To read: John 12:1-11
New Revised Standard Version Bible,Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.
copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
To think about:
Are
you like me? I have a tablecloth and a set of matching napkins that I bought in Germany that I never use. I love the tablecloth and the napkins, but the problem is that I do not want to get them ruined. I spent a lot of money to buy them. So why use the tablecloth and napkins if I am going to get ketchup all over them when I eat? Does this sound familiar? I think we are all guilty of these thoughts at one time or another in our lives.
In the Bible passage for today, Mary takes one of the things that she has held most precious, a pound of costly perfume, and wipes the perfume on Jesus' feet with her hair. Mary decides to use what has cost her a good amount of money. Jesus even says that Mary was saving it for a later date to use. She was going to use the perfume for his burial. But Jesus is not dead, so why does she use the perfume now? The answer is found in what Jesus says to Judas Iscariot. Jesus says, "You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
Jesus hopes for all of us to live our lives to the fullest, to enjoy every moment that is given to us. Mary just could not wait to show the love that she had for Jesus. She could not wait until the day of his burial to anoint Jesus. She decided to live life to its fullest by showing the love she has for Jesus right way. Jesus was worth all the money that she spent and more. She wanted to honor Jesus while he was with her.
Are we living our lives in the fullness that God has created for us? Are we using every moment that we are given to honor Jesus? These are hard questions to answer. So I think I just might use the tablecloth and napkins tonight &that ketchup will wash out. I think it might be more important that I invite a few friends over and enjoy the life that I have been blessed with! Jesus will be with my friends and me as we enjoy a meal together. Jesus will be blessing us with his love!
To pray:
Loving Jesus, thank you for giving me the ability to live my life to the fullest. Please guide me today to find ways to live the life that you want me to live. Let me enjoy the things in my life that are "special," fully knowing that you want me to use each moment in my life to honor you. I know I will fail at times, but thank you for loving me anyway. Amen.
Grace Lutheran Church, Westminster, Md.