John 12
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Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor.
Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.
Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.
And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,
“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”
He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.
You will always have the poor among you,
but you will not always have me.”
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Judas makes a lot of sense to me.
You can't argue with the economics of his logic.
But gifts of love and devotion follow an entirely different logic.
We don't know how much longer our loved ones will be with us.
We don't know how much longer we'll be here ourselves.
When the moment comes that we are separated from those we care about, there should be no regrets.
Don't hold anything back.
Pour out signs of love and devotion today while you've got the chance.
Sure, there will be those who criticize.
But you're not doing it for them, are you?
Mad, crazy, love.
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Christ our God,
your love is poured out in death for our sakes.
Hold us in your embrace
as we wait for Easter's dawn.
Comfort us with the promise that no power on earth, not even death itself,
can separate us from your love;
and strengthen us to wait
until you are revealed to us
in all your risen glory. Amen.