the alabaster jar in her hands. Out spilled the contents- pure and precious nard. She began anointing the feet of Jesus and wiped them with her hair.

The entire banquet hall was bathed in the fragrance. Then came the outburst. Like a fly in the ointment. A spate of angry murmuring and queries: Why this waste? Could not the expensive oil have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor? Mary was aghast. What provoked this unjustifiable ire? Judas Iscariot's voice was the loudest. Mary was aware that it was but a camouflage. Not so much love for the poor as greed for money! Her whole being rebelled. How could they? Jesus was the invited guest of honour. How could the disciples object so abrasively to any token of love or reverence shown to him? Where had all their delicacy and courtesy gone? Or did they not have it at all? As for her, it was nothing but the love of her Master that urged her on- that Master at whose feet she'd so often sat, drinking in the words of eternal life. She would pour it out in all its abundance- this costly perfume which was but a symbol of her life- a fragrant offering and sacrifice to her Lord!

Mary remained unperturbed. Whose expenditure was it anyway?. Why should it bother them so much? Male chauvinism, she concluded, in a social set- up where women did not count for much. Did she not have the liberty to show her devotion in the way she chose? She would empty not one but a thousand bottles to honour Jesus and count it as mere dross. For she was rooted and grounded in his love. To most of the people at table her action was utter foolishness. But Mary knew that God's foolishness was wiser than human wisdom. To all the world it was extravagance. But to her it was an exigency- the exigency of love.

They turned upon her with vehemence. But she stood her ground. Could they ever gauge the courage of a woman? A woman in love- and with the Son of God, at that! Poor fellows! A gush of tender love engulfed her whole being. She would make up for their callousness and insensitivity with her whole- hearted devotion.

The Master came to her defence. He who had suffered their discourtesy silently, now spoke up. "Leave her alone," he said. "Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial." There, he was at it againthe obsession with his passion and death! Mary shuddered. Unwittingly she had prepared him for burial. Was that to take place soon? He went on: "Wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her." Mary's heart cried out: There was no need for the world to know. He was her reward exceeding great. The action was its own recompense.

But Jesus would not be outdone in generosity. His promise was, to him, an exigency of love!
 
 
[ Contents ]