(Our Gospel of John 12: 1-11 for this Monday of Holy Week tells the story of Mary of Bethany anointing Jesus' feet with a costly perfume. Sr. Melannie Svoboda, SND reflects on this extravagance and how it can translate to our lives of prayer.)
The Anointing of Jesus by Mary is a lesson in sensual extravagance. Mary uses "a liter of costly perfumed oil." Not merely a cup of cheap oil. After pouring the oil all over the feet of Jesus, she dries his feet with her own hair. Not a sanitized towel. What is the reaction of the others to this overt display of sensual extravagance? Judas things it is a waste of money and openly rebukes Mary. But Jesus publicly defends her action and, in doing so, upholds the place for sensual extravagance.
How sensually extravagant am I in my spiritual life? Isn't prayer itself a kind of "waste"? Certainly there are more productive things we could do with our time. But Jesus suggests that our relationship with him can be enriched by sensual experiences. Extravagances at prayer could be lighting a candle, burning incense, listening to music, and investing in a few spiritual aids. Jesus, help me to be more sensually extravagant in my love for you and others.
(This appears as the Monday, April 14, 2014 reflection in the LIVING WITH CHRIST daily missalette.")
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