What should you do after Jesus raises you from the dead? Throw a party, of course! Lazarus and his sister Martha served Jesus in response to the amazing love He first showed them (cf. Jn. 12:1-2). So did their sister Mary, anointing His head and feet with very expensive ointment (cf. Jn. 12:3). When Jesus saw Mary serve from pure love, He made her lavish action an example for us, saying it would “be told in memory of her” wherever the gospel is proclaimed (Mt. 26:13). Yet not everyone saw it that way.
“Why was this ointment not sold…and given to the poor?” the apostles’ treasurer asked, seemingly reading the others’ minds (Jn. 12:4-5, cf. Mt. 26:8). This is real life: sometimes Christians disagree on how best to serve, even critiquing others’ initiative. Hearing this judgment of her sister, perhaps Martha suppressed a smirk as she cleared the dishes: she knew from experience what Jesus would say (cf. Lk. 10:38-42). He did not disappoint. “Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want you can do good for them. But you will not always have me” (Mk. 14:6-7).
Caring for the poor is important: Jesus’ allusion to the Law’s command to “open wide your hand” knowing “there will never cease to be poor in the land” makes that clear (Deut. 15:11). Yet, Jesus is more important. Without Mary knowing it, she had anointed Jesus for His upcoming burial (cf. Jn. 12:7). The cross would make her service even more significant than it already was. This is also true for us. As followers of Jesus, we do not serve for the sake of serving but to glorify God and honor Christ before others. Yet, that requires self-examination. Only two people know your motivation: God and you. After all, it was only with the Spirit’s inspiration that John realized that the objection of their treasurer – Judas Iscariot – was “not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief” (Jn. 12:6).
So, we need to ask: why do I serve? Then we need to work with God to continually purify our hearts and ensure His love is our motivation. This is a challenge, but also an opportunity. As we learn from Jesus how to serve, He will make even our most generous acts far more significant than they would ever be on their own.
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