Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.

“Head under water, and they tell me to breathe easy for a while. The breathing gets harder, even I know that. You made room for me, but it’s too soon to see if I’m happy in your hands. I learned the hard way that they all say things you want to hear, and my heavy heart sinks deep down under you and your twisted words.  You are not what I thought you were. I’m not gonna write you a love song if your heart is nowhere in it.” 

Christians might naturally wonder whether Jesus as man had romantic notions. Fiction writers have guessed that he had, but we simply do not know whether those feelings were part of him or not. But we do know that he loved others and others loved him. We see it clearly in the way Mary of Bethany behaved toward him. For her, it was more than the miracle of raising her brother back to life. She had love for him because he had always been part of the family. He had been part of their celebrations, sharing the joys of their lives. Likewise, he had been part of their sorrows, giving his time to them during the sad moments. He was the one who always came when the family needed him, giving consolation and love. They had come to depend on Jesus' love. They could not thank him sufficiently. Overcome with a sense of gratitude and love for this man, Mary anointed him with love.

The man involved in Sara Bareilles' song "Love Song" wants her to anoint him with love, so to speak, by writing a love song for them as a couple. In refusing to do so, the woman in the relationship gives a very important lesson about romantic love. She teaches anyone involved in a love relationship to use both time and caution as one enters into it.

As we discover love and the showing of love in our culture that has the custom of selecting love partners for life, we must learn the lesson that Sara Bareilles teaches. Even though relationships seem like true love, the fact is that we need time to test them, and make sure of them. And so, as we enter into any love relationship, we always must be cautious of whether the other's heart is where it should be. Choosing a love partner is a personal privilege in our society, but it is also something that takes time and cautious consideration. 

THOUGHT
 
PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son was truly man, and therefore must have known about the intricacies of romantic love. Choosing a life partner is a difficult time for us. Help us spend the time and caution necessary to choose well so we can live better. Be with us, we pray. 

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America