Gospel commented, "You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me"

Book of Isaiah 42:1-7. 
Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, Upon whom I have put my Spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, 
Not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. 
A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, 
Until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. 
Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spreads out the earth with its crops, Who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk on it: 
I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, 
To open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. 



Psalms 27(26):1.2.3.13-14. 
The LORD is my light and my salvation; 
whom should I fear? 
The LORD is my life's refuge; 
of whom should I be afraid? 

When evildoers come at me 
to devour my flesh, 
My foes and my enemies 
themselves stumble and fall. 

Though an army encamp against me, 
my heart will not fear; 
Though war be waged upon me, 
even then will I trust. 

I believe that I shall see the bounty of the LORD 
in the land of the living. 
Wait for the LORD with courage; 
be stouthearted, and wait for the LORD. 




Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 12:1-11. 
Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 
They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. 
Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
Then Judas the Iscariot, one (of) his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, 
Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days' wages and given to the poor?
He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. 
So Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial.
You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." 
(The) large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 
And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, 
because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.


"You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me"

This is the historical event, now let us look for the symbol. Whoever you are, if you want to be faithful, pour precious perfume on the Lord’s feet along with Mary. This perfume is uprightness… Pour perfume on the feet of Jesus: follow in the Lord’s footsteps by a holy way of life. Wipe his feet with your hair: if you have more than enough, give to the poor and in this way you will have wiped the Lord’s feet… Perhaps the Lord’s feet on earth are in need. Indeed, isn’t it about his members he will say at the end of the world: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25,40)?

“And the house was filled with its fragrance.” That is to say, the world has been filled with the renown of this woman, for the sweet fragrance is her good name. People who associate the name of Christian with a dishonest life injure Christ…; if God’s name is blasphemed by bad Christians, it is praised and honored, on the other hand, by the good: “For in every place we are the aroma of Christ” (2Cor,14-15). And it is said in the Song of Songs: “Your name is oil poured out” (1,3).