Read Today’s Scripture
“Costly nard, priceless blood.”
After Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, a woman anoints him with “very costly nard,” from a whole flask! Its fragrance would have overflown out the house onto the streets. In a way she “fasted” from her expensive nard, she gave it up for Christ. And Jesus says, “she has anointed my body for burying” (Mk 14:8). If you were there, this would’ve been a striking statement: while everyone else in Mark’s Gospel kept forgetting Jesus was going to die soon, this woman didn’t. It’s as though she remembered today’s Isaiah prophesy: that Jesus brings out the prisoners from the dungeon, and from the prison those who sit in darkness (Is 42:7)! But who’s this woman? Luke’s version of today’s Mark passage describes her as a sinner (Lk 7:37), a word whose brevity captures its weight—she was considered by many, unredeemable. Yet, she remembered Jesus would die. Why? You see, sinners remember Jesus’ death, because they can’t forget their debt. They are thankful that Jesus’ blood purchases their redemption! Likewise, in our fasting, we are challenged to remember that the things we fast from do not purchase our redemption, only Christ does. What better way to honor and worship him, than to give it up? It’s a way to remember that his death paid our debt.
Collect
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.