When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he cited the famous Shema from the Old Testament: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deut 6:4–5). In Mark, Jesus said: “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (12:29–31). Luke’s rendition is simpler: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself” (10:27).

In Jesus’ day, piety that embraced the heart, mind, soul, strength, as well as love for others was the pinnacle of holistic spirituality. This religiosity manifested in three overlapping dimensions: mind, soul, and resources. The mind (“heart” in Hebrew) entailed the intellect (knowledge, curiosity, learning, imagination). The soul referred to our deepest motives (true desires and aspirations). Strength implied an economic dimension: using every kind of human capacity and asset for the glory of God and human wellbeing. Holistic devotion, therefore, required both honor for God and service to human beings.

Mary of Bethany modeled this kind of holistic spirituality. In terms of intellectuality, she was an avid student of Jesus, for she “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching” (Luke 10:39). For this  reason, he honored her in a very singular manner, saying, “one thing is necessary [learning from and listening to the Lord]. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (v. 42).

Mary was a disciple. She paid attention. She perceived something essential about the Lord. Mary understood who he was and that he would die for her sin. This revelation transformed her mind, renewed her desires, and inspired adoration.

With respect to her soul (her innermost values and  goals), Mary chose “the good portion.” Her most profound hopes and concerns were aligned with the Lord’s agenda. She was not distracted or blissfully naive.

In terms of love for others, Mary welcomed Jesus and his disciples to her home. She provided hospitality. She fed and cared for them as traveling missionaries (Luke 10:30).

Mary modeled the Shema. She demonstrated her understanding and true priorities with an extraordinary economic deed with respect to the Lord. John recounts the story:

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. (12:1–8)

Mark’s account adds Jesus’ testimony about Mary: “She has done a beautiful thing to me  . . .  She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial” (14:6b–9).

Mary loved God with “all her mind.” She learned and gained discernment. She loved God “with all her soul,” for her paramount desire was to honor and serve Jesus. And because of this, she dedicated “all her strength,” her most precious resource, to express profound love for Jesus. Her spirituality was truly holistic. No aspect of her being was excluded.

Clearly, we should imitate her example. We should love God with our mind, soul, and strength, and love others with all our being as an expression of our devotion to Jesus Christ.