Scripture Text (NRSV)
John 12:1-8
12:1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home
of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
12:2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus
was one of those at the table with him.
12:3 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.
12:4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was
about to betray him), said,
12:5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and
the money given to the poor?"
12:6 (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.)
12:7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might
keep it for the day of my burial.
12:8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always
have me."
Comments:
Carolyn Winfrey Gilette wrote a song about this scripture that is
quite nice. You can get a copy and a release to use from her at
bcgillette@snip.net She is very quick to respond. Nancy- Wi
I think I'll preach about the extravagance of the gift lavished on
Jesus. Oh that we might also be lavish in our giving of our gifts to
our Savior. Joy in IL
There is a song with a folk song type of sound, really easy to sing
called,something like "Said Judas to Mary" It is in the New Century
Hymnal and would be an easy one to sing or have two people sing. It is
designed to be sung back and forth with women and men or one man and
one woman. Joy in IL
I'm responding to all the folks who responded to my query last week
... I'm posting HERE because it's Saturday and I want to make sure you
all have a better chance of seeing THIS post.
Thank you, thank you, thank you - for your cogent and insightful
advice about the church merger. I love the John 10 quote: perfect for
when we get to the point of having joint worship. Of those I can
recall off-hand:
KHC - the encouragement of success in a church near you that merged
was right on target for my apprehensions. Michelle - I like the twist
on the prodigal, though I decided to go with Jn 4, after all. And the
one whose name is escaping me right now - with the John 10 quote.
For everyone who offered support, prayers, and un-patented advice,
THANK YOU again.
-Sally in GA
Martha served, Lazarus was eating with Jesus, and Mary washed His feet
with perfume. This gracious family was embracing Jesus even more after
He raised Lazarus from the dead. Overall, it was a picture of
relationship with Jesus and of exaltation of Jesus too. (I sometime
wonder if we tend to be way too casual, buddy buddy with Jesus; or
estrange ourselves from Him too much with our exaltation).
But Judas has his mind on the poor. (John obviously hated the guy and
didn't let go of any chance to take shot at him thoughout his gospel).
Many of us today also has our mind on the poor, and substitute the
poor for Jesus. Instead of seeing the poor as Jesus like Mother
Teresa, we see the poor instead of Jesus. Unfortunately, we also have
many Judas who serve in Christian Relief Organization today, one who
help themselves of what in the purse. Many times, it started not
because of selfish greed. Most of the time, we get started by
thinking, "this is a waste of resources, it could be use better over
here..." then we start manipulating the system to divert funds into
the "more important" projects. Then from this self-directing attitude
(instead of value god's direction), we took control of where things
should go. Eventually, that control corrupted ourselves.
Back to the scene of washing foot. Judas thought it was a waste! But
that exactly what worship is about. Worship is holy waste. For we
should not manipulate worship for fellowship, patriotic, or evangelism
effects. Many saints walking in the ordinary life today among us, and
onlookers would sneer, "What a waste (of talents, of life, etc.)" Are
we call to be a waste culture? After all, if our Master wasted His
life on the cross for us, perhaps we should start wasting our life in
following Him. (Truly, what would God gain out of this redemptive
transaction?) For once, we need to learn to give up our utilitarian
mind set (always want to get something out, to see some result), and
contemplate the holy waste aspect of God.
Yes God (sigh) I was supposed to use the subjective "I" instead of
"we". For it is me you need to deal with. I am lousy in financial
management, I need to get better so that it will not be the cause of
downfall down the road. I need to learn to worship you more in wasting
my life for you.
Boy, I am sure sound melancholy today.
Coho, Midway City.
April 19th is both Holocaust Remembrance Day and our celebration of
Earth Day, and the lectionary textx for the week don't seem
appropriate. Does anybody have ideas on better texts to use, or on how
to work within the lectionary for that week?
Thanks.
California Preachin'
Coho states the poor opinion John had of Judas. I agree. The other
Gospels do not pin this just on Judas, but on all the disciples -- the
whining about the cost of the perfume "wasted" on Jesus was a shared
mumble.
Also, Coho talks about wasted lives, etc. This is just another example
of God's upside down economy. What seems wonderful to us is dust to
God; what seems trash to us is potential for glory in God's mind.
KHC
I understand that anointing was a priestly function. Not one ususally
done by a woman. Incidently, I obtained the fragrance and it is a very
musky oder. I was going to open it during the service but I believe
that it would be too strong. I may focus on the relationship of the
women in the passage, although after reading the DeVinci Code book I
will have to be a bit careful! Nancy-Wi
I do not want to change the subject of this discussion, but I am very
interested in hearing the opinion of United Methodists and others on
the verdict in the Karen Dammann Trial in Washington State this past
week. I Invite you to go to the DISCUSSION section of the web site and
reply to my message UMC TRIAL IN WASHINGTON.
Nebraska Preacher Dude
Having just returned from the what is often seen as "waste", the
desert. I wonder if waste is not Judas term rather than Christ's. The
aroma filled the room, the act is priestly, the reverence is on the
knees. Perhaps the "waste" was in the want of those things that were
of culture. I too could simplify my life. In the desert nothing is
wasted, nor is it in the places that seem to have abundance.. I
believe that worship is a complex mix of all of the things that you
mentioned, evangelism. When I was in Cuba, the music was loud, very
loud, we sang to God but the songs poured out into the street sending
and evangelistic call. Sorry for this goofy unorganized post but then
again, it is Sunday afternoon. Nancy-Wi
Having just returned from the what is often seen as "waste", the
desert. I wonder if waste is not Judas term rather than Christ's. The
aroma filled the room, the act is priestly, the reverence is on the
knees. Perhaps the "waste" was in the want of those things that were
of culture. I too could simplify my life. In the desert nothing is
wasted, nor is it in the places that seem to have abundance..
I believe that worship is a complex mix of all of the things that you
mentioned, starting with praise and thanksgiving, but including
teaching, outreach,evangelism to name a few. When I was in Cuba, the
music was loud, very loud, we sang to God but the songs poured out
into the street sending and evangelistic call. Sorry for this goofy
unorganized post but then again, it is Sunday afternoon. Nancy-Wi
Sally in GA- Three years ago, last time these readings came up, I was
in the midst of an amalgamation. These readings made for a wonderful
comment on the new thing God was doing in our amalgamated
congregation. And if my current parish was just a few weeks futher
along in our 'visioning' I could use those ideas again. But, alas. If
you're interested, I can email you the text. Let me know.
Parish.of.belmont"at"sympatico.ca
nay-oh-mee
i think i will write about how Mary appreciated Jesus while he was
alive, and how we should all appreciate one another whilst we can, and
then link that in to how we appreciate the Lord by serving him in the
here and now.
