ACC ~ John 12 v3b
THE OINTMENT OF GOOD DEEDS TO GODāS GLORY
ORIGEN Everything by which anyone is anointed is called oil. Ointment is one form of oil. So one form of ointment is costly; another is not. And so, every righteous action is called a good work. But one kind of good work is what we do for our fellow human beings or according to their [expectations]. Another kind of good work is something we do because of God and according to [his expectations]. Of the latter, one form is profitable to humanity; another serves only to the glory of God. For example, a person does something well under the influence of natural justice, not because of God, as sometimes even heathen or a lot of other people do. This kind of work is common oil, not of great fragrance, and yet it is duly accepted by God. ā¦
Peter says [in the Clementines] that good works done by unbelievers profit them in this world but not also in the other to the attainment of eternal life. This is only right, since they are not done because of God but because of human nature itself. But those who do them because of God, that is, believers, profit not only in this world but more especially in the one to come. What believers do because of God is a kind of ointment that has a pleasing fragrance. But part of this very work that believers do because of God ā¦ is done for the welfare of humanity, such as the giving of alms, visitations of the sick, entertainments of strangers, humility, kindness. ā¦ Those who do these things to Christians anoint the Lordās feet with ointment because they are the Lordās feet with which he always walksāsomething that penitents are especially accustomed to do in the remission of their sins. This is a work called a fragrant ointment, but it is not the best. Rather, those who pursue charity, continue in fasting and prayer, have patience in adversities like Job, in temptations, those who are not afraid to confess the truth of Godāall of which are things that are of no benefit to other people but only promote the glory of Godāthis is the ointment that anoints the head of the Lord Christ and from there runs down through his whole body, that is, the whole church. And this is very costly ointment whose fragrance fills the whole house, that is, the church of Christ. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 77. [1]
ABUNDANCE OF OIL COVERS ABUNDANCE OF SIN
EPHREM THE SYRIAN:
An abundance is oil with which sinners do business: the forgiveness of sins.
By oil the Anointed [2] forgave the sins of the sinner who anointed [his] feet. [3]
With [oil] Mary poured out her sin upon the head of the Lord of her sins.
It wafted its scent; it tested the reclining as in a furnace:
It exposed the theft clothed in the care of the poor. [4]
It became the bridge to the remembrance of Mary to pass on her glory from generation to generation. [5]
In its flowings is hidden joy, for oil does indeed gladden the face.
It brings its shoulder to all burdens in rejoicing and grieving with everyone:
For it serves joy yet is obeyed by gloom,
For faces joyful of life by it are resplendent,
And with it, the gloomy face of death is prepared for burial and dies.
HYMNS ON VIRGINITY 4.11-12. [6]
[1] GCS 38 2 (11):185-86; AEG 4:307-8**.
[2] Athanasius too speaks of Jesus anointing Mary with the oil of the unbreakable seal of the Trinity in a reference to baptism (Homily on the Resurrection of Lazarus [AJSL 57:264]).
[3] Ephrem identifies the sinful woman as Mary, presumably Mary Magdalene.
[4] A reference to Judeās later objections.
[5] Mk 14:9.
[6] ESH 278-79.