- Feb 20, 2007
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When he was in Bethany reclining at table in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of perfumed oil, costly genuine spikenard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it on his head.4 here were some who were indignant. “Why has there been this waste of perfumed oil? It could have been sold for more than three hundred days’ wages and the money given to the poor.” They were infuriated with her. Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you make trouble for her? She has done a good thing for me. The poor you will always have with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them, but you will not always have me. She has done what she could. She has anticipated anointing my body for burial. Amen, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed to the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” (Mark 14:3-9)
I've heard this verse used as a criticism of social justice. The argument goes, 'the poor will always be with us, so why bother trying to beat poverty?' I don't really buy that argument given the Gospe'ls preference to the poor and my personal experience with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. As we heard in the Gospel reading two Sundays ago if you want to experience God, go to the 'least of these'.
Anyone else?