The
Fragrance of Nard – Anointing for Burial and Kingship
One of the most mysterious and profound
symbols of Holy Week appears in Monday of Holy Week Gospel: nard.
“Mary took a pound of costly perfumed
oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried
them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.” (John 12:3)
What is nard, and why does it matter so
much?
Nard (Spikenard) is a rare, costly oil
derived from a plant that grows in the Himalayas. Because of its rarity and
difficulty in transportation, it was an extravagant luxury—so precious that
only kings, priests, and the dead were anointed with it.
Symbolism of Nard in Holy Week
- Anointing
of Kings – Nard was used to consecrate rulers. Mary’s anointing recognizes
Jesus as King, though His throne will be the Cross.
- Preparation
for Burial – Nard was also used to anoint the dead before burial. Mary
unknowingly prepares Jesus for His Passion.
- Extravagant
Love – This anointing was an act of pure devotion, symbolizing that
nothing is too precious to give to Christ.
Judas objects, arguing that the money
should have been given to the poor. But Jesus rebukes him, recognizing Mary’s
deep spiritual insight:
“Leave her alone. She has kept this for
the day of My burial.”
(John 12:7)
Unlike the other disciples, Mary
understands that the appointed time has come.
4.Nard, Myrrh, and the Chrism Mass – A
Connection Through Time
This act of anointing Jesus at Bethany
connects deeply to another important moment in Holy Week: the Chrism Mass.
At the Chrism Mass, the Church blesses
the three sacred oils used for anointing throughout the year:
·
Chrism
Oil – Used for baptism, confirmation, and ordination (symbolizing kingship
and mission).
·
Oil
of the Sick – Used for healing and comfort (recalling how Jesus healed
through anointing).
·
Oil
of Catechumens – Strengthens those preparing for baptism and new life.
Just as Mary anointed Jesus before His
Passion, the Church continues to anoint its people for their journey of faith.
Comparison Between Nard, Myrrh &
Frankincense
Frankincense: This
symbolises Divinity and Priestly Role.
It is given by the Magi and used in liturgy to symbolise Jesus as High
Priest.
Myrrh: this symbolizes Suffering and Death and given by the Magi
to foreshadow His Passion. It was used
for Jesus’ burial
Nard: This symbolized Kingship, burial and devotion. Mary anoints Jesus at Bethany as a sign of
extravagant love and mission.
Through nard, myrrh, and chrism, we see
how anointing runs through the entire life of Christ—from His birth to His
Passion, and through the Church in every sacrament.
How Will
We Journey Through Holy Week?
Holy Week is not meant to be observed
from a distance—we are called to enter into it fully. Here are some ways to
immerse ourselves in this sacred time:
Daily Mass – The readings of Holy Week draw us
deeper into the unfolding mystery of Christ’s Passion.
Stations of the Cross – Meditating on
Jesus’ journey to Calvary helps us walk with Him in prayer.
Fasting & Abstinence – These
practices empty us, making room for God’s grace to work in us.
Prayer & Scripture Reflection –
Spending time in personal prayer with the Passion narratives prepares our
hearts.
Sacrament of Reconciliation – Just as
Mary poured out nard, we are called to pour out our sins and burdens before
Christ.
Acts of Charity & Service – Holy Week is a
time to live out Christ’s love through concrete acts of mercy.
Mary’s
anointing in all four Gospels
The
Anointing in All Four Gospels – Same Event or Different?
All four Gospels contain an anointing
story, but there are key differences between them:
Difference: In Matthew and Marks
account, the woman who anoints Jesus is unnamed and she anoints His head. (Mt
26:6-13) and Mark 14:3-9).
In Luke and John’s account the feet are
anointed. (Lk 7:36-50) and John 12:1-8)
In Luke’s account, the woman who anoints
Jesus is referred to as a sinful woman and she anoints His feet. It occurs at
Bethany at the house of Simon the Pharisee. It also occurs much earlier in the
Gospel.
In John’s account Mary of Bethany
(sister of Martha and Lazarus) is identified and she anoints His feet. The
timing of the anointing is important too- 6 days before Passover.
Similarity: In all 4 accounts the anointing occurs at
Bethany. In Matthew and Mark’s account
it occurs at Bethany, house of Simon the leper whereas in Luke’s account it
occurs at the House of Simon the Pharisee and in John’s account at the home of
Martha and Mary and Lazurus.
The response of the disciples is to
complain. In Luke’s account, the Pharisee is scandalized whereas in John’s
account, Judas is the complainant.
Are These
the Same Event
The
anointing of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and John takes place in Bethany, but
Luke’s account happens much earlier and involves a different woman—a
"sinful woman" rather than Mary of Bethany.