Anonymous poster, I couldn't agree more with your comment about
appreciating people while we still have them, serving Jesus now. One
of my gripes with the current trend in religion is that all we care
about is salvation and what comes after this life. My personal
hobbyhorse is that we are here now to serve now, to love Jesus because
he's Jesus, not because of where we want to get for eternity. I don't
like the carrot-on-a-stick theology that seems so prevalent today.
This, by the way, is the main (but only one of many) reasons I despise
the Praise Songs of the modern day. There's hardly a hint of anything
beyond "God 'n Me, I'm saved, I'm happy" in them.
We all need to be shown on occasion that we are loved just for who we
are. The disciples, to this point, had done little to honor Jesus,
although they probably gave pretty good lip service about their
devotion. Mary of Bethany, on the other hand, stepped up and SHOWED
Jesus her devotion in the only way an honorable woman of that day
could.
Isn't it interesting that some have chosen to see that this is Mary
Magdalene? Matthew and Mark don't give any name at all, and John
pretty much zeroes in on Mary of Bethany. I wonder how Mary M. ever
got placed into the story? Is it a tradition I don't know about? Just
wondering.
KyHoosierCat
Judas misunderstands Mary's extravagant act of anointing Jesus' feet
with a costly perfume. Jesus recognizes the true significance of her
beautiful expression of love and commitment as an anticipation of his
burial.
Having not yet rid ourselves of the sharp stench of Lazarus's death
(the background of today's gospel), we now find ourselves sitting in
his home filled with the "fragrance of the perfume" of Christ's
upcoming death.
Anticipation is written all over the texts for this day; something is
about to happen, which will reorder all previously known priorities.
"I am about to do a new thing...do you perceive it?" says Isaiah.
Can't you feel it? It's almost palpable!
"You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me,"
anticipates Jesus. Judas, as reported by John, "is about to betray
him."
Our first reading and psalm are rife with future tense: "I will make a
way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will
honor me." "Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping...will come again with joy."
Our culture does not condition us to savor anticipation. Our gift has
been, rather, to bring about immediate success, to seek results. We're
good at that! Yet Paul, who by his own account has been an
overachiever of the right bloodline, turns these priorities on their
head. "Yet whatever gains I have, these I have come to regard as loss
because of Christ."
Paul, too, has begun to find his strength in anticipation. Having
found "surpassing value" in the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord, he
now "presses on" and "strains forward" to what lies ahead. We, in the
assembly, are called to join him in anticipating—in pressing on
"toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ
Jesus."
The author of John's gospel contrasts two very different responses to
Jesus by his followers. Judas is portrayed as a self-centred, bitter
thief. In this story, he sees only monetary value. What's more, he is
either unwilling or unable to appreciate the significance of the
moment. This gospel predicts that there will be many who see bu not
understand (Jn 1.11, 6.36, 9.39). In a heavily patriarchal culture,
Mary is a most unlikely candidate as a model of true discipleship. But
that is how she is portrayed. Mary understands who Jesus is and the
significance of what is happening to him. Mary understands, believes,
and acts.
Mary's act is extravagant and beautiful. "A pound of nard" is no
bottle of cheap scent from a discount shop, but a luxury item worth
nearly a year's average wage, according to Judas. The act is also
beautiful in the sensuality and intimacy of the scene John portrays:
the table of food, the company of friends, the effusion of scent
throughout the room, and the locks of Mary's hair caressing Jesus'
feet.
Mary gave herself to what she knows and believes about Jesus and also
to what she has experienced in his presence. It was Jesus who raised
her brother Lazarus from the dead. Like John the Baptizer at the
opening of this gospel, Mary sees and testifies in her act of love
that Jesus is "the chosen one" (Jn 1.34). Mary ministers to Jesus in a
way that mirrors the ways he has ministered to her and her loved ones,
but also to what he will do for all in his extravagant, self-giving
death and resurrection.
How might we respond to the extravagant, self-giving love of Jesus? In
what ways today might we minister to Jesus? In what ways may our
actions fill the air, fill the world, with the fragrance of God's
love?
Just some Monday musings.... Isn't Judas' question a good one for
disciples? Why WASN'T the perfume sold and used for the poor? He's got
it, that we should give to the poor (one of Jesus' main messages), but
the only thing he doesn't get is the death of Jesus. The waste is only
acceptable if it is for a burial, and Judas hasn't made the leap yet
although he will be the one to make it happen (not theologically
speaking, of course).
Excuse my Monday brain but just wanted to get some things rolling.
Peace, Beth in GA
Joy in IL Thank you for the suggestion of "Said Judas to Mary" I just
played through it and love it. My husband and I will be singing it
Sunday morning. The last two verses are my favorites. Bonnie in MO
I am truely interested in "anointing" and all that implies. I have
visited some sites on the web. I am interested in how you all
understand being anointed. Nancy-Wi
Hooser, I once wrote on a bulletin, that I felt Christian's were some
of the most selfish people in the world, because they were so focused
on what "they get". Meaning eternal life. Just as you described the
carrot on the stick... Maybe that is the humanity in us. We are
suppose to love God and want to live with him forever. Mostly I hear I
want to see my mother, brother, sister etc. Valid yes! but... what
about the heavenly Ones. Sort of off course here. But maybe not. It
does say something about putting family before attending worship.
Family Christian events are different than family reunions are they
not? sorry to ramble here. Extravagance in our culture is often
thought of as things or time. I would like to see people put
extravagant effort into coming to worship. Nancy-Wi
Some more observations: 300 denarii is about $25,000 USD today (A
year's salary per NIV, Wow! What a waste for sure!)
John portrayed Mary's action without tears or kissing his feet as
other author. Also, her action made her famous enough that in the
previous chapter 11:2, Mary was described as the person who did this
to Jesus.
to Nancy, WI on "anointed Jesus": the word here is "aleipho", the "the
mundane and common word for anoint, pour on, smear oil or ointment on
head or body, for health, healing, or even embalming." This is not "chrio",
the "the sacred and religious word for anointing" (which usually done
with oil and not perfume). I don't know if this help or not.
Coho, Midway City
I'm thinking about doing something focusing on the extravagance here.
The congregation where I serve complains about spending too much money
even on communion wine since we switched to plastic cups that hold
more than the older glasses. Not to mention the fact that, whenever we
want to do ministry that means spending money, it's a big argument.
Mary's extravagance in worship is important, not only with the
financial aspect of it. Very few Pennsylvania Lutherans are expressive
about their faith, in OR out of worship. I'd love to find a way to
motivate them to evangelistic extravagance!
PB in PA
KyHoosierCat, Thank you for your comments on "carrot on a stick"
theology. I thought you might find this helpful in your musings... the
same sentiment appears in a hymn in the UMC Hymnal. If I think of it
I'll send it. With regard to this text, I do wonder why Jesus would
not have said, "your tears are more cherished an ointment, sell the
nard and cry for others as well" Or something like that... enjoy.
