The photo above shows Bethany in 2019, taken during our Holy Land Pilgrimage.
We the have entered Holy Week. Each of the synoptic writers gave a day to day account of Jesus’ daily activities during this week. During the time of Jesus, Bethany was a little village on eastern slope of the Mount of Olives about 1.8 miles from Jerusalem. It was a favorite place of rest and refuge for Jesus. During what we call Holy Week, Jesus spent each night at Bethany, always traveling through and from Bethany to Jerusalem.
The setting of today’s Gospel is Bethany, in the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Jesus is known to these three siblings as his intimate and close friends. It was in Bethany that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. The cemetery where he was buried is just below the village.
Bethany (not to be confused with Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Christ was baptized) is also associated with two other events:
While Christ was visiting his friends’ home, Martha complained that her sister Mary, sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to him, had left all the work to her. Christ replied: “Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)
Today, the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus is where the church in the photo above is located. Written on the back wall is “Dixit Ei Iesus Ego Sum Resurrectio Et Vita” “Jesus says I am the Resurrection and Vita” – John 11:25.
The Gospel talks about Jesus visiting his friends in Bethany six days before Passover and Mary anointing Jesus in preparation for his death days later. Did the friends know what was about to take place six days later? Jesus predicted his passion: suffering, death, and resurrection several times. If you were informed that we have six days in this world, what would you be doing? Will you be looking for a priest to hear your confession and receive Last Rite, visit close friends, attend a party, or stay indoors…?
Jesus went out for dinner, and during the dinner, he was anointed with a jar of expensive ointment. He did what he was used to doing.
Below is a description of Bethany that I photographed when I was in Bethany in 2019
When was the last time you offered a stranger, friend, or family member an act of kindness or hospitality? Have a blessed Holy Week.
