Gospel in Art: Monday of Holy Week

Mary anointing Christ's feet, Illuminated Leaf 15v from the Vaux Passional, 1504, painting & ink on vellum © National Library of Wales

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 14 April 2025
John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 'Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?' He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the money bag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, 'Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.'

When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus.

Reflection on the Illuminated Manuscript Page

Gratitude naturally wells up within us when we recognise that we have been blessed or shown kindness. We feel especially grateful when someone's kindness towards us feels undeserved or unexpected. As Christians, we give thanks to God in response to the many ways He has poured out His grace, most especially through the gift of His Son, Jesus. The deeper our awareness of being graced, the deeper our gratitude becomes.

In today's Gospel, Mary of Bethany responds with heartfelt thanksgiving after Jesus restores her brother Lazarus to life. Her response is as extravagant as the gift she has received! She anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume and wipes them with her hair, a gesture of deep love. We all have something extravagant to give to God too...

Not everyone understands such acts of devotion though. Judas Iscariot criticises Mary, seeing only waste rather than worship. His inability to appreciate her gratitude is perhaps rooted in his own failure to recognise the grace he himself had received in being close to Jesus. That lack of awareness would later lead him down the path of betrayal. Awareness and gratefulness go hand in hand. when we are not aware, then we simply can't be grateful. During Holy Week we should be on high alert for being aware all the things Jesus has done for us, or we simply won't be able to be truly grateful.

Our illuminated manuscript page is part of the Vaux Passional. The Vaux Passional is a richly illuminated manuscript dating from the late fifteenth to early sixteenth century, and is among the most visually striking treasures held by the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. Lavishly decorated with thirty-four large miniatures in the refined and expressive style of the Flemish School, the manuscript stands as a remarkable example of late medieval devotional art. It still (highly unusually) retains its original early sixteenth-century binding, consisting of wooden boards covered in velvet, offering a rare glimpse into the binding-craftsmanship of the period. In our illumination we see Mary approaching Jesus' feet. A small dog (symbolic for fidelity) is back crawling away from Judas who is seen standing holding a bag of coins. Note also the peacock in the borders. In Christian art, the peacock symbolises eternal life and resurrection, as it was believed in antiquity that its flesh did not decay.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/john-12-1-11-2025/ (with audio)