I carry a torch in one hand And a bucket of water in the other: With
these things I am going to set fire to Heaven And put out the flames
of Hell So that no one worships God for fear of Hell or greed of
Heaven.
Rabia (Eighth century Sufi mystic poet)
Cabindweller
Cabindweller,
Thanks! I love it! While I'm not UM, I do own several editions of the
UM Hymnbooks. Can't find that particular hymn, but it sounds like a
great one to me!!
KHC
Cabinweller: Can't find the hymn in UMC. What is the first line or
title. Thanks Nancy-Wi
Joy in IL Thanks for the hymn suggestion. It's great and I plan to use
it. By any chance are you a CTS grad? REVJAW
Odd bits that I hope to weave together somehow . . .
Nard as an ointment was used for perfume, beauty treatments, and
calming nerves
Judas wanted to sell the nard for 300 denarius (a year's wages) but
settled(?) for selling out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (about 5
months' wages)
The party is to thank Jesus for bringing Lazarus back to life. In the
verses that follow in this chapter, there are the words "he who loves
his life shall lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will
keep it unto eternal life." While John has Jesus talking about a grain
of wheat falling into the earth, the synoptics instead have Jesus say
"for what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his
life? or what can a man give in return for his life?"
We always have the poor, and people who die always stay dead -- yet
Lazarus didn't stay dead, because the "always" excuse has been broken.
What other "always" excuses do we need to break in order to be
faithful?
OLAS
This is such a sensual encounter of Mary with Jesus, anointing his
feet and then wiping them with her hair as though she wishe to
participate in the extravagant self-donation, of union between God and
man. There is something so very life giving, and Judas comes across so
sterile, so lifeless in his response to the generosity of faith.
tom in ga
(1 Contrast the paradox of Jesus raising his friend from death in
Chapter 11 with this "anointing" of his feet in preparation for
walking the road to the Passover, as the Lamb of God, and his death on
the cross.
(2) word study of "anointing", involving the "poverty" King becoming
the "King of Kings", who is crowned with a "crown of thorns". This
word study also involves the word "messiah" ("Christ").
(3) Paul Tillich's reflections of "Holy Waste", and the aesthetic
(ecstasy) vs the pragmatic, practical, and reason, has a great deal to
offer this post-modern age with "worship wars", and personal holiness,
vs the practics of social holiness (caring for the poor, etc.).
(4) The feet that walk the Glory Road of total ecstasy of the heart
commitment (in ultimate concern), in spite of regard for self (as in
self-abandonment) for the sake of the Covenant, bring to mind the
early martyrs, to Cranmer, Ridley,and ?, who were England's "Candles
in the Wind", to the contemporary martyrs of modern times such as
Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Martin Luther King, Jr., who abandoned
self-concern for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
(5) The ecstasy of such heart-felt ultimate commitment may also be
illustrated in tackling, blocking, and running a football with
self-abandonment for the sake of the team. I believe Coach Paul Bear
Bryant expected this kind of aesthetic, heart-felt, commitment in how
his players were called to play with 150% of their being, as they
tackled, blocked, and ran with the football, in a team effort...in
abandonment of self-interest and/or concern for their body.
(6) The ecstasy with which Mary entered into "Holy Waste", revealed
she heard and understood the road Jesus had to walk, as the Paschal
Lamb self-sacrificed himself in total, gift-giving love, and surrender
upon the cross.
(7) 23 Psalm has both "walk through the valley of the shadow of death"
and "anointing" in it.
PaideiaSCO reflections on the mt top in north GA
I have been mulling something, how did Martha, Lazarus and Mary serve
Jesus? Martha served and complained, Lazarus just ate and Mary
worshiped him, as we have already said, extravagantly. Blessings, Toni
v. 6 - we learn that Judas is a thief and he was accustomed to
skimming off the common purse.
Hmmm... before tapping into my judgmental side and pointing fingers, I
must first look at where it is that I, myself, try to skim off the
community, and displace my feelings of guilt onto some theoretical
ministry, such as "the poor" (rather vaguely defined, when you think
of it - which poor, where, and how would we give money) When really
it's myself I wish to feed.
The theology of preservation over the theology of abundance. Worry
over staying financially viable, worry over the flat-out refusal of
congregants to do anything to reach out to the community. Is my desire
for new souls to Christ REALLY care for their souls, or is it a
product of feeling the pressures of a dying church long in what I call
"survival mode?" An unhealthy church declines, or at the very least
stays static. Healthy churches increase.
Once in awhile we've got to spend a year's salary to lavish on Christ
- and wipe his feet with our hair. (recall that hair, in those days,
was a woman's glory). Maybe NOW is the time to spend every last cent
we have on Christ.
Sally in GA
What we see here are how people relate to Jesus. We have Martha, who
is an example of those faithful workers in the church. We have Lazarus
who sits at the table and eats with Jesus. How many of us are in
denominations who sit and eat with Jesus on a weekly basis? Then we
have Mary, who worships Jesus in her own way. We also have the Judases
in our congregations who are always whining and complaining about
spending money. Is this scene not a picture of the typical church? Who
are we in this picture? We could invite members of the congregation to
think about where they fit in/ who they relate to. PH in OH
KHC and Nancy-Wi,
I found the hymn... it's #470 My God, I love thee. The first, third
and fourth are the most directly related. 1) My God, I love thee, not
because I hope for heaven thereby, nor yet because, if I love not, I
must forever die... 3) Then why, O blessed Jesus Christ, should I not
love thee well? Not for the sake of winning heaven, nor of escaping
hell. 4)Not with the hope of gaining aught, not seeking a reward, but
as thyself hast loved me, O everlasting Lord.
Very beautiful, very pure. A good baseline for Lent. I wish I could
love without alterior motives... Maybe that's what Mary did? Or maybe
her alterior motives matched Jesus' so they were OK?
Cabindweller
Hmmm. "Ulterior Motives" I think I could work with this!
Here is a great resource. This web site has thousands of plays,
monologues, and dialogs based on scripture. I used one for the
prodigal son last Sunday and it was received quite well.
www.thewestcoast.net/bobsnook.com
PH in OH
KHC Here is an opener for your them of what is wonderful to us is dust
to God. A man who had lived a particularly good life was supposedly
given the opportunity to take something with him from this life to the
next. He carefull packed a suitcase with gold bars. When he got to,
heaven God inspected the luggage. Upon seeing the gold bars he
said,"So, you brought pavement." jrbnrnc
i am struck by the similarity of this reading and last Sunday. Now,
Mary is the prodigal who wastes her substance on a "dead man"; and
Judas is th elder brother hoarding the money, suggesting (prudently)
that it be used for the poor - after all they will still be with us
after Jesus is dead and gone!!!
tom in ga
jrbnrnc, thanks for the laugh. Appreciated it.
