It’s remarkable - and not in a good way - that there are some Christians who use this passage to justify not helping the poor. Usually, the justification is an attempt to deny the notion that poverty can be eliminated in some kind of way.
Well, Jesus said the poor would ALWAYS be with us, so…
…so we can ignore all of Jesus’ and the rest of scripture’s admonition to have compassion and be in solidarity with those who have not?
Certainly not.
Jesus’ point was not to dismiss efforts to eliminate poverty, whether for one person, a whole family, or a whole community. His point was rather contextual within that situation, and one we today don’t really have access to: Jesus was present in body. And Mary, coming out of the experience of her brother’s resurrection, was showing deep reverence and gratitude for it all.
It’s possible that we can take the example as one of circumstantial extravagance toward God. But this would be an exception and not a rule (to expend resources frivolously).
John 12:1-8
Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Lazarus and his sisters hosted a dinner for him. Martha served and Lazarus was among those who joined him at the table. Then Mary took an extraordinary amount, almost three-quarters of a pound, of very expensive perfume made of pure nard. She anointed Jesus’ feet with it, then wiped his feet dry with her hair. The house was filled with the aroma of the perfume. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), complained, “This perfume was worth a year’s wages! Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would take what was in it.)
Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. This perfume was to be used in preparation for my burial, and this is how she has used it. You will always have the poor among you, but you won’t always have me.”
Prayer
God,
Thank you for this new day. I never want to take it for granted that you wake me up, give me breath, and offer me the responsibilities and opportunities of the day.
So help me, God: Give me vision for this day. Help me see what’s right in front of me. People, creatures, vistas, insects, food, noises, words, big things, little things, children, trees, and opportunities for living out your grace and love.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.