Voices Found for Monday in Holy Week, WLWC, year C, VF 137,
Voices Found #137
She poured the perfume lavishly,
a precious pound of nard,
anointing tenderly the feet
that nails too soon would pierce.
With fragrance sweet
the house was filled,
with scent of loving deed.
Words: Delored Dufner, OSB
Music: Sancta Civitas (1619), Herbert Howells (1892-1983)
Author Delores Dufner, a member of the Sisters of the Order St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, writes that, "Love is the only adequate response to the magnanimous love of God in Christ." In John's Gospel here, it is Mary, sister to Martha and sister to the resurrected Lazarus, who anoints Jesus. Mary humbly washed his feet and soothed any wounds with healing ointment, a whole pound of precious nard.
Now Jesus, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was who he raised from the dead. There they gave a great dinner for him and Martha served while Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of balm made of expensive pure nard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped them with her hair. the house was filled with the scent of the perfume. John 12: 1-3, tr. Gafney
Prayer:
What gift shall I pour out for him who gave his very life?
The treasure of my heart he seeks,
the precious nard of love.
With fragrance let me fill his house,
with scent of lavish love.
Dufner, verse 2
For background and performance suggestions please see The Leader's Guide to Voices Found
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