Lent 5
Devotional
Water From the Rock
Lectionary Devotional for Cycle C
Object:
Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair.
-- John 12:3
It was a lavish and costly gesture. Whatever Judas' motives, he did have a point. The money could have been given to the poor. Jesus was continually emphasizing God's compassion for the poor. The characters present in this story each have their own history. There is Martha who was busy performing a service, lavishing her love on Jesus. There was Lazarus who was the bearer of a miracle in his own being. There was Judas who could make the most logical sounding argument but used such high-sounding words to cover his own hidden agenda. In this group was reflected the continuing conversation of the church.
We have those among us who have been brought back from the dead. Their lives were going nowhere, and now they live in wonder of what God has done for them. Their very existence in the church is a living testimony to the power of God's redeeming love. There are also those like Martha who quietly work in service for Christ. The church is a vital community because of the loving service they offer often behind the scenes.
Because we know the end of the story about Judas, we may not want to admit that there are many of us within the church who also act out of mixed motives. And sometimes, like Judas, we can marshal some very logical and even idealistic arguments to support our positions. Certainly we have those who are almost foolishly extravagant in spending their wealth on Christ. How foolish to spend so much on a building when we could have given more to help the poor. Jesus' story does not allow any of us within the church to be comfortable. Jesus said, "You will always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." In Deuteronomy 15:4-11, it is said that the reason we will always have the poor with us is that we are not faithfully obedient to God.
Jesus recognized in Mary's gesture a renewed devotion to God that would lead to a response to the poor. Our response to the poor is not a way to gain faith, but our response is the fruit of our devotion to God in Christ.
-- John 12:3
It was a lavish and costly gesture. Whatever Judas' motives, he did have a point. The money could have been given to the poor. Jesus was continually emphasizing God's compassion for the poor. The characters present in this story each have their own history. There is Martha who was busy performing a service, lavishing her love on Jesus. There was Lazarus who was the bearer of a miracle in his own being. There was Judas who could make the most logical sounding argument but used such high-sounding words to cover his own hidden agenda. In this group was reflected the continuing conversation of the church.
We have those among us who have been brought back from the dead. Their lives were going nowhere, and now they live in wonder of what God has done for them. Their very existence in the church is a living testimony to the power of God's redeeming love. There are also those like Martha who quietly work in service for Christ. The church is a vital community because of the loving service they offer often behind the scenes.
Because we know the end of the story about Judas, we may not want to admit that there are many of us within the church who also act out of mixed motives. And sometimes, like Judas, we can marshal some very logical and even idealistic arguments to support our positions. Certainly we have those who are almost foolishly extravagant in spending their wealth on Christ. How foolish to spend so much on a building when we could have given more to help the poor. Jesus' story does not allow any of us within the church to be comfortable. Jesus said, "You will always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me." In Deuteronomy 15:4-11, it is said that the reason we will always have the poor with us is that we are not faithfully obedient to God.
Jesus recognized in Mary's gesture a renewed devotion to God that would lead to a response to the poor. Our response to the poor is not a way to gain faith, but our response is the fruit of our devotion to God in Christ.
