Love Generously

Gospel Reflection for April 14, 2025

“Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, 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; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one [of] his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, ‘Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?’ He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’

[The] large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.” (Jn. 12:1-11 NABRE)

There are two points I’d like to highlight regarding today’s thought-provoking and convicting Gospel. The first point is that Mary sought to honor and adore Jesus with extreme and boundless generosity and charity. She did not hesitate to anoint the feet of Jesus with costly perfumed oil, although she easily could have received money for that oil and spent it on something else, which she may have really needed the money for. Or there may have been something that she really wanted to purchase, but she chose to sacrifice this desire and/or need in order to demonstrate the depth of her love, devotion, and faith in Jesus. She did not withhold anything from her Lord, even though it may have required making sacrifices.

May we follow this example of Mary’s in our own relationship with Jesus by always give Him our complete selves and all that we have to offer. May we make sacrifices for Him, as He did for us. We must sincerely and generously live out the love we have for our Lord by holding nothing back from Him. Whether this be our time, attention, repentance of sins, our feelings, struggles, finances, and every aspect of our life. May we give everything to Jesus, knowing that even if we are persecuted or questioned for our faith in Him, He loves us and will defend us saying, “Leave her(or him) alone.”

A second point we should consider is whether we ever act like Judas. When we find ourselves questioning or judging others for the way in which they live or for the way they honor God, may we analyze our intentions and motives behind our thoughts and judgments. Judas wanted the oil to be sold so he could steal a percentage of the proceeds. Thus, let us remember and hear Jesus’ voice saying, “Leave her(or him) alone,” when we feel tempted to judge someone. We are not the Judge. Rather, we are called by the Lord to treat others lovingly and mercifully as He does.

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” (Mt. 7:1-2)