Cabindweller, thanks for the Hymn number. It's even a familiar tune!
Wow! Finally there is proof that I'm not the only one with this idea
of loving Jesus just because he's Jesus and not putting our emphasis
on what we get out of it in the end. Or worrying about what we'll end
up with in the end.
Appreciate all of you!
KHC
Feet are depicted in the Scriptures as powerful things. Enemies are
put under foot, for example. Anointing had many uses in the OT,
including the belief that anointing brought some kind of power to the
anointee, and the Spirit of God would lead him (usually male, I guess)
to do whatever he was called to do. In the NT, people would fall at
Jesus' feet, not just as a formal greeting, but as a recognition of
his enormous power and dignity.
Mary, recognizing something remarkable in her friend, honored him by
falling at his feet with an anointing of oil, sending him on his way
to do the work he was called to do. Did she know what was to come?
Probably not, but she knew she loved this Jesus who had unmistakable
compassion and power enough to give her brother back to her.
She had towels in the house, or a dress hem she could have used to dry
his feet, but they were not what she wanted to use. She gave Jesus
everything she had to give that was important to her - her home, her
hospitality, her devotion, her expensive perfume (and thus an entire
year's salary -and we think tithing is tough!), her hands, right down
to the hair on her head. She used her "crowning glory" to wipe the
powerful feet of the one who would first wear a mocking crown, but
would then receive his Crown of Glory.
KHC
There is one possible theme:
Faith (Mary) Verses Prudence (Judas)
So many parishes prudently go about the business of the church -
seeking to balance the bottom line, always careful. Faith is just what
it is spontanious (?), risky, free, moved by the heart and not by the
head.
We Christians are so rational and brainy, that the heart gets lost
often. Mary has fallen in love with Jesus, she has physical contact
with him, wiping his feet with her hair, breathing in the rich sweet
scent of the perfume, touching him, loving him, and we focus on the
rational, important stuff, like money!
tom in ga
Thanks for the hymn number. I am in the extravant focus so far. what
is extravant in culture now? The more I think about it the more I
believe it is time. We try to save it, we try to fit more things into
any given period of it. On Sunday morning, "its time" that seems to
keep people from worship... People say well that is my time to sleep
late, or I just spent and hour here teaching sunday school so I gave
God my hour. This is the only time my children can visit me so I have
to stay home to visit with them. Or My visitor can only be here on
Sunday and they don't go to church, so to see more of them I must stay
home. Just a bit of musing. If we extravagantly worship, is it not
using the very thing that is the most expensive for us? I am always
amazed at the devotion some people have for their service club. In
fact, to be honest, sometimes it ticks me off! I am a Rotarian and
perfect attendence is stressed. You can make up at another club. If
you miss, and I will have to look this up, three or four meeting in a
row or your attendence drops below 50% You can be and in some clubs
kicked out. food for thought. Nancy-Wi
I'm sure some have said this in other ways already, but the use of
this scripture bothers me. I don't think that Christians need any more
incouragement to leave behind "the poor" in favor of lavishing
attention on their "sprituality" or their worship expreience or their
sanctuaries.
What Jesus says to Judas strikes me as being completely contrary to
his entire ministry. The pharisees were religious people who sepnt all
their effort on worship and ignored the people starving around their
temple.
I was wondering, could Jesus be defending the pure intention of Mary's
action and accusing Judas's ill intented accusation??
Martin Luther King Jr. wrote that for a Christian "the means must be
as pure as the ends" and I think Mark Twain (?) said that "there is
nothing more evil than doing the right thing for the wrong reasons."
Just a thought. jw in tx
A qoute that comes (I Think) from Robert Farrar Capon;
"If we could be saved by bookkeeping,then we would have been saved by
Moses and not Jesus"
I understand that to mean that we are not saved by fulfilling the
requiremeents of the law, but by grace. Mary gets this and loves and
worships extravangantly.
revgilmer in texarkana
Hey everyone! This scripture and the Isaiah companion are still about
waste; streams in the desert, nard perfume used "incorrectly."
We have to be careful here. I agree with jw in tx that we risk the
danger of focussing on the moment, on the emotional, the extravagent...as
long as it is focussing on us. Marva Dawn in her wonderful book, "A
Royal 'Waste' of Time" talks about worship being on the wrong focus.
We see it as a time for us, for entertainment, to attract people to
God. She says, page 11, "Of course, people iwll be attracted when we
worship well, but if we make such appeal the focus of worship, then
God will not longer be."
When we make "how" something is wasted as the focus, then we miss what
is happening here. God is doing something new (the exiles sent to a
new place, Jesus to take on the sins of the world). It takes some
"wasteful" behavior. It has to, to expand the reach and to reach out.
We have to make the focus on what God is doing, even with such people
as us, with what we have and what we can give. God's bounty will make
up for our shortcomings (God can outspend anyone with time, talent and
treasure).
So don't get trapped in Judas' argument. That argument that says, I
know what is best for the time talent or treasure that we have. You
have heard the opposite arguments:
We will always have the poor, and they aren't doing anything for
themselves but looking for a hand-out, so let's put air conditioning
in the sanctuary for those three really uncomfortable weeks. OR
If we just didn't "waste" our money on sanctuaries - demoninatinal
meetings, etc., we would have more money for the "real" work of the
church.
When the we haven't been wasting our time with God to give focus and
intent for the new things happening, the new offering opportunities
that are already present, and dried up for the lack.
Doug in Erie
I am intrigued by the wording of verse 8. It says "You always have the
poor with you, but you do not always have me" instead of "You WILL
always have the poor with you, but you WILL not always have me." I
wonder if Jesus is trying to tell Judas that he has had the
opportunity to spend money on the poor all this time, but has not kept
the mission and image of Jesus with him when he was not in Jesus'
presence? Saying "You do not always have me" means something different
to me than "You WILL not always have me." It indicates that Judas
forgets all about Jesus when he is not around. And the poor -- they
are and were there always and everywhere, yet this has not been of
utmost importance to Judas until now -- until someone other than he is
spending money on something other than what Jesus has suggested. He
wasn't thinking of the poor at that moment, nor was he thinking of the
poor when he skimmed a bit off the top of the treasury previously.
Judas more likely desires the nard to be sold so that the church
treasury is large enough to rationalize pocketing a little for his
services. I think we read that last verse incorrectly. Scholars?
Please weigh in on the tense for me. Pastor Janel in ND
I too will approach th prodigal theme; only, I think Martha is the
older sibling. I think Judas might be the far country where only those
who are expected are invited. The theme is @ those who know the price
of everything, and the value of nothing. MrBill in MI
For you always have poor WITH you, you do not always have me. I think,
as I look at this now, the big difference is the word "with." (of
course, it would be understood as partof the second phrase as a
compound sentence?) If that is the case, then it is a pure statement
of current status and future status. The poor and Jesus are with him,
now. But Jesus will not always be with him. Where is your focus?,
Jesus may be saying. Be with me, now.
