Mary anointed the head of our Lord’s
body, as a symbol of the “better part” she had chosen. The oil was a prophecy
of what her mind had chosen. While Martha was occupied with serving, Mary
hungered to be satisfied with spiritual things from the one who also satisfies bodily
needs for us. So Mary refreshed Him with precious oil, just as He had refreshed
her with His most excellent teaching. With her oil, Mary indicated a symbol of
the death of Him who puts to death her carnal desire with His teaching. With
the investment of her tears, the sinful woman confidently gained the
forgiveness of debts at His feet, while the woman with a flow of blood received
healing from the hem of His garment. Mary openly received the title “blessed”
from His mouth in payment for the work of her hands at His dead. She poured
precious oil on His head and received a wonderful promise from His mouth.
(2) This is the oil that was planted
on high but that put forth its fruit here below. (Mary) planted at His head,
and repeated fruit from Her lips: “She will have renown and this memorial everywhere
my good news is proclaimed.” What she received from Him was allowed to pass
down to all generations, nor can it be kept from all generations. As the oil
she poured on His head before all the guests gave off its fragrance and pleased
Him, so too the good name. He gave her spreads out to all generations and
honors her. And just as all the banquet guests were aware of her oil, so too
all who enter this word should be aware of her deed. This is the investment whose
interest accrues throughout all generations. (Ephrem the Syrian, Homily on our
Lord Section XLIX.1-2, in St. Ephrem the Syrian: Selected Prose Works [trans.
Edward G. Matthews, Jr. [The Fathers of the Church 91; Washington, D.C.: The
Catholic University Press of America, 1994], 324-25)
Ephrem identifies Mary (and Martha)
who anoints the feet of Jesus (John 12.3), with the woman mentioned in Matt
26.7 (Mark 14.3) who anointed the head of Jesus. On the fusing of Mary the
mother of Jesus with Mary Magdalene, see S. Brock, “Mary and the Gardner,” Parole
de l’Orient 11 (1983): 223-34; and Murray, Symbols, 146-48 ad 329-35.
(Ibid., 324 n. 247)
