Why It’s Actually Scent Wednesday of Holy Week

I light a candle early on Wednesday of Holy Week.  And maybe it’s not so much Spy Wednesday, or Silent Wednesday, because what happens on the Wednesday of Holy Week isn’t so much about the spy Judas, nor about any supposed silence about what really happened on Wednesday of Holy Week.  Because Jesus actually speaks quite loudly, clearly, and unequivocally about what should be remembered on Wednesday of Holy Week: The gospel story isn’t complete without this Woman’s story.  Jesus says that, wherever in the whole world, that the real good news is ever remembered, then what this one Woman did on Holy Week Wednesday must be remembered too. (Matt 26:13)  It’s the only time in any of the four gospels that Jesus says anyone’s act will be told wherever the gospel is told. Not the surreal walking on water. Not the supernatural raising of Lazarus. Not the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. Not any act of Peter, John, or James. This is the only time Jesus ever speaks of a memorial to anyone – and it’s of a woman. As Calvin says, this woman’s act is “inextricably woven into the gospel” — the gospel story isn’t complete without […]