Doug in Erie
Comments I Hadn't checked in this month. I have been doing a series
called "At the foot of the Cross-through the peoples eyes" I Began
with the Thieves,mob,passers by, pharissees,scribes; Secondly, the
Roman Soldiers casting lots; This Sunday, The Women-got into Diakoneo
with that; Next Sunday, "A Centurian's Story" and Palm Sunday,
Joseph's Gift,the Tomb; my mom is coming to visit for Easter, "A tale
of Two Marys'" then- ending at the empty tomb...
Seminary is good. HARD! Paul's Prison Epistle's are good. I cant wait
for Dr Park's Course Mystic Christians.
I hope everyone has been having a good month. God Bless you all
-clerically Blonde in West Ohio, Wilmington District. (see you at
Conference if your from here, My mom is missing her's as lay delegate
to visit mine...WV Conference)
Doug in Erie, I'm not sure where my focus is -- that's a darn good
question!!! :) I just found that last verse so different when I read
it this time. I always take that as God trying to tell me something
about it, but I can't always figure out what that something might be.
I'll have to keep working on that one. Pastor Janel in ND
Thought that perhaps these quotes from H.A. William's "The True
Wilderness" might be helpful in preparation:
"We all have experience of two types of feeling. There is the feeling
which unites us to our world and makes us rejoice in it - an
experience of love, of acceptance, of communion. And there is the
other kind of feeling which separates us from our world and makes us
hate it - an experience of fear, exile, discord.
The joy which one finds in his work and which transforms the tears and
sweat of it into happiness and delight - that joy is God.
The sense of belonging to the natural world, the exhilarating
certainty that all things are ours whether things in heaven or things
on the earth - that sense of belonging is God. The superabundance
which leads us naturally and inevitably to give, not as a matter of
duty nor in a spirit of patronage, but because we cannot forbear -
that superabundance is God. The compelling conviction that in spite of
all the evidence to the contrary, in spite of all the suffering we may
have to witness or undergo, the universe is on our side, and works not
for our destruction but for our fulfillment - that compelling
conviction is God.
In experiences of this sort, which occur to all of us whether or not
we ar technically religious, it is as though we were receiving
something, as though we were reaching forth to embrace a richness
greater than ourselves. It is in such receiving that we are most
alive, most ourselves, most capable of great achievement and high
endeavor.
Saint Augustine said that Christ’s command to love God is not obeyed
it it is obeyed as a command."
tom in ga
I am often amazed at how well the scriptural texts for the Sundays in
the lectionary compliment each other. The Isaiah text is talking to
Israel in exile - an exile they have perhaps even grown accustomed to
and accepted. And God tells them, "I'm going to bring you out of exile
to the promised land". And they might think - "what on earth for? Why
do we have to go through all that again - we'll probably just find
ourselves in exile once again." But God says to them - "Hold on, I'm
doing a new thing - we're not just going through the same old same
old. I've got a purpose and a vision - all things will become new
again and all of creation is going to join in praise of me."
How does this relate to this text? In all kinds of ways. Lazarus'
death and Jesus' death did/will not result in the same old same old -
but of new possibility. That being lavish and extravagant are just as
much about the kingdom of God as being prudent and wise. That a woman
will display the kind of outpouring of extravagant love as what Jesus
will do and what he will expect the disciples to do for others.
Even in the same old routines God calls us to do again and again,
sometimes we encounter something new - that God works newly even in
the predictable.
Tigger in MN
I am often amazed at how well the scriptural texts for the Sundays in
the lectionary compliment each other. The Isaiah text is talking to
Israel in exile - an exile they have perhaps even grown accustomed to
and accepted. And God tells them, "I'm going to bring you out of exile
to the promised land". And they might think - "what on earth for? Why
do we have to go through all that again - we'll probably just find
ourselves in exile once again." But God says to them - "Hold on, I'm
doing a new thing - we're not just going through the same old same
old. I've got a purpose and a vision - all things will become new
again and all of creation is going to join in praise of me."
How does this relate to this text? In all kinds of ways. Lazarus'
death and Jesus' death did/will not result in the same old same old -
but of new possibility. That being lavish and extravagant are just as
much about the kingdom of God as being prudent and wise. That a woman
will display the kind of outpouring of extravagant love as what Jesus
will do and what he will expect the disciples to do for others.
Even in the same old routines God calls us to do again and again,
sometimes we encounter something new - that God works newly even in
the predictable.
Tigger in MN
Pastor Janel in ND,
When I was reading your (first) post this week, I thought it would be
great if we could point out that Judas was distancing himself from
Jesus when he acted against Jesus' teaching, i.e., you don't always
have me. It would add an interesting twist, but the scholarly reply,
pointing out the future tense, seems to make that invalid.
Fiddlesticks.
On another note, I've always read verse 7 as Mary's anticipation of
Jesus' burial. Today, something else occurred to me...
Mary bought the nard so that she might keep it for the day of Jesus'
burial. However, Jesus just raised Lazarus from the dead. Is it
possible that Mary sees the miraculous restoration of life through
Jesus, and decides she does not need to keep the nard, because she
thinks Jesus won't have to be buried, because he has power over life
and death? Is it possible that she uses it now (in thanksgiving for
raising Lazarus?) because she doesn't think she will need it for his
burial? Also, she uses the whole pound (two cups if similar in weight
to water), is it because she is confident she will never need it for
its previously intended purpose?
I don't know, but it's a thought.
Michelle
Michelle,
That's an interesting option you see there in v.7 "Jesus said, 'Leave
her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my
burial..." I always see it figuratively since it's so hard to imagine
that anyone would actually 'got it' when it come to Jesus' role. No
wonder the gnostic tradition believed that only Mary (Magdalene, to be
more exact) were the true disciple of Jesus (and I haven't even read
Da Vinci Code yet...)
Coho, Midway City.
Devinci Code is an interesting read. I am sure someone in your
congregations will be asking about it. Nancy-Wi
I have benefited from everyone's reflections to date. Thank you!
Thought I should participate and give back ... hopefully without being
redundant. Here are a few mere musings.
Jesus was clearly a marked man at this point in John and I think it is
pretty impressive that Mary et al. are willing to associate with Him.
I am more impressed with Mary going even beyond merely associating but
identifying herself so definitively with Jesus via the fragrance of
the perfume/oil. Am I willing to let my worship and the object of my
worship be my identity? And what does that look like through out the
week? Am I willing to be marked by my worship?
I wonder if Mary thought her act of worship was extravagant? I imagine
she simply thought it was a natural outpouring in response to what
Jesus was to her. If we seek to be extravagant in our worship, is
there an element of works righteousness involved?
It seems to me there is a time to be extravagant in our worship and a
time to be extravagant in our dealings with those less fortunate.
