Readings for Lent and Easter

Mary and her ointment

12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany. Lazarus was there, the man he had raised from the dead. ² So they made a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was among the company at table with him.

³ Then Mary took a pound of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She anointed Jesus’ feet with it, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the smell of the perfume.

⁴ At this, Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was going to betray him), spoke up.

⁵ “Why wasn’t this ointment sold?” he asked. “It would have fetched a year’s wages! You could have given it to the poor!”

⁶ (He didn’t say this because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief. He kept the common purse, and used to help himself to what was in it.)

⁷ “Let her alone,” replied Jesus. “She’s been keeping it for the day of my burial!