MARY, OUR MOTHER

SCRIPTURE COMMENTARY #416

And when Jesus was in Bethania, in the house of Simon the leper, There came to him a woman having an alabaster box of precious ointment and poured it on his head as he was at table. And the disciples seeing it had indignation, saying: "To what purpose is this waste? For this might have been sold for much and given to the poor." And Jesus knowing it, said to them: "Why do you trouble this woman? For she hath wrought a good work upon me. For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always. For she in pouring this ointment on my body hath done it for my burial. Amen I say to you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, that also which she hath done shall be told for a memory of her." (Matt. 26:6-13)

THE GOSPEL IS TO BE PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD: Our Lord foretold that this was to be, and at the same time He foretold that Mary's service of love would be known and honored throughout the lenght and breadth of Christendom. This prophecy has been, and is still being fulfilled. Each of the three Evangelists, St. Matthew, St. Mark and St. John relate the incident; and on Palm Sunday the Passion according to St. Matthew, which begins with this story, is read in every Catholic church throughout the world, and thus all Christians hear what Mary did to show her love for Jesus.

[From 'A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture' by Bishop Knecht, D.D.]
(1899 Douay-Rheims Bible)