Knowing when and in what way to be extravagant must come by way of the
Spirit.
Musings from Canada
The thing in both this and the epistle is the love that these folks
have for Jesus, because of what he's done for them. Mary got her
brother back because of him. Paul found a truth that turned the world
upside down and turned hate into love. If it's going to be distinct
from the Jesus-is-my-boyfriend variety, real praise and adoration must
be rooted in something that matters, a word one has heard or
forgiveness received. Judas maybe hadn't let himself be touched like
that.
I found an excerpt of Oscar Wilde's "The Ballad of Reading Gaol," in
"Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter," p. 3. It is a better
fit with other versions of the nard story, and it takes a guilt tack,
but the broken heart is still working on me:
"...And thus we rust Life's iron chain Degraded and alone: And some
men curse, and some men weep, And some men make no moan: But God's
eternal Laws are kind And break the heart of stone.
And every human heart that breaks, In prison-cell or yard, Is as that
broken box that gave Its treasure to the Lord, And filled the unclean
leper's house With the scent of costliest nard.
Ah! happy those whose hearts can break And peace of pardon win! How
else may man make straight his plan And cleanse his soul from Sin? How
else but through a broken heart May Lord Christ enter in?"
Laura in TX
Henri Nouwen writes beautifully about the Prodigal Son. He says that
we are called to not just become aware of having both the two children
within us, and come home to the graciousness of "the father." But,
being home, we are to more and more become like the compassionate,
gracious "father." Perhaps Mary became more and more like the "father"
of the parable in her extravagant and generous love. She spent time
listening to Jesus - maybe a form of prayer. She was "home." She was
graced.
Also, I think we need to be very careful that we do not equate the
extravagance that was spent on Jesus, then, with the extravagance that
we could spend on the church, today. It would be self-serving for
churches to equate themselves with Jesus.
Brent in Pincher
Mary "got it"! She knew Jesus had the power over death, but yet she
prepared him for burial. Judas did not "get it", though he was with
Jesus in human form regularly. Did his own agenda interfere with God's
agenda?
Roger in Pa.
Musings from Canada asks,
Am I willing to let my worship and the object of my worship be my
identity? And what does that look like through out the week? Am I
willing to be marked by my worship?
What we see going on with Mary and Jesus is a very personal encounter,
though publically enacted. It is a moment of contemplative prayer, the
eros reaching toward completion in her savior, the moment of divine
union that comes only in the secret place of the heart, it is a moment
when giving becomes receiving, and there is a sense of one-ness or
total peace. Over time this experience will change our lives.
In the Episcopal Church, we do things always so decently and in order
that we forget about the need of the soul to fly to God. Beside,
speaking directly to our Lord's coming passion, death, and burial,
this reading places prayer prior to good works (of any kind)
suggesting that it is only out of the fullness of God that we can do
anything. It reminds me of Maundy Thursday, when we must receive
before we can give, for if we remain empty there will be nothing to
offer.
tom in ga
I have not submitted anything for quite a long time. To all who
contributed about Worship...Thanks! What does it really mean to
worship? Is that a once a week thing? Is that a life style of
extravagantly giving praise to the Lord? Is that a life style in which
our daily choices are based on an extravagant out pouring of love?
Just some questions. LP in CO
Isn't it interesting that the ONLY one who is critical of Mary's
extravagance is Judas--the one who ultimately betrays Jesus by handing
him over to the Roman authorities? Wonder what that says about those
Christians who criticize extravagance in worship!
To the anonymous poster speaking of Judas being the only one who
protests - according to John, anyway. John had no love for Judas. The
other gospel accounts (Matt and Mk) have ALL the disciples grumbling
about the extravagance and how the money could have been used.
I realize the lection is in John this time, and not a compilation of
all the accounts, but I felt the need to point that out. Judas gets a
really bad rap in John.
Anonymous
I'm willing to defend the legitimacy of Judas' question (even if the
gospel writer is willing to smear his motives and character). I think
Jesus' response points to a polarity in the life of the church: BOTH
beauty in worship AND caring for the poor are important. If you tilt
to one side or the other, somehow your faith life is off balance. If
you pour all your money into making worship a rich and beautiful
experience, and neglect the poor, you're doing it wrong. Ditto if you
become a sterile social agency.
I also thought about what happened with the perfume; probably Mary got
most of her gift back, stuck in her hair. Somehow what we think we're
giving to Jesus comes back to us, and also is shared with people
around us (fragrance).
I was just struck by a sudden image: Lazarus is among those at the
dinner party, the living and the (recently) dead feasting together.
And isn't this forum a kind of feast for the living and dead? (but not
in a creepy, Dawn-of-the-Dead way) Theologians, both living and dead,
get to be in conversation here. I guess that won't help anyone's
preaching, but I just thought it was cool.
LF
My sermon is a simple one-
I am asking 'why do we worship?'
For some, it is to understand right and wrong- to get the answers.
Judas is a good example in this passage (notice only John, our author,
judges).
For some, it is to give thanks for new life. Lazarus is here for that.
For others, it is service. The church works for the kingdom. Martha
seems to be a good example here too.
For others, worship is being in the presence of God. Mary fulfills
this role beautifully.
For God, I think worship is simply being- the I AM of God. Jesus is in
relation to all who are present- teaching Judas, raising Lazarus,
being served by Martha, being annointed by Mary... allowing all to be
with him and he to be with all. Each coming in their need, each
recieving what they seek.
TB in MN
LF - that has been the balance the Salvation Army has tried to
maintain since its foundation. Mission and worship, in equal doses.
And I think our various denominations do a pretty good job of keeping
us aware of the need for that balance. They have big-pocket ministries
they fund while producing great worship materials. We're not as good
at keeping the balance when it gets down to the local church level
because ministry and mission often seem so overwhelming to us. We
don't think we have much to offer.
If only we could understand that whatever we have on hand is something
Jesus can use - Mary happened to have a pound of spikenard around. We
may have a store of something Jesus could use from our time and talent
cupboard, but we don't pull it out and give it to him because we just
don't feel we should, or because somebody will sniff at us in
disapproval. Well, when Mary risked it, the room was full of a
wonderful scent - mostly composed of Jesus' approval and appreciation.
Sniff THAT, Judas!
KHC
Doug:
I picked up on the "here and now" vs future, too. We seldom realize
what we have right now, and there's not much we can do about the
future--and shouldn't worry about it. Also, when I wake up tomorrow,
today's future, I will be in the here and now.
Mark
(occasional lurker)
OK ... here's my little dificulty in applying the "extravagance" and
"worship" and "service" things to my church.
