the alabaster box

³And when he was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, and was reclining to eat, a woman arrived having an alabaster container of ointment, of precious spikenard. And breaking open the alabaster container, she poured it over his head. ⁴But there were some who became indignant within themselves and who were saying: “What is the reason for this waste of the ointment? ⁵For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and been given to the poor.” And they murmured against her. ⁶But Jesus said: “Permit her. What is the reason that you trouble her? She has done a good deed for me. ⁷For the poor, you have with you always. And whenever you wish, you are able to do good to them. But you do not have me always. ⁸But she has done what she could. She has arrived in advance to anoint my body for burial.

³⁶Then certain Pharisees petitioned him, so that they might eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee, and he reclined at table. ³⁷And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner, found out that he was reclining at table in the house of the Pharisee, so she brought an alabaster container of ointment. ³⁸And standing behind him, beside his feet, she began to wash his feet with tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and she kissed his feet, and she anointed them with ointment. ³⁹Then the Pharisee, who had invited him, upon seeing this, spoke within himself, saying, “This man, if he were a prophet, would certainly know who and what kind of woman is this, who is touching him: that she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰And in response, Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Speak, Teacher.” ⁴¹“A certain creditor had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

¹Then six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethania, where Lazarus had died, whom Jesus raised up. ²And they made a dinner for him there. And Martha was ministering. And truly, Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at table with him. ³And then Mary took twelve ounces of pure spikenard ointment, very precious, and she anointed the feet of Jesus, and she wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. ⁴Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was soon to betray him, said, ⁵“Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the needy?” ⁶Now he said this, not out of concern for the needy, but because he was a thief and, since he held the purse, he used to carry what was put into it.

³⁸And standing behind him, beside his feet, she began to wash his feet with tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and she kissed his feet, and she anointed them with ointment.

³And then Mary took twelve ounces of pure spikenard ointment, very precious, and she anointed the feet of Jesus, and she wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment.

¹Then six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethania, where Lazarus had died, whom Jesus raised up. ²And they made a dinner for him there. And Martha was ministering. And truly, Lazarus was one of those who were sitting at table with him. ³And then Mary took twelve ounces of pure spikenard ointment, very precious, and she anointed the feet of Jesus, and she wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the ointment. ⁴Then one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was soon to betray him, said, ⁵“Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the needy?” ⁶Now he said this, not out of concern for the needy, but because he was a thief and, since he held the purse, he used to carry what was put into it.

⁶And when Jesus was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, ⁷a woman drew near to him, holding an alabaster box of precious ointment, and she poured it over his head while he was reclining at table. ⁸But the disciples, seeing this, were indignant, saying: “What is the purpose of this waste? ⁹For this could have been sold for a great deal, so as to be given to the poor.” ¹⁰But Jesus, knowing this, said to them: “Why are you bothering this woman? For she has done a good deed to me. ¹¹For the poor you will always have with you. But you will not always have me.

²⁸And one of the scribes, who had heard them arguing, drew near to him. And seeing that he had answered them well, he questioned him as to which was the first commandment of all. ²⁹And Jesus answered him: “For the first commandment of all is this: ‘Listen, O Israel. The Lord your God is one God. ³⁰And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart, and from your whole soul, and from your whole mind, and from your whole strength. This is the first commandment.’ ³¹But the second is similar to it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

³⁷And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner, found out that he was reclining at table in the house of the Pharisee, so she brought an alabaster container of ointment.

¹“Then the kingdom of heaven shall be like ten virgins, who, taking their lamps, went out to meet the groom and the bride. ²But five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. ³For the five foolish, having brought their lamps, did not take oil with them. ⁴Yet truly, the prudent ones brought the oil, in their containers, with the lamps. ⁵Since the bridegroom was delayed, they all fell asleep, and they were sleeping. ⁶But in the middle of the night, a cry went out: ‘Behold, the groom is arriving. Go out to meet him.’

³⁸Now it happened that, while they were traveling, he entered into a certain town. And a certain woman, named Martha, received him into her home. ³⁹And she had a sister, named Mary, who, while sitting beside the Lord’s feet, was listening to his word. ⁴⁰Now Martha was continually busying herself with serving. And she stood still and said: “Lord, is it not a concern to you that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, speak to her, so that she may help me.” ⁴¹And the Lord responded by saying to her: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled over many things. ⁴²And yet only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the best portion, and it shall not be taken away from her.”

¹Now there was a man among the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. ²He went to Jesus at night, and he said to him: “Rabbi, we know that you have arrived as a teacher from God. For no one would be able to accomplish these signs, which you accomplish, unless God were with him.” ³Jesus responded and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one has been reborn anew, he is not able to see the kingdom of God.” ⁴Nicodemus said to him: “How could a man be born when he is old? Surely, he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be reborn?” ⁵Jesus responded: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one has been reborn by water and the Holy Spirit, he is not able to enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

²⁷And this shall be in that day: his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke will be taken away from your neck, and the yoke will decay at the appearance of the oil.