Only Human

Today's gospel from John features three of the great characters of the New Testament. The first is "Mary," who anoints Jesus' feet with holy oil and dries them with her hair. (Other accounts have her washing them with her tears.) There is some debate about which Mary performs this beautiful, sensual gesture; regardless of who this woman was, I'm struck by the intimacy and sadness of it. I can imagine the urgency with which she felt the need to show her love, perhaps knowing that Jesus needed the support and even sensing some of the doom he must have been projecting.

The gesture, of course, is met with disapproval by Judas, another key figure. I'd say he probably wasn't alone in his disapproval, and I'd bet it had as much to do with the forwardness of the gesture as it did with the stated reason—that the money wasted on the oil could have been put to a more worthy purpose. Who is this woman to claim such intimacy with Jesus, before all of his friends?

But John focuses on the money. He says that Judas doesn't care about the poor but rather about his own pockets—he's a thief. I do wonder about that characterization. Elsewhere it is said that Judas was a revolutionary who was deeply disappointed that Jesus had not moved overthrow Roman rule in Israel; this was what the Messiah was supposed to accomplish. Could his anger (and subsequent betrayal) be as simple as greed? It makes me think about the possible dynamics of the group of apostles and disciples, the jealousies that must have arisen among them, the politics that must have been at work. These dynamics are so common in group settings and political movements; imagine how high the stakes must have been as these followers vied for the affections of a charismatic, compelling leader like Jesus!

Finally, the presence of Lazarus at the meal is noteworthy. He's attracting a following of his own, and  apparently the chief priests want him dead too, as he represented Jesus' most public triumph and the most convincing evidence of his power.

These characters remind me that the story of Jesus is about human beings, with all their weaknesses, pettiness and, well, humanity.  God became man and walked among us, perhaps to show us not only our own failings but also what could be possible if we followed his lead. Mary's example illustrates the kind of humility and service Jesus asked of us; Judas's example highlights the dangers of arrogance, greed and possibly self-righteousness. Lazarus shows us the wonders that God can do, but also the evil that tempts man when our interests are threatened.

As Lent nears its end, I'm hopeful that I can choose to live out the best traits of humanity, leaving my pettiness and weakness behind.