Why This Waste? LOVE OF THE POOR

Apostolic Exhortation: Dilexi Te Pope Leo

CHAPTER ONE

A FEW ESSENTIAL WORDS

4. Jesus’ disciples criticized the woman who poured costly perfumed oil on his head. They said: “Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.”

However, the Lord said to them in response: “You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me” (Mt 26:8-9,11).

That woman saw in Jesus the lowly and suffering Messiah on whom she could pour out all her love. What comfort that anointing must have brought to the very head that within a few days would be pierced by thorns! It was a small gesture, of course, but those who suffer know how great even a small gesture of affection can be, and how much relief it can bring.

Jesus understood this and told the disciples that the memory of her gesture would endure: “Wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her” (Mt 26:13).

The simplicity of that woman’s gesture speaks volumes. No sign of affection, even the smallest, will ever be forgotten, especially if it is shown to those who are suffering, lonely or in need, as was the Lord at that time.

My Commentary

The simplicity of this woman's gesture of affection, is a sign of spiritual wealth far beyond the monetary value of the ointment. Pope Francis as often brings his unusual perspective to scripture, affirming first that the women's anointing of Jesus for his burial a symbolic proclamation of his being the Messiah, i.e. God's Anointed One.

Secondly, as a true disciple of Christ, she understood the spiritual value of even a small gesture of affection for those who are suffering, especially small gestures that affirm the true identity and charisms of the person receiving that gesture.

As usual with Pope Francis, he affirms that we often receive Christ and learn much more from the marginal than from our good Christian intentions.

Guide to Scripture Study of this Passage

This is one of the unusual passages outside the Passion Narratives for which we find evidence in all four Gospels. Matthew and Luke obviously knew the text of Mark. Notice however that Matthew follows Mark in placing it in the house of Simon the Leper, Luke focuses upon Simon as a Pharisee and John has it taking place in the house of Lazarus after Jesus raised him from the dead.

Notice that while Mark is vague about those who had objections, Matthew says that it was the disciples, Luke blames it on the Pharisees and John blames it on Judas! This sounds like a very widely circulating story about Jesus that was often adapted to the time, place and audience of its telling.

Luke goes so far as to connect it with another parable of Jesus about the forgiven of sins, making the point that those who are forgiven much are likely to love much.

^DRAMark 14:3 And when he was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, and was at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of precious spikenard: and breaking the alabaster box, she poured it out upon his head.	^DRAMatthew 26:6 And when Jesus was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, ⁷ There came to him a woman having an alabaster box of precious ointment, and poured it on his head as he was at table.	^DRALuke 7:36 And one of the Pharisees desired him to eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee, and sat down to meat. ³⁷ And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment; ³⁸ And standing behind at his feet, she began to wash his feet, with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. ⁴⁰	^DRAJohn 12:1 Jesus therefore, six days before the pasch, came to Bethania, where Lazarus had been dead, whom Jesus raised to life. ² And they made him a supper there: and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that were at table with him. ³ Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of right spikenard, of great price, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment
⁴ Now there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said: Why was this waste of the ointment made? ⁵ For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her. ⁶ But Jesus said: Let her alone, why do you molest her? She hath wrought a good work upon me. ⁷ For the poor you have always with you: and whensoever you will, you may do them good: but me you have not always	⁸ And the disciples seeing it, had indignation, saying: To what purpose is this waste? ⁹ For this might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. ¹⁰ And Jesus knowing it, said to them: Why do you trouble this woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. ¹¹ For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always.		. ⁴ Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, he that was about to betray him, said: ⁵ Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? ⁶ Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and having the purse, carried the things that were put therein. ⁷.
. ⁸ She hath done what she could: she is come beforehand to anoint my body for burial. ⁹ Amen, I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which she hath done, shall be told for a memorial of her.	¹² For she in pouring this ointment upon my body, hath done it for my burial. ¹³ Amen I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which she hath done, shall be told for a memory of her.
		. ³⁹ And the Pharisee, who had invited him, seeing it, spoke within himself, saying: This man, if he were a prophet, would know surely who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner
		And Jesus answering, said to him: Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee. But he said: Master, say it. ⁴¹ A certain creditor had two debtors, the one who owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. ⁴² And whereas they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both. Which therefore of the two loveth him most?³ Simon answering, said: I suppose that he to whom he forgave most. And he said to him: Thou hast judged rightly
		⁴⁴ And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon: Dost thou see this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet; but she with tears hath washed my feet, and with her hairs hath wiped them. ⁴⁵ Thou gavest me no kiss; but she, since she came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶ My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but she with ointment hath anointed my feet
		⁴⁷ Wherefore I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less. ⁴⁸ And he said to her: Thy sins are forgiven thee. ⁴⁹ And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves: Who is this that forgiveth sins also? ⁵⁰ And he said to the woman: Thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace.

The Greek word for "ointment" occurs almost exclusively in these passage. The two exceptions are Luke's use of the word by the women who were preparing to anoint the body of Christ after his death, and the use of the word in the Book of Revelations among in its description of the wealth of fallen Babylon.

And when he was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, and was at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of precious spikenard: and breaking the alabaster box, she poured it out upon his head. (Mark 14:3 DRA)

There came to him a woman having an alabaster box of precious ointment, and poured it on his head as he was at table. (Matthew 26:7 DRA)

And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment; (Luke 7:37 DRA)

(And Mary was she that anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair: whose brother Lazarus was sick.) (John 11:2 DRA)

And standing behind at his feet, she began to wash his feet, with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. (Luke 7:38 DRA)

Mary therefore took a pound of ointment of right spikenard, of great price, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. (John 12:3 DRA

Now there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said: Why was this waste of the ointment made? (Mark 14:4 DRA)

For this ointment might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and given to the poor. And they murmured against her. (Mark 14:5 DRA)

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? (John 12:5 DRA)

For she in pouring this ointment upon my body, hath done it for my burial. (Matthew 26:12 DRA)

My head with oil thou didst not anoint; but she with ointment hath anointed my feet. (Luke 7:46 DRA)

And returning, they prepared spices and ointments; and on the sabbath day they rested, according to the commandment. (Luke 23:56 DRA)

¹⁰ Standing afar off for fear of her torments, saying: Alas! alas! that great city Babylon, that mighty city: for in one hour is thy judgment come.

¹¹ And the merchants of the earth shall weep, and mourn over her: for no man shall buy their merchandise any more.

¹² Merchandise of gold and silver, and precious stones; and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner of vessels of ivory, and all manner of vessels of precious stone, and of brass, and of iron, and of marble,

¹³ And cinnamon, and odours, and ointment, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

¹⁴ And the fruits of the desire of thy soul are departed from thee, and all fat and goodly things are perished from thee, and they shall find them no more at all.

¹⁵ The merchants of these things, who were made rich, shall stand afar off from her, for fear of her torments, weeping and mourning.