The story of the anointing of the feet of Jesus is told by each of the gospel writers but each in their own way. For example, in the gospel of Luke the woman anointing the feet of Jesus is a sinner and it is a sign of her being forgiven. St. John tells the story differently. The one anointing Jesus was his dear friend, Mary, and instead of it being about forgiveness it was a preparation for his burial. The Church had a memory of the actual anointing but in the years between the event and the reporting about the anointing when the gospels were written there were different interpretations about what it meant. That is how memory works — we don’t fully understand what is happening at the time but need to reflect upon it. It is not experience that teaches but reflection about experience which teaches. As we enter Holy Week, look back on the signficant events in your life and see them in the light of the cross of Christ.
