"Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my Spirit" Isaiah 42:1

So begins today’s first reading from Isaiah. In his typical, poetic fashion, Isaiah functions as God’s prophet and mouthpiece, announcing the way in which the Messiah is to come, “…Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street [which recalls to mind Our Lord’s humble yet triumphant ride into Jerusalem yesterday].” The Lord continues through Isaiah that it is He who shall establish a covenant, “…to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.” Of course, we, the inheritors, know in Whom this entire covenant lies contingent: Jesus Christ, and His Paschal Mystery which will see Him die in expiation for our guilt and rise to ratify the promise that our faith will not go with reward.

Let us consider then the price that our Lord pays for us. Surely there is no greater price than one’s own life, especially if laid down for a friend(s) (John 15:13)? In this light then, I find Mary’s action of anointing Jesus’ feet in the Gospel to be eye-opening. We find Judas offering the good question as to why the oil was not sold to aid the poor (although he himself had evil intentions), yet Jesus affirms that Mary has done correctly. Why has He done this, one who had a great concern and care for the poor?

I can only surmise that it is because Jesus expects us to imitate His great offering, of paying a great price for His sake as He has done for our sake. The oil, though of great price, is nothing compared to the value that each one of our lives has to God, Who pines for us to give ourselves as totally to Him as He has to us. Thus, we ourselves are the costly thing which we are called to give up for our greatest Friend, Jesus Christ. And yet, our dying to ourselves as Jesus asks (Mark 16:24) will not go without reward, as Jesus’ Resurrection makes abundantly clear.

As we continue through this Holy Week, let us all pray for ourselves and the rest of the human family to be willing more fully to give ourselves, us who are of great price, to the Lord just as He has given Himself for us in order that we may one day rise with Him and live with Him forever and ever. (2 Tim 2:11)