ACC ~ Matthew 26 v12 - 13

THE PRECIOUS OINTMENT

ORIGEN: The ointment with an agreeable odor represents what the faithful do for God. This very work of the faithful of God, which is ointment, becomes something else for the good of humanity—for instance, almsgiving, visits to the sick, welcoming strangers, humility, gentleness, pardon, and so forth. These are things that benefit human beings. He who does them to Christians anoints the Lord’s feet with ointment, for they are the Lord’s feet with which he will always walk. … This is the ointment which also anoints Christ’s head and flows down over his whole body, that is, it pours down on the whole church. This is the precious ointment that fills the whole house with its odor, that is, the church of Christ. This is the work that is proper not for penitents but for the preeminently holy people. Certainly the teaching necessary for people which feeds those who are poor in spiritually good things or those who are perhaps weak in avoiding sin—this is the plain ointment with which the Lord’s feet are anointed. However, the knowledge of the true faith which pertains to God alone—this is the precious ointment that anoints God, Christ’s head. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 77. [1]

[1] GCS 38.2:185-86.

DONE TO PREPARE ME FOR BURIAL

CHRYSOSTOM: He said, “She has done it for my burial,” that they might not be perplexed. See how he consoles her with what follows, saying, “What she has done shall be spoken of in the whole world.”

And this was at once consolation to his disciples and comfort and praise to her. “For all the world will celebrate her hereafter. Now she has announced beforehand my suffering by bringing to me what is needed for a funeral. So let no one reprove her. For I am so far from condemning her as having done wrongly or from blaming her as having not acted rightly that I will not permit what has been done to lie unnoticed. The world will know that which has been done in this house and in secret. It is in truth the deed of a reverential mind and fervent faith and a contrite soul.” THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW, HOMILY 80.2.” [1]

[1] PG 58:726; NPNF 1 10:482.