St. James' Church Bushypark Galway

Mary anointed Him. There’s generosity in Mary’s ointment; the fragrant oil bathed her saviour’s tiredness. The house was filled with the scent of the ointment, like the fragrance of burning oil or flowers filling a room. It was the fragrance of love, thoughtfulness and of generosity.

The Passion begins with generosity, and it’s the hour of the generous love of God: conviction, compassion, justice, love poured out for everyone,

for those present and for those to come,

for those who believe and for those who mock,

for those who accept and for those who reject,

for John and Mary, the high priest and the thief.

It is the hour of the greatest love ever known; and every self-sacrificing love smells sweet on Calvary: the love of Jesus and the love of a friend, the love of Mary, John and his relatives like the love of mother, family and family, the love of a thief and the unexpected love of someone.

We have met him, known him, loved him, in the circle of love we inhabit ourselves, we do no have him with us as then in human form, but we do have him with us now as love.