They've never had a theology that showed a belief in abundance. In the
main sanctuary, the hot water has never even been hooked up. There's
no indication that they ever intended to use hot water. The light
plugs are few and far between. Every piece of furniture in the
sanctuary has a plaque of someone's name on it (I know this is common
practice, but until this point, I'd never seen it used to this degree
and it, frankly, was off-putting to me). I cannot preach without
seeing the plaque of "NH" on the pulpit because he built it.
I also think of their belief that they "can't afford" missions and
ministry. They see apportionments as a tax and are embittered about
it.
When I suggested we invite more people to this big "fundraiser" they
hold (called a Tater Bash), they said, "we don't have a
health-dept-approved kitchen." I wondered, then, how all these other
litle churches do THEIR fundraisers in the SAME TYPE of kitchen.
When I suggested a Summer children's program, they said, "we can't
afford the utilities." That was after they said, "we don't have any
children."
We collected shoes for poor children (THAT type of thing, to be
perfectly fair, gets a great deal of response), and we put them on the
altar table and all around - with hte soup we also collected (Souper
Sole Sunday) and someone took a picture of it. The first comment when
we passed the picture around was, "Don't we have a policy about what
can go on the altar?"
I suggested we provide some snacks for the standardized testing at the
elementary school. Responses included, "Why can't their own mothers
give them snacks?" and "Well, Fulton County gives them breakfast."
So ... how would I preach this without wagging my finger in their
faces.
Nay-Oh-Mee sent me a great meditation on this - "Mary responds to the
reality of death that has been staring them in the face."
My big question is: can we stare death in the face and pronounce and
proclaim fragrant victory? Usually, we're too realistic for that.
Sally in GA
Just an unscholarly bit of musing. I know that most commentators don't
agree, but I have always taken an imaginative, poetic license with the
story... I noticed that Mel Gibson had Mary Magdaline reaching out to
touch the feet of Jesus at her first encounter with Him. The Passion
portrays her as the woman of John 8, a spurious passage, but one very
telling of the character of the Christ, and His love for sinners, His
unconventional dealings with women. In fact, there is an interesting
theme of women of questionable character who are included in the story
of the Lord. You go back to Rahab, Tamar, Bathsheba, Naomi... all
included in His lineage. But also including the persistent rumor of
His illigtimet birth. Again, it is not a popular interpretation, but
Beranrd of Clarveaux used it for a herminutical jumping off place,
that just possibly, Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdaline were one and
the same person. The thing I find really intriguing about this
possiblilty is that if that is true you could very well have the
little known and unapprecitated story of the Prodigal DAUGHTER's
return. Consider the possibilty that after the death of their father
Martha stays home to look after sickly brother, Lazarus. Someone has
to earn a living. Magdala had a reputation as a city filled with vice
and corruption. What do we know from the Scriptures? Jesus was a
friend of sinners. He was constantly criticized for hanging out with
prostitutes and sinners. The story of the annointing and the "hair
thing" were to be rembered wherever the gospel was proclaimed. John
makes it clear that Mary of Bethany was the one who did the hair
thing. In the culture of the day it was way out of line for a woman to
let down her hair in public. It was not proper for a good Jew to speak
to a woman, not his wife, in public. The disciples were amazed that
Jesus was speaking to a woman, and a Samaritan at that, in John 4.
Jesus was always going against the grain and especially in regards to
the treatment of women and children. I like to imagine that Mary came
home as Lazarus was nearing death. Perhaps she could have been caught
in the very act of adultery. Somehow, she is saved through her meeting
with the Lord. The Synoptic Gospels place the sinful woman's anointing
of Jesus in the home of a Pharisee named Simon, ealy in the ministry
of Jesus. The annointing of Mary of Bethany occurs during the last
weeks of the Lord's life. What if these two annointings were by the
same person. One, right after her deliverance from 7 demons and a life
of sin. If this were the case then it would appear that Mary has come
home and has been reunited with her brother and sister. Isn't that
just like Jesus? Then the annointing at Bethany in the home of Simon
the leper takes on new significance. It is a remberance of a personal
history. A demonstration reenacting a time of weeping and wetting
Jesus feet with tears of thanksgiving and love. It is an admission
that nothing we possess is more precious to us than the Lord. He is
the one who forgives our sins and restores our broken relationships.
Just applying a sanctified imagination to the text. TA in MS
Who would you rather spend a week with, Judas or Mary?
I have a hard time with waste and extravagance. I don't like it when
my kids put too much ketchup on their plates. I don't like it when
they pour more milk in their glass than they can drink. I don't like
it when people build extravagant houses that need heating or
air-conditioning and lots of furnishings. I don't like all the waste
on packaging, and vehicles that are bigger than people need. I
probably would have flipped had I seen a year's worth of ointment get
cracked open. A Judas lives within me.
But, maybe those who know the extravagance of God's love don't need so
many extravagant material things.
It is easy to think that God is pretty tight with her love. People
talk about the love of God without really believing that God likes
them. God has to be paid off by the death of Jesus to love us. They
talk about a God of perfect justice. God can't love us without some
blood sacrifice. The mathematics of grace don't fit with a God of
perfect justice. They may think God would just as soon throw us in
hell, but reluctantly "saves" us when we pass the test. Guilt and fear
are still alive and well in the Christian Church.
Maybe the continual message of Jesus was that God's love is very, very
great. It is extravagant. And people like me may have a hard time with
that, because I too want justice and love to be carefully measured out
and not wasted.
Brent in Pincher
TA in MS,
While I'm all for being creative, especially if it will allow us to
identify more personally with an event or character, I have a little
more trouble with your musings (though I know they are just musings).
First, the woman in the Synoptics is clearly named as a sinner and the
event, though it was in Bethany, took place at Simon's, the house of a
Pharisee. All three agree. That John does not name her so -- in fact
that he gives her a name and it is the Mary of Mary & Martha fame --
means that John has a different agenda, and I am not sure it is a fair
reading of scripture to change something so pointedly written.
The Lukan version is clearly about forgiveness along with the issues
with the poor that Judas and all the disciples bring up in all three
Synoptics. To co-opt John's version and make it about a response to
forgiveness of her own behavior I think changes the point of the
story.
What Mary does here is thoughtless (i.e., without thought) and
selfless -- it is a moment of pure goodness done without thought out
of love and gratitude to Jesus. After all, he has just brought her
brother back from the dead ... at a cost to himself that she already
recognizes. She also recognizes that Lazarus is only the beginning.
She does "get it" as many have posted already.
I think to take that totally selfless act, done without thought but
out of sheer emotion and woven in such intimacy, and blend it with
another Mary from another time and place with a different agenda, is
unfair to this Mary. Why make them the same person?
