Mark 14:8 — Community Reflections

MARK 14:8 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.”

She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial — the burial interpretation transforms the anointing from a spontaneous act of devotion into a prophetic act of preparation. The woman may or may not have understood what she was doing; Jesus interprets her action as the anointing that will be denied after the death because the burial will be hurried. The women who come to anoint the body on Sunday morning (Mark 16:1) will find it too late.

Church Fathers on Mark 14:8

The Lord when about to suffer for the whole world, and to redeem all nations with His Blood, dwells in Bethany, that is, in the house of obedience.
Bede · 8th century

For the fawn amongst the stags ever comes back to his couch, that is, the Son, obedient to the Father even unto death, seeks for obedience from us.
Pseudo-Jerome · 5th century

But although the four Evangelists record the anointing by a woman, there were two women and not one; one described by John, the sister of Lazarus; it was she who six days before the Passover anointed the feet of Jesus; another described by the other three Evangelists. Nay, if you examine, you will find three; for one is described by John, another by Luke, a third by the other two. For that one described by Luke is said to be a sinner and to have come to Jesus during the time…
Theophylact · 11th century

Read all 17 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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