Anointing of Christ's Feet
James Tissot, 1890

My dear friends,

On this fifth Sunday of Lent, let us reflect on the teachings of Philippians 3:4-14 and John 12:1-8. These scriptures remind us of humility, of purpose, and of the ultimate goal of life that transcends the materialistic world we often find ourselves absorbed in.

Paul's letter to the Philippians is a testament to humility and an exemplar of the path to enlightenment. He speaks of himself, one with every worldly reason to boast - his lineage, his religious observance, his zeal, all impeccable by worldly standards. Yet, he refers to these as 'loss for the sake of Christ.' He likens them to rubbish, that he may gain Christ. There is a parallel here to the Buddhist understanding of ego – the self-grasping ignorance and self-cherishing attitude that form the root of all suffering. And in Paul's surrender, we see him reducing the ego, thus moving closer to true peace.

Now, in the narrative of John, we are given a vivid display of devotion, humility, and the incomparable value of spiritual enrichment. Mary, the sister of Lazarus, pours an expensive perfume on Jesus' feet and wipes them with her hair. Judas, who holds the money bag, chastises Mary for not selling the perfume and giving the money to the poor. But Jesus interjects, reminding Judas that there is a higher purpose for Mary's actions, that she does this in anticipation of his burial, and that their focus should not be on the material.

Buddhism speaks of the Eight Worldly Concerns - gain and loss, pleasure and pain, fame and disgrace, praise and blame. These dualities trap us in a cycle of joy and suffering. In John's passage, Judas is focused on worldly concerns, the material value of the perfume. Mary, however, shows an understanding that goes beyond the physical. She understands the impermanence of life, as shown in her anticipation of Jesus' death. She comprehends the value of spiritual devotion over the temporary satisfaction of material possessions.

As we move towards Easter, these scriptures offer us lessons on humility and enlightenment. It encourages us to look beyond beyond our self-focused habits of focusing on the impermanent, ever-changing world of "business as usual". Our lives, as Paul demonstrates, should not be centered on worldly achievements, but on pursuing a relationship with God, on gaining Christ, or in Buddhist terms, achieving enlightenment.

The goal, as Paul mentions, is not that he has already attained perfection, but he presses on, as we all must, in our spiritual journey. We are reminded, as we step into the last phase of Lent, that the spiritual journey is continuous. There is always something more to learn, something more to understand, some practice to deepen.

In this time of reflection, let us strive to appreciate the impermanence of life, the futility of clinging to worldly gains, and the paramount importance of spiritual growth. May we, like Mary, pour our devotion into the source of our spiritual aspirations, and may we, like Paul, continue to press on towards the higher calling.

May peace and compassion guide your steps.