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Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’

 

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?’ He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.’

These two stories about Mary of Bethany have a remarkably similar shape.  In each, Mary attends to Jesus in such a way that an onlooker condemns her neglect of common morality.  Why is Mary just sitting and listening to Jesus? says Martha.  She should be serving him as a hostess, not to mention helping her sister.  Why is Mary wasting such expensive perfume? says Judas.  She should sell it and give it to the poor.  Such reasonable requests.  And to each, Jesus says, No, Mary is right.  Hospitality, alms-giving, such things are all well and good, but my presence changes things.  I am not just another guest to be served.  I am your Lord, your Christ, your Savior.  Your morality is no longer about common decency, but about me.  See how Mary sits at my feet and savors my words.  See how she anoints my feet as if I were a king.  She has got it right.