Mark begins his narrative with a story about a woman who annoints the head of Jesus with a jar of expensive oil. This act of generosity, love and sacrifice evokes indignant remarks from those in the room who question why she didn’t sell the perfume to give to the poor instead of pouring it on Jesus’ head.
Jesus addresses their statements by pointing out her good intentions and the ever-present opportunities they have to express generosity for the poor, which they apparently are not taking advantage of.
In doing so, He is not diminishing the importance of practical charity but esteeming the sacrificial love of God manifested in the woman’s action. He is also pointing out the hypocrisy of those who criticize this woman because they themselves could be helping the poor if they truly wanted to.
Judas, on the other hand, is the far opposite of the woman. He is an example of someone who uses Jesus for self-gain. He doesn’t care for the poor, nor for Jesus.
Throughout history, there has always been a necessary relationship between our love of God and our love of neighbor. Our love of God is our first step in our ability to serve the poor.
As Jesus approached His Passion, the woman responded with generosity, commitment, sacrifice and abundant love of God; Judas responded with self-preservation, self-protection, self-gain and self-interest.
We are all unworthy. Not one of us is worthy. We are not perfect. We cannot do holy things all the time. We have our weak moments. We all sin.
Let us not beat ourselves when we sin or be so hard on others when they sin. Let us allow it to be an occasion for mercy.
The Christian life is not about being perfect, it is about being forgiven. It is about being in love with God and loving others so that they know God loves them. Staying connected to God through prayer and a life of service, so that we are transformed to be more and more like Him, more perfect.
It doesn’t mean we will get it right all the time, it means we accept who we are and what we are in relation to God and love Him all the more for the amazing thing we will be celebrating this week.
The story of this Holy Week, or Passion Week, should be filled with the thought that we are, indeed, unworthy to approach God, but He loved us so much in our sinful state that He was willing to die for us.
He is willing to provide a way let Him in our lives as we recognize our weakness and ask for mercy. That is the way of God. It is the way of a sacrificial and selfless love given to us because of who God is, not because of who we are.