Only
John specifically names Mary of Bethany as the one who anoints Jesus.
Matthew and Mark’s accounts are nearly identical—an unnamed woman anoints
Jesus’ head in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, while John places Mary
anointing His feet at a dinner in Bethany.
Luke’s account stands apart, happening at a different time, in a different
house (a Pharisee's), with a different woman, emphasizing forgiveness rather
than preparation for burial.
“Wherever
This Gospel is Proclaimed, She Will Be Remembered”
This
phrase appears in Matthew and Mark’s accounts, after the woman anoints Jesus:
“Amen,
I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she
has done will be told in memory of her.” (Matthew 26:13, Mark 14:9)
Why is this significant?
- Jesus
links this woman’s anointing to the eternal Gospel message.
- While
Mary of Bethany’s name is recorded in John, the women in Matthew and Mark
remain unnamed—perhaps to represent all who pour out extravagant love for
Christ.
- This
promises that love and devotion to Christ will never be forgotten.
John’s
Gospel, however, focuses on the burial preparation aspect rather than
emphasizing eternal remembrance: This also highlights that Mary understood that
the appointed time had come for Jesus.
“Leave her alone. She has kept this for the
day of My burial.” (John 12:7)
Mary of Bethany & Sitting at Jesus’
Feet
Mary of Bethany appears in another key
moment earlier in the Gospels—when Martha is busy serving, and Mary sits at
Jesus' feet, listening to Him.
“Mary sat beside the Lord at His feet
listening to Him speak, while Martha was burdened with much serving.” (Luke 10:39-40)
This beautifully connects the two
moments:
- In Luke
10, Mary sits at Jesus' feet in contemplation.
- In John
12, she anoints His feet in devotion.
·
Both
times, she is close to Jesus.
·
Both
times, she is misunderstood (Martha in Luke, Judas in John).
Both times, Jesus defends her choice.
Her love and understanding of Christ’s
mission is clear—she recognizes His worth and gives everything for Him. The
Gospel therefore invites us to have a similar response to Mary- to be clear
about Christ’s mission in our lives and to give ourselves completely and
lavishly to Him as He has done for us.
As we reflect on Mary’s anointing of
Jesus, we are invited to ask:
·
Are
we willing to “waste” ourselves in love for Christ?
·
Do
we hold anything back from God—our time, our devotion, our trust?
·
Are
we preparing our hearts for the “appointed time” of our own journey with Him?
·
At
the appointed time, will we be ready?
Like Mary, we are called to give without
counting the cost, to recognize the presence of Christ before us, and to pour
out our lives for the One who poured out everything for us.
On
Thursday of the 4th week Ordinary Time we hear Mark 6:7-14 where it
states that the disciples anointed others with oil.
At
that time, the disciples anointed the people for healing and repentance. They
were sick in some way or in need of deliverance. The Church carries on this anointing through
the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. The disciples anointed as part of
their mission to heal and bring wholeness to others. The Sacrament of the Anointing has this same
purpose and the Church carries on the disciples mission.
When
we contrast this with the anointing that Mary offered, she anointed Jesus for
burial because she realised His appointed time had come. He did not need healing or repentance, but
rather she anointed Him out of love, devotion and recognition of who He was.
.
The Disciples’ Anointing and Mission
At that time, the disciples anointed the
people for healing and repentance. They were sick in some way or in need of
deliverance. The Church carries on this anointing through the Sacrament of the
Anointing of the Sick. The disciples anointed as part of their mission to heal
and bring wholeness to others. The Sacrament of Anointing today has the same
purpose, continuing the disciples’ mission.
When we contrast this with the anointing
that Mary offered, she anointed Jesus for burial because she realized His
appointed time had come. He did not need healing or repentance, but rather, she
anointed Him out of love, devotion, and recognition of who He was.
Judas
& The Shift in His Heart
Judas
was one of the disciples sent out in pairs—meaning he, too, anointed people in
Jesus’ name! He was chosen, set apart, and sent with authority—just like the
other disciples.
But
at the appointed time, his heart changed—he went from anointing others
selflessly to wanting to profit from Jesus. The same hands that once poured oil
in Jesus' name would soon reach for thirty pieces of silver.
Instead
of seeing anointing as a gift freely given, he saw it as something to be traded
for personal gain.
Jesus had given Judas authority and entrusted him with the
mission of the Kingdom. But when the devil placed betrayal in his heart (John
13:27), Judas rejected his anointing, his calling, and ultimately, his identity
as a disciple of Christ.
Throughout
Scripture, we do not hear much from Judas early on, yet he was one of the
twelve, outwardly following Jesus' mission. However, when Satan entered his
heart at the appointed time, his attitude shifted. He went from anointing to
betraying, from outward generosity to selfish greed.
