After some time the apostles come upstairs in a group with the boy and John of Endor. The women follow them with dishes and lamps. The last to come are Lazarus and Simon. As soon as they enter the room, they exclaim: «Ah! it was coming from here!!!» and they smell the air saturated with the scent of roses, although the doors are wide open.
«But who scented this room thus? Perhaps Martha?» many of them ask.
«My sister has not left the house, today, after our meal» replies Lazarus.
«Who then? An Assyrian Satrap?» asks Peter facetiously.
«The love of a redeemed woman» Jesus says gravely.
«She might have spared this useless exhibition of redemption and given the poor what she spent. There are so many of them, and they know that we always give. I have not even a small coin left» says the Iscariot angrily. «And we have to buy a lamb, rent a room for the Supper and…»
«But I offered you everything…» says Lazarus.
«That is not fair. The rite loses its beauty. The Law says: “You shall take a lamb for you and your household”. It does not say: “You shall accept a lamb”.»
Bartholomew turns around all of a sudden, he opens his mouth, but closes it at once. Peter turns crimson in the effort to keep quiet. But the Zealot, who is in his own house, feels he can speak and says: «Those are rabbinical quibbles… May I ask you to forget about them and have, instead, respect for my friend Lazarus.»
«Well done, Simon.» Peter will burst if he does not speak. «Very good! I also think that we are forgetting too much that only the Master is entitled to teach…» Peter has to make an heroic effort to say: «we are forgetting» instead of saying: «Judas is forgetting.»
«It is true… but… I am nervous… I am sorry, Master.»
«Yes. And I also will reply to you. Gratitude is a great virtue. I am grateful to Lazarus. As that redeemed woman was grateful to Me. I pour on Lazarus the perfume of My blessing, also on behalf of those, among My apostles, who are not capable of doing so, I, the head of you all. The woman poured at My feet the perfume of her joy for being saved. She acknowledged the King, she came to the King, before many others upon whom the King bestowed much more love than upon her. Let her do as she wishes without criticising her. She will not be able to be present at My acclamation, or at My unction. Her cross is already upon her shoulders. Peter, you asked whether an Assyrian Satrap had come here. I solemnly tell you that not even the incense of the Magi, so pure and precious, was sweeter or more precious than this. Its essence was mixed with tears and that is why it is so intense: humbleness supports love and makes it perfect. Let us sit down to our meal, My friends…»
And with the offering of the food, the vision ends.