“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.” (John 12:3)

As Jesus draws nearer to His Passion, today’s gospel (John 12:1-11) presents a moment of striking intimacy and devotion. Six days before Passover, Jesus is at the home of Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead—a miracle that already pointed to His power over life and death, and foreshadowed His own resurrection. Amidst the gathering, Mary, a sister of Lazarus, performs a beautiful and extravagant act of love: she anoints Jesus’ feet with costly oil and dries them with her hair.

Washing one’s own feet is attested in Scripture, e.g. Abraham welcomed visitors to his tent by saying, “Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree” (Gen 18:4). A servant was the only one who could be expected to wash and anoint the feet of another person. Those who voluntarily washed someone else’s feet showed they were devoted enough to act as that person’s servant. Mary’s gesture is an act of commitment and discipleship, hospitality and affection, but it is also a prophetic act. She recognizes, perhaps more than the others, that Jesus is heading toward His death. Her action speaks volumes of humility and surrender. Mary holds back nothing from Jesus. At what cost?

She perhaps is embarrassing her family, holding them up to ridicule. But Mary forges ahead, regardless of how it may appear to others, whether others think it is proper or appropriate. Judas’ objection highlights a frequent temptation: to criticize love when it doesn’t fit into our categories of utility or economy. 

The passage also points ahead to the “Last Supper” in the Upper Room. Perhaps a key to understanding today’s gospel is what Jesus tells the disciples after he washes their feet: “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” [John 13:15]. Mary is the model disciple. She “follows” his example — albeit, prior to the example. She does what Jesus will do — washing and drying feet. If Mary is the model disciple, then Judas is presented as her contrast. Mary is generous. If the ointment were worth 300 denarii, that is roughly equivalent to a year’s salary. Judas is greedy — taking what doesn’t even belong to him. Mary illustrates her faith with actions. Judas talks piously — “giving to the poor” — but we know that he is not sincere. Both “prepare” Jesus for burial — she by the “anointing” and he by the betrayal.

Jesus defends Mary, pointing out that what she has done is timely and meaningful. It reminds us that true discipleship sometimes involves wasteful love—love that doesn’t count the cost but flows freely from the heart. This reading at the beginning of Holy Week invites us to ask ourselves: Do I offer Jesus  my best, or do I hold back out of fear, practicality, or appearances? Let us hope that Mary’s example inspires us to a deeper, more intimate devotion—to love Jesus without calculation, and to fill the “house” of our lives with the fragrance of surrender. 

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Image credit: Ascension Press