On Palm Sunday this year the Passion reading was from St. Mark, and began with the story of the woman with the alabaster box containing ointment, which she poured on Jesus’ head, an act which he interpreted as a sign of his forthcoming death and burial.
I was reminded of Arvo Part’s beautiful setting of the story — although he used the text from St. Matthew. Here is The Sixteen signing it very well indeed:
Matthew 26, 6–13
Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,
There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?
For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.
When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.
Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.
All Manner of Thing 