Mary's Offering

Preparation for today’s experience…
Instead of a spiritual practice, today will be a sensory experience using our sense of smell. Take a few minutes to gather something that smells good to you. This could be a scented candle, perfume, cologne or other fragrance. It could be something from the kitchen like freshly brewed coffee. Set this item before you and be sure you can smell it from where you are seated.

Begin in silence…
Close your eyes and begin to breathe deeply and slowly. Notice the scent of your fragrant item. Hold your breath for a moment and allow it to linger in your nose. Open your eyes as you continue to pay attention to the scent.

Background on the passage…
Today’s scripture reading focuses on Mary of Bethany and her fragrant offering to Jesus just days before his crucifixion. The story appears in three of the gospels with a few discrepancies. The account in John mentions Mary by name, along with Martha, Lazarus and the disciples present for a dinner honoring Jesus. In Matthew and Mark, the account says that Jesus is at the home of Simon the Leper, along with the disciples. Most scholars believe that the woman in Matthew and Mark is Mary because the timing of each is exactly six days before Passover.

In John, Mary pours the perfume on Jesus' feet, while in Matthew and Mark, the woman pours perfume over his head. Either way, she prepares his body for burial with this expensive offering. Jesus proclaims in both Mark and Matthew that what she has done will be remembered wherever the gospel is told.