Of
course, this can happen to us as well—we, too, can experience a slow shift in
priorities, a gradual cooling of the heart, and before we know it, we drift
further from Christ.
Judas
did not fall away overnight. He was part of Jesus’ ministry, performed
miracles, anointed others, and preached the Gospel. His heart shifted over
time. He may not have fully realized how his heart was changing until it was
too late.
This is the great spiritual warning of Holy
Week.
Our
Lenten journey invites us to have a change of heart in the right direction. In
Holy Week, we hear this Gospel and are again reminded of our need for renewal,
repentance, and a change of heart. We are called to notice the slow shifts in
our hearts before they harden like Judas’—to return to the anointing and
mission Christ has given us and to claim again our identity in Him as beloved
sons and daughters o God.
Gospel Reflection: The Anointing at
Bethany (John 12:1-8)
As Jesus sits at table with Mary,
Martha, and Lazarus, the air is filled with the rich, earthy scent of nard.
Mary kneels before Jesus, breaking open a jar of costly perfumed oil and
pouring it lavishly over His feet. She then does something culturally
shocking—she loosens her hair and wipes His feet with it.
The house is filled with the fragrance
of her love.
But not everyone sees it that way.
“Why
was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?”
(John 12:5)
Judas is disgusted by this display. He
sees waste where Jesus sees worship. He speaks of the poor, yet John tells us
his real concern was his own greed—he was a thief, dipping his hand into the
common purse.
But Jesus silences him with a profound
statement:
“Leave
her alone. She has kept this for the day of My burial. The poor you will always
have with you, but you do not always have Me.” (John 12:7-8)
Mary’s Anointing – A Love That Knows No
Limits
Mary’s act is one of reckless,
extravagant love.
- The cost
of the oil was nearly a year’s wages.
- The
gesture of wiping Jesus’ feet with her hair was intimate, humble, and
deeply countercultural.
Mary is not calculating the cost—she is
pouring out everything for Christ. In that moment, she recognizes that Jesus is
more valuable than anything she owns.
Hearing this Gospel on Monday of Holy
Week we are invited to ponder our own response to Jesus.
- Do I
love Jesus with this kind of total self-giving?
- Do I
hold anything back from Him?
Judas’ Objection – A Heart Turned Inward
Judas, by contrast, is the voice of
calculated love.
- He talks
about generosity but his heart is closed.
- He sees
waste where there is worship.
His words sound practical and
reasonable, yet his heart is filled with self-interest. How often do we justify
half-hearted devotion with "good reasons"?
Hearing this Gospel on Monday of Holy
Week we are invited to ponder our own response to Jesus
- Am I
giving to God out of love, or do I measure what I "get" in
return?
- Do I
judge how others express their devotion rather than focusing on my own?
Jesus’ Response – The Appointed Time Has
Come
Jesus defends Mary’s love, because she
understands something the others do not.
“She
has kept this for the day of My burial.”
Mary’s anointing is not a random act of
devotion—it is a prophetic sign. Jesus knows His Passion is near, and Mary’s
gift is preparing Him for the tomb.
She gives now, rather than waiting until
it is too late.
Hearing this Gospel on Monday of Holy
Week we are invited to ponder our own response to Jesus
- Do I
recognize the appointed time in my own spiritual journey?
- Do I
give Jesus my love while I still have the chance, or do I assume there
will always be more time?
The Poor You Will Always Have With You”
– What Did Jesus Mean?
At first, Jesus’ words seem shocking—is
He saying we should ignore the poor? Not at all.
- Jesus is
quoting Deuteronomy 15:11, which says:
“There
will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be
open-handed toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy.”
- His
words are not about neglecting the poor, but about recognizing this unique
moment.
- Mary’s
act of love was not in competition with helping the poor—rather, it was
responding to Christ’s presence in the here and now.
Hearing this Gospel on
Monday of Holy Week we are invited to ponder our own response to Jesus
- Do I
focus on practical concerns so much that I miss the presence of Christ
before me?
- Do I
recognize what truly matters in the moment God has placed before me?
Are We Mary or Judas?
This Gospel presents two ways of
responding to Jesus:
Mary’s way – A love that is unrestrained,
humble, and personal. She gives all for Christ.
Judas’ way – A love that is calculated, self-serving, and judgmental. He sees
devotion as wasteful.
Holy
Week invites us to choose:
Will we love without counting the cost just like Jesus did for us?
Will we pour out our time, devotion, and hearts for Christ just as Jesus gave
His life for us?
Will we recognize the appointed time to give, before it is too late?
May we be like Mary of Bethany, filling
the house of our hearts with the fragrance of love—a love that is extravagant,
self-giving, and ready for the journey to the Cross.
