Sermon for the 5th Sunday in Lent – 04/06/2025

Rev. Enzo Pellini
John 12:1-8
12 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[c] but you will not always have me.”
***

Today’s Gospel tells us about Mary of Bethany and her deep love for Jesus. She anointed Jesus with expensive perfume, a powerful act of worship. Her actions show us what it means to truly honour Christ.
Mary’s Gift to Jesus
Six days before Passover, Jesus was in Bethany, where a dinner was held in His honour. Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, was there, along with his sisters, Mary and Martha. During the meal, Mary took a jar of pure nard, a very expensive perfume, and poured it on Jesus’ feet. She wiped His feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the fragrance.
Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples, was upset. He said, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?” But Judas didn’t say this because he cared for the poor—he was a thief.
Jesus answered, “Leave her alone. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.” Jesus was teaching that worshiping Him is the most important thing. Helping the poor is good, but loving and honouring God must come first. This is the first part of the Greatest Commandement (Mt 22:37-40)
The Cost of Worship
Therefore, the price of Mary Magdalene’s perfume (300 denarii) today would be approximately 45,000 Canadian dollars. This is an estimate based on the current average salary and may vary depending on the economic context and specific wages in a region. This was not a small sacrifice for Mary. It was a big act of love.
Some people might think she wasted it. But true worship is not about counting the cost—it is about giving everything to God. When we love Jesus, we give Him our best.
Why Did Mary Use Perfume?
In the Old Testament, kings and priests were anointed with oil. By anointing Jesus, Mary was showing that He was the Messiah, the chosen one of God. Her action also pointed to Jesus’ coming death. In those times, people anointed dead bodies with perfume before burial. Without knowing it, Mary was preparing Jesus for His sacrifice.
Also, wiping Jesus’ feet with her hair was a sign of deep humility. In Jewish culture, a woman’s hair was very special. By using her hair, Mary was showing that Jesus was more important than anything else in her life.
A Modern Connection: The Church and Its Buildings
This story makes me think about an issue today: the housing crisis in Canada. I’ve read that, some churches (not only in Canada) want to help by using their buildings for shelters. Transforming or even downsizing their properties. This is a good idea, don’t get me wrong, but we must also remember that church buildings are places of worship.
A church is not just a building—it is a place where people meet God. While we should help those in need, we should also ask: Is selling church buildings or downsizing them, or part of them the best solution? Or is the real problem something deeper—like government policies and economic issues?
The housing crisis needs real change, not just short-term fixes. Churches can support the poor and also speak out for fair housing laws. We must care for people, but we must also protect the places where we worship God. And we have to remember that church buildings were donated by generations of people with the intention of having places to worship God and for His word to be preached.
Worship First, Then Service
Mary’s perfume reminds us of this balance. Judas said it should have been sold for the poor, but Jesus knew that worship comes first. Loving God helps us love others better. If we stop worshiping, we lose the heart of our mission.
The Church is not just a charity. It is the body of Christ. If we lose our places of worship, we might also lose the faith that drives us to help others. Our mission must come from a heart that worships God first.
The Fragrance of True Worship
One of the most powerful images in this passage is the fragrance of Mary’s perfume filling the house. In the Bible, fragrances are often linked to worship and sacrifice. In Exodus, incense was burned in the tabernacle as a symbol of prayers rising to God. In Paul’s letters, he speaks of the sacrifice of Christ as a “fragrant offering” (Ephesians 5:2).
This reminds us that true worship leaves a lasting impact. Just as Mary’s perfume filled the house, our worship should fill the world with the love of Christ. People should sense the presence of God through our devotion and our actions.
Jesus and the Poor
Some people misunderstand Jesus’ words: “The poor you will always have with you.” This is not a dismissal of the poor. Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 15:11, which commands generosity toward those in need. He was reminding His followers that they should always care for the poor. However, He was also teaching that there are moments when worship must take priority.
Judas used the poor as an excuse. But Jesus knew his heart. He knew that Judas was not truly concerned about justice. Today, we see similar attitudes in politics. Some leaders speak about helping the poor but do not take real action. This is why the Church must remain a voice for true justice, grounded in worship.
A Call to Action
Jesus’ words—“You will always have the poor among you”—are not an excuse to ignore poverty. They remind us that helping the poor is a long-term commitment. The real issue is not just buildings, but fair wages, affordable housing, and government responsibility.
Churches should not feel pressured to sell their places of worship to fix a broken system. Instead, we should work for lasting change while keeping our focus on worship.
We are called to be both like Mary and like Jesus. Like Mary, we must be willing to give our best to Christ. Like Jesus, we must be concerned for the poor—not just with words, but with real action.
Giving Our Best to Jesus
Jesus teaches us to care for the poor, but He also shows us that worship is the foundation of everything we do. Mary gave her best to Jesus. We are called to do the same.
This Lent, let us ask ourselves: Are we putting Jesus first? Are we helping others in ways that bring real change? And are we keeping our worship strong so that everything we do is rooted in God’s love?
Let us be like Mary, offering our best to God, knowing that true worship changes the world around us. May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.