Monday’s Gospel finds Jesus in Bethany, a small town just beyond the Mount of Olives. He is visiting his friends, Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. (John 12:1-11) This account immediately follows the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, (John 11) and immediately precedes Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem (John 12: 12 ff.) It is here in the home of friends that John places the story of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus. Is it any wonder that Mary has in her possession “a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard” which she […]
As we continue our Holy Week Journey, we find Jesus in Bethany with his dear friends, Lazarus, Martha and Mary. (John 12: 1-9) The cenacle where Jesus celebrated the Last Supper with his disciples is very near the temple. From there, one simply crosses through the Kidron valley and up the hill to enter the Mount of Olives. And from there, it is a simple stroll up and over that hill and down again to Bethany. All of these sites lie within very close proximity to each other. This final visit of Jesus to Bethany […]