Saturday, March 28 : Saint Chromatius of Aquilaea

The Gospel today relates that while the Lord was reclining at table with Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead, “Mary, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus”… As we often read in the Gospel, Saint Mary greatly pleased Christ by the exceptional greatness of her faith. In the passage that precedes, as she wept for the death of her brother she made the Lord weep too; for she touched the tender feelings of the author of tenderness. And, even though he was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, the Lord was to weep while Mary wept to demonstrate both his own tenderness and Mary’s worth… The Lord’s tears show us the mystery of the flesh he assumed; the resurrection of Lazarus brings to light the power of his divinity… In the present passage, see this woman’s devotion and faith. The others were at table with the Lord but as for her, she anointed his feet. The others were exchanging words and arguments with the Lord; but she, in the silence of her faith, wiped his feet with her hair. The others seemed to be honored, she to serve; but the service offered by Mary was of greater worth in the eyes of Christ than the most honorable seat of the guests. Besides,… about her the Lord said: “Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her” (Mt 26:13). So what was the service this holy woman gave that would be proclaimed in the whole world, and would proclaim it daily? See her humility. She did not start by anointing the Lord’s head but his feet… She started with his feet so as to merit reaching his head because, as it is written: “those who humble themselves will be exalted but those who exalt themselves will be humbled” (Mt 23:12). She humbled herself to be exalted.

maronite readings – rosary,team