6 Apr 2020. Holy Mon. cycle A-2020. Is 42:1-7 + Jn 12:1-11

You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me (Jn 12:8).

Mary, the sister of Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead, washed Jesus’ feet with one liter of spikenard perfume (cf. Mk 14:6). Judas Iscariot who abhorred such extravagance estimated the wasted perfume to be worth a 300-day wage (cf. Jn 12:5). How big was this amount during Jesus’ time?

When Jesus multiplied the bread and fish to feed the crowd of 5,000 men, that count did not include women and children. To factor them all in, the crowd would have numbered at least 10,000. To feed such a big crowd, according to Philip, they needed some 200-day wage (cf. Jn 6:7) to buy food. Even that amount, Philip estimated, would feed them just little bit each.

By ratio and proportion, the perfume valued at 300-day wage would have been sold and the money raised would have fed 15,000 people. Imagine how much money is needed to feed 15,000 people today.

Based on the cheapest combo meal from McDonald’s, and granting the burger chain gave a discount for such a big order, an organizer of a 15,000-crowd would need about $90,000 to feed the people.

Perfume is a woman’s prized possession. Mary emptied it all on Jesus, selling everything she had to buy a prized treasure Jesus could give (cf. Mt 13:44-46).

Tell me whom to trust with my Trust Fund. Mary or Judas? VSS

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