For 3 readers: Storyteller, Judas, Jesus
Storyteller: In today’s New Testament reading, John presents a struggle between financial care and costly extravagance, between financial management and abundant generosity.
Hear anew the story of Mary and Judas at dinner with Jesus in Bethany.
I am ready from chapter 12 of John’s Gospel.
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 Jesus.
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 Jesus), said,
Judas: “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii? and the money given to the poor?”
Storyteller: Judas 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.
Then Jesus replied,
Jesus: ‘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.’
Storyteller:
Here ends the reading. May God bless us with understanding.
