imon's house, exclaiming, "Peace be upon this
house," to which the disciples added, speaking together, "And to all
that dwell therein." Then said Simon, "Lord, all is ready, set thee
down at table and bid thy disciples sit down also."

Then Jesus sat down to meat, saying, "Let us now, beloved disciples,
enjoy with thanks the gifts which our Father in heaven bestows upon us
through Simon, his servant. O Jerusalem, would that my coming were as
dear to thee as it is to these, my friends! But thou are stricken with
blindness."

"Yes, Lord," remarked Lazarus; "O best of masters, dangers threaten
thee. The Pharisees are anxiously wondering whether thou wilt come up
to the Passover. They are eagerly watching for thy destruction."

Simon said, "Stay here, Lord; here thou art safe."

Then Peter interposed with an entreaty, "Lord, it is good to be here.
Remain here, in the seclusion of this house, served by faithful love,
till the gathering storm be passed."

But Jesus rebuked him sternly, saying: "Get thee behind me, tempter.
Thou savorest not of the things that are of God, but those that be of
men. Can the reaper tarry in the shade while the ripe harvest awaits
him? The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister
and to give his life a ransom for many."

Then the dark-browed Judas spoke, uttering this time the thought of
all. "But, master, what will become of us if thou givest up thy life?"

A chorus of approval burst from all the disciples, "Ah, all our hopes
would then be destroyed."

"Trouble not yourselves," said Jesus, "I have power to lay down my life
and I have power to take it up again. This commandment have I received
of my Father."

And lo, while they were yet speaking, Mary Magdalene silently
approached Jesus, carrying in her hand a bottle of ointment of
spikenard, very precious, which she poured over his head as she
murmured but one word, "Rabbi." And Jesus also said but one word,
"Mary," but his tone was full of tenderness and love.

As the perfume of the ointment filled the room the disciples spoke
among themselves. "What an exquisite odor!" said Thomas, leaning past
the others to look.

"It is real oil of spikenard, very costly," said Bartholomew.

Thaddeus added, "Such an honor has never been shown to our master."

But Judas could not contain himself. He growled from his distant seat,
"To what purpose is this waste? The money might have been much better
expended."

"