Mary and Helen – Models of Genuine Caring
(Isaiah 42:1-7; Ps 27; Jn 12:1-11)
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Many years ago, well-known spiritual writer Henri Nouwen wrote a book entitled Out of Solitude. It contains three sermons he gave to health-care professionals outlining what it means to really care. One of the points he makes is that offering a cure or healing without caring for the person is sometimes more harmful than helpful.
Henri Nouwen
Mary of Bethany in the gospel today teaches us that same lesson – sometime genuine caring is all another person needs to face the vicissitudes of life.
This gospel takes place with the incident of Martha and Mary in the background. In that incident, Martha is upset because Mary is not helping her in the kitchen and is instead seated at Jesus’ feet. Jesus’ response is that Martha is worried about too many things, and that Mary has chosen the better part.
The “better part” that Mary has chosen is significant for us. First of all, she is defying all cultural, social and religious mores of that time, because to sit at the feet of a master was a man’s role, and not that of a woman. Also, she was not just listening to the words of Jesus, more, she was aware she was in the presence of the Word made flesh. She believed in who he was, and was content just to be in his presence, soaking up his love.
That intimate relationship with Jesus led her to actually perform a prophetic and very caring act. Somehow, she knew much more than his disciples what awaited him – his impending death, and so she anointed him for his burial, as Jesus himself states. She also intuited that although she could do nothing to stop that impending travesty of his trial and crucifixion, she could express her love and caring for him through this anointing. And that, it turns out, is exactly what Jesus needed at that moment. With that expression of love and caring for him in such a gentle, compassionate way, along with the blessings he bestowed on him by the Father at his baptism and transfiguration, he now had the strength to go to the cross.
Mary of Bethany anointing the feet of Jesus
The pound of nard that she brought in was worth a year’s wages at that time. Hers was an extravagant gesture conveying the message that Jesus is more important, and a relationship of listening to him and just being in his presence is more valuable, than anything else in the world. As well, the scent of the nard that filled the house with its perfume is a symbol of the Holy Spirit that the risen Jesus would pour out on all who believe in him and seek to follow him as of Pentecost.
Mary of Bethany lived out the teachings of Henri Nouwen about caring. She is an example for all of us of how we can and should care for each other, no matter how little we can actually do to help.
Sr. Jean Préjean, author of Dead Man Walking, which won an Oscar as a movie, is another Mary of Bethany. Knowing there is nothing she can do to stop an execution, she personally cares for each prisoner, doing what she can to support them, encourage them, and lead them to experience the forgiveness of God. With her genuine caring, many of them can go to their deaths with hope and a sense of perhaps being loved for the first time in their lives.
SR HELEN PREJEAN AT THE ANGOLAN STATE PENITENTIARY, Brooks Kraft/Sygma/Corbis
The Eucharist is a sacrament that makes present both the Word of God, and the unconditional love and caring of God shown us by Jesus throughout his ministry and his death on the cross.
May our celebration today help us to become more like Mary of Bethany and Sr. Jean Préjean, making the love of Jesus present in the lives of others by our genuine caring for them.
We should always make the love of Jesus present to others when we help the poor or the needy and even people who have sinned like prisoners. Jesus often helps people who are in need , the sick and suffering and the poor if we allow him to and want him to. There is still people who are stubborn, worried , resentment and cannot see the light so they will not notice what kind of person Jesus Christ is. We should care for that person when we are helping and healing people. It is well said in your homily. Thanks for the message. Bishop
Today I was using the gift of tongues to pray for mother who is weak and myself . While I was speaking I was shaking at the same time. It took more than 20 – 30 mins to end. I said Alleluia Alleliua I was shaking pretty hard . I was praying the Hail Mary and the Our Father to calm down. This is a Blessing from God. I was still shaken when the Holy Spirit is leaving me or still inside me.