The Fifth Sunday of Lent Year C

The Fifth Sunday of Lent
(Passiontide begins)

Isaiah 43.16–21
Philippians 3.4b–14
John 12.1–8

Two stark characterizations from John: the full-blown devotion of Mary and the brooding cynicism of Judas. (On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays I think this may perhaps be the same story as that in Luke 7, where the woman is a ‘sinner’ and the host, and chief grumbler, is a Pharisee called Simon. Writing this on a Thursday, I acknowledge that the host in Matthew’s and Mark’s parallel to John is called Simon, but I still think Luke is talking about a different occasion.) Lazarus is alive again, and his sisters play out their accustomed roles, Martha serving and Mary at Jesus’ feet. Modern cities fill with noise, ancient ones (in the presoap days) with smell; Mary’s perfume wafts its welcome fragrance all through the house. Of course it’s outrageous, over the top. That’s the point. Brothers don’t get raised from the dead every day...