Then six days before Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who Jesus had raised from the dead. So a dinner was held there, and Martha served, and Lazarus was one of the ones seated at the table with him. 

Then Mary brought a pound of expensive ointment made of pure nard and anointed Jesus’s feet and wiped his feet dry  with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the myrrh. 

Judas Iscariot (one the twelve) – who was going to betray him – said ‘Why wasn’t this myrrh sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?’ He said this not because the poor were of a concern to him, but because he was a thief and held the common purse and he used to ‘lift’ what was put in it. 

Then Jesus said ‘Leave her alone. (She had been keeping it for the day of preparation for my burial). You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me . 

Then a large crowd [of Jerusalemites] knowing that he was there came,  not only because of Jesus, but also to see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests resolved to kill as well Lazarus because many of the Judeans were going off and believing  in  Jesus.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is discord, union;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy,
For your mercy and for your truth’s sake. Amen