Given in Love

Scripture – Mark 14:1-5: ¹Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. ²“But not during the Feast,” they said, “or the people may riot.” ³While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. ⁴Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? ⁵It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.

Reflection: I was just reading an article about money. Specifically, the author was pointing out some of the things money says about us. As I consider how I handle money that comes my way, what does that reveal about me?

We know hardly anything about the woman in verse 3. Somehow she had a very expensive item in her possession. And she gave it over to Jesus. I mean, she didn’t give some of it. She broke the jar and poured everything out.

I must admit, I find myself wondering with some of those present whether or not this was a waste. But then, I usually find it easy to decide what other people should do with their stuff. It keeps me from thinking about what I should do with my stuff.

Lord, thank you for your provision in my life. Thank you for the freedom to handle what you’ve entrusted to me in any way I choose. Remind me that nothing I give to you in love is wasted. Teach me, Lord, to be like this woman.

An Invitation: For anyone interested in sharing their personal reflections from this week’s readings, you are invited to come by the Tim Hortons donut shop at Dix-Toledo and Northline in Southgate tomorrow morning at 9:45am. We’ll have a cup of coffee and see what the Lord has been teaching us this week.

Reading for Sunday, March 30 (the rest of the story):

Scripture – Mark 14:6-11: ⁶“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” ¹⁰Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. ¹¹They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.