GREAT AND HOLY WEDNESDAY

Today is Great and Holy Wednesday, and the Church invites us to reflect on two opposite characters: the unknown woman who anointed Jesus with precious oil and Judas, one of the twelve apostles who betrayed Christ for thirty pieces of silver.

In today’s reading (Matthew 26:6-16), we see the unknown woman’s salvation contrasted with the chosen disciple’s tragic fall. The woman offered her precious gift to the Lord Jesus and was saved through her repentance, while the chosen apostle betrayed Christ for only thirty pieces of silver and, instead of repenting, took his own life. One received the inheritance of the Kingdom, while the other was condemned.

According to the Gospel, the apostles (possibly including the money-loving Judas) criticized the woman for wasting the precious oil by anointing Jesus; they suggested that the oil could have been sold at a high price and the proceeds given to the poor. Sadly, for those who prioritize money above all else, the Liturgical beauty of our Church, which is intended to glorify God, is often seen as a “waste” of time and resources. Similarly, for those who do not believe, the Holy Badarak may seem meaningless.

My dear friends, the most significant action we can take in this world is to worship and praise God and to “perform a good service for Jesus.” The unknown woman didn’t care what others thought; she poured the oil and worshipped her beloved Savior.

Bishop Mesrop Parsamyan
Wednesday, March 27, 2024