Repentance as Self-Examination

A reading from the Gospel according to John, chapter 12. 

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’ 

We journey with Jesus to Bethany - to the home of his good friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus for a celebratory party. Jesus has called Lazarus from the grave and filled him with new life, making the impossible possible, bringing triumph from tragedy. For Martha, it is evident that Jesus is the Messiah. Mary in her gratitude, takes the costliest exquisite perfume money can buy. In adoration, she kneels at the feet of Jesus and offers anointing to the anointed one – the Christ.  

The moment is beautiful, intense, intimate and the house is filled with this fragrant offering. Jesus has saved Mary’s brother. And it’s just the beginning – a foretaste of what is to come as Jesus continues his journey to secure salvation for us all. 

But there are other odours in this house too. Below the surface, in the shadows and corners lingers a different scent – something rotten and deadly. It’s the smell of envy, outrage and hypocrisy. Soon it will deepen into the scent of betrayal and death. Judas - who knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing - attempts to grab the moral high ground and place himself in the limelight – drawing the focus away from fluid adoration to rigid certainty. 

Just a few short weeks ago we gathered at the crib of the infant Jesus encouraging one another to sing loud and long: ‘O come let us adore him’. Where is our adoration now? What lingers in the shadows of our hearts and minds this Passion Sunday? What attitudes, behaviours and judgements keep us from offering wholehearted praise to the one who brings new life from death?