Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/650

 The Divinity  of  our  Lord.  These  prophecies  prove  that  our  Lord knew future  things,  that  He  is  Omniscient  and  is  therefore  God.

Jesus suffered  willingly; for  though  He  knew  the  future,  and  what awaited Him  at  Jerusalem,  He  nevertheless  went  there  to  meet  His Passion and  Death.

Jesus suffered  all  His  Life; for  He  knew  beforehand  the  terrible sufferings and  death  which  He  would  endure. These were  before  His eyes all  through  His  life,  and  it  may  be  said  that,  in  a certain  measure, He suffered  a living  death.

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  honoured  throughout  the length 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.

Covetousness is  a capital  sin.  Judas  had  an  inordinate  love  of  money, or, in  other  words,  was  covetous  or  avaricious. He did  not  resist  this evil passion,  and  therefore  fell  by  degrees  into  greater  sins. He began by stealing,  first  small,  and  then  greater  sums  from  the  money  entrusted to his  care. He then  displayed  the  most  shameful  hypocrisy  by  making out that  the  interests  of  the  poor  were  his  only  care,  whereas  his  real object in  blaming  Mary's  extravagance  was  to  facilitate  his  thefts. In the hardness  of  his  heart  he  robbed  the  poor  of  the  alms  due  to  them, and from  treachery  to  them,  proceeded  to  treachery  towards  his  Lord and Master.

Generous love.  By  this  anointing  of  our  Lord  Mary  wished  to  give expression to  her  deep  love  for  Him,  and  her  gratitude  for  the  raising up of  her  brother. She used  the  most  costly  ointment  which  could  be procured,  to  signify  that  she  was  ready  to  offer  up  every  thing  she  most valued for  His  sake.

Care for  God's  honour, and  care  for  the  poor.  Mary’s  example teaches us  that  we  should  not  economize  when  it  is  a question  of  the worship of  God,  and  the  building  or  beautifying  of  His  churches. The praise bestowed  on  her  by  our  Lord  shows  that  such  offerings  in  His honour are  well  pleasing  to  Him,  if  they  are  made  in  a spirit  of  love and reverence. There will  always  be  men  who,  like  Judas,  will  blame such generosity  in  God’s  honour,  and  call  it  a needless  extravagance, saying that  the  money  would  be  far  more  usefully  spent  were  it  given to the  poor — and  yet  such  men  as  these  care  little  or  nothing  for  the poor. Christianity teaches  that  we  ought  to  do  the  one,  but  not  leave the other  undone.