Holy Week: Jesus's Life All Poured Out

St. Mark introduces his Passion Narrative in an interesting way, by recounting a dinner that takes place in Bethany just before Jesus enters Jerusalem for the last time. He dines at the home of Simon, and a woman breaks an extremely expensive jar of perfumed oil and pours out its contents on Jesus's head. The Greek word here translated as "breaks" has the sense of being "shattered." Obviously, if the jar is shattered, all of its precious liquid will be poured out. The image helps us to interpret what is happening to Jesus as he suffers and finally dies on the cross. His body is shattered, and all of its contents -- everything that he has and is -- body, soul, humanity, divinity -- is poured out for love of you and me. As we meet Jesus this week making a total gift of self, may we respond with a total gift of self to him in return.

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