In Mark 14:1-15:47, Jesus said this “Let her alone, why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you have always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.”

Gospel: Mark 14:1-15:47

1 It was two days before the Passover and the feast of Unleavened Bread, and the chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by some trick and have him put to death.

2 For they said, ‘It must not be during the festivities, or there will be a disturbance among the people.’

3 He was at Bethany in the house of Simon, a man who had suffered from a virulent skin-disease; he was at table when a woman came in with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the ointment on his head.

4 Some who were there said to one another indignantly, ‘Why this waste of ointment?

5 Ointment like this could have been sold for over three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor’; and they were angry with her.

6 But Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. Why are you upsetting her? What she has done for me is a good work.

7 You have the poor with you always, and you can be kind to them whenever you wish, but you will not always have me.

8 She has done what she could: she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.

9 In truth I tell you, wherever throughout all the world the gospel is proclaimed, what she has done will be told as well, in remembrance of her.’

10 Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, approached the chief priests with an offer to hand Jesus over to them.

11 They were delighted to hear it, and promised to give him money; and he began to look for a way of betraying him when the opportunity should occur.

12 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, his disciples said to him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’

13 So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him,

14 and say to the owner of the house which he enters, “The Master says: Where is the room for me to eat the Passover with my disciples?”

15 He will show you a large upper room furnished with couches, all prepared. Make the preparations for us there.’

Reflection:

Today is Palm Sunday and the message from Mark 14:1-15:47 is obviously telling us a great message. As we prepare ourselves for the Holy Week, let us try to understand God’s revelation to us all. The gospel clearly tells us to give God what is due to Him. We are surrounded with so much opportunity to help the poor but the opportunity to be with God is rare.

The woman in Mark 14:1-15:47 is someone who has compassion for others. She did not hesitate to offer the expensive ointment to Jesus. She came to Jesus to anoint Him with the oil she has. She came to comfort a man who faces danger ahead and she risked he own reputation and safety. The ointment symbolizes the resurrection and this nard would calm the spirits of those who would always miss Jesus.

This Holy Week, we have to look deeper in our souls as to where we can find the courage and strength to face Jesus. If you remember, the People who welcomed Jesus with palm leaf on their hand would also be the same people who will betray Him and will make Him be crucified. These people symbolize us. Yes, it is us and we will betray Jesus every time we commit grave sins. This Holy Week, we will try to prepare ourselves. If Jesus will suffer, we have to also take a little risk to feel His suffering. A little sacrifice will do it. Fasting and penance will make us realize and feel what it is like to offer ourselves for the good of others.

This pandemic will surely affect how we celebrate this Holy Week as Christians. It is up to us now how we wanted to live our lives with compassion to the sufferings of Jesus. By doing charity and other good works to others, we offer ourselves to Him who never fails to give us His blessings even if He suffered a lot because of our sins. – Clea | Helpline PH