Perhaps it is because it is easier sometimes to see myself doing
things in grateful response to God's gifts to me -- forgiveness,
creation, etc. But the times in my life that I've done something out
of the sheer overwhelming emotion of the moment, a moment of pure
goodness, a moment of pure worship -- are few and precious. There is
something exquisite in Mary's act, in John's telling, that shines in a
way that is not repeated in the other gospels.
mm in pa
By the way, an interesting book, written before the DiVinci Codes, is
Mary of Magdala -- I believe that's the title. It's an interesting
novel that projects who Mary might have been and why there was such a
strong connection between her and Jesus. I cannot remember how this
particular story plays in the book, or even if it does, but it was an
interesting read. It has a Forrest Gump-ish feel to it, that Mary
seemed to be at any important event with any important figure
mentioned in all the gospels, but there is a plausibility ... with the
total understanding that it is a novel, not history.
mm again
C. S. Lewis once wrote something to the effect....that "the
significance of Mary's anointing became clear to me (him) one
day....that the box that was broken over the Holy Feet was one's
heart. And that as long as the contents stayed inside, they were more
like sewage than perfume."
My sermon speaks about breaking open one's heart before the
Lord.....Thanks to Lora in Texas for that poem. It may work itself
into my sermon.
Does anyone know of any good clean joke about brokenness? I am looking
for a lead in story.
Jude in Wash
To mm in pa, Thanks for your thoughts. It really was a beautiful thing
she did. I guess one reason I lean towards the idea of one woman and
two annointings is that as I researched it, several of the
commentators were adament that this could not have been the same
woman, since, "Jesus would not allow a known sinner to take a leading
role in His ministry." i have not read any of the DeVinci Code, and I
am not arguing for any inappropriate relationship. It just irks me
that scholars right off the possibility of a sinner being restored and
released to minister. That's all our story! It is interesting that
magdaline first appears in the Lukan narrative introduced by name in
Ch 8. The fact that she is more commonly referred to through her
association with Lazarus is understandable. How do we remember our
friends, by there failures, or their family? I know one can't be
dogmatic, but how many people have you ever seen wipe someone's feet
with their hair? Thanks for your thoughts. TA in MS
Sally in GA asks:
So ... how would I preach this without wagging my finger in their
faces?
Come at the story from the side of Judas what does he 'think' about
this action of Mary's; what is going on inside of him to draw out such
a reaction? At the very end of the homily embrace Mary. Had Judas
embraced Mary he may have been made whole.
tom in ga
Sally,
I can sure relate to your struggles! The Women's Association in this
church is down to about 4 members, all past the age of 75. They still
want to continue their missions, which I applaud. So, I offered them
an opportunity to raise $500 or more by selling new Church Cook Books.
Now mind you, $500 is more than they have ever had in their treasury
before. Their work input would be minimal: I offered to collect
recipes - old and new - that people around here love, do the typing,
running off, collating and binding of 100 of these books at NO COST to
them. It would be 100% profit, if they would just be the ones to offer
the books for sale to people in the church, or at their annual pie
booth. If they didn't sell them all, there was no money lost to them,
and they could give a cookbook to New Members as a Welcome gift. They
turned me down flat, saying it would require too much work to sell
them, and besides, the church had produced a cookbook in 1971 that
everyone still used. Well, except the people who joined after
1971......
I know I'm sounding prideful here, and I don't like that, but I felt
my gift offer was extravagant, and it was rejected on the spot. That
hurt. Now I have to decide if I will be making any offers in the
future when I know they struggle to finance their work.
Just call me whiney........
KHC
To Brent in Pincher - Just one woefully inadequate word: BEAUTIFUL! LB
in MN
The question of ministering to the poor:
"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.) John 12:5-6
The issue here has absolutely nothing to do with whether or not it is
a good thing to care for the poor; it has to do with Judas' bad faith.
He is stealing money from the treasury (bag); place 300 more denarii
in the bag and Judas will reach even deeper.
How do we deal with bad faith within our congregations? People who
double-minded, or who have motives for doing things that are not clear
or seen. Judas is a hireling and not a shepherd. His comment sounds so
correct and right that we are all standing up and taking note, and not
hearing what is hidden. Satan works that way ... making the right
suggestions for the wrong reason. Judas wishes to deny Mary her
devotion because he doesn't have any!
tom in ga
Brent in Pitcher,
Your post reminds me of the ideas some around here have: We are all
headed for hell. That, they apparently believe, is the course we are
born to follow. But then Jesus intervenes and saves the day. If you
latch onto him, he sweeps you up and carries you on a course to
heaven. If you don't, you remain on the road to hell.
It's an argument we have fairly regularly. I don't buy it that God
works that way. I think God's full intent is to give LIFE, to offer
abundant grace to every single human being at every single turn.
Israel sure learned that. When the prophets were warning of death and
judgment and destruction, God was setting the place and the time for
Jesus to enter the world. Then the prophets were able to talk about
that instead. Hope never runs out where God is. Amazing grace is too
wonderful to be understood. It can only be thankfully received.
KHC
tom in ga,
Judas had devotion to Jesus, all right. But it was the "what's in it
for me/us" devotion. He wanted Jesus to be a militant rebel and lead
the Zealots in their fight against Rome. (There are sources that would
place not only Judas and Simon the Zealot, but also James the son of
Alphaeus and Thaddaeus/Jude as Zealots). If Jesus didn't fit the bill,
he was dispensable.
Mary had devotion for Jesus, but it was the "I want nothing in return"
devotion.
KHC
Sally,
I'd approach your congregation just as Jesus approached everyone in
this story- with love. Jesus does not judge Judas but does try to
teach him. "The poor you will always have with you..." is not a
cynical rejoiner but a statement of encouragment and fact ("You are
right, Judas," Jesus is saying. "You do have a ministry to the poor!
And, right now, you also have love from me."). We tend to beat up on
Judas because we know how the story ends. I feel Jesus went to the
cross loving his brother and holding out hope for him as only the
Savior could.
It is far easier to point out the faults and tell stories about our
members bad points than it is to remember the love and commitment they
have made to the church.
It is something akin to coming home from a camping trip- no one every
comes home saying that the sun was shining, the lake warm and the trip
a smashing success... we talk about the bugs, the burned food on the
campfire, and the rain because that stuff is far more interesting and
fun to talk about. With pastors, we whine and moan about our goofy
people and their stupid, stupid ways.
Consider for a moment the effort with which "NH" made that pulpit that
you are now given the honor of preaching from. If it is indeed hand
made, imagine the effort that the person went through- picking the
wood, fashioning it, imagining its design, polishing its finish.
Imagine the pride they might feel in knowing that their pastor will
preach God's Word from the pulpit that they made. Could it even be
that they made it not to honor themselves but had hope that the words
spoken from it might honor God?
TB in MN
KHC,
It is amazing how our orientation can affect our vision. You are
absolutely correct about Judas. He was looking for something different
and thus could not see who was truly before him. How often are my
views of the world or others incorrect! Reality is not always what it
seems to be. Bad things can be good for us, and good things can be bad
for us. (what a strange world we live in). Judas was holding on to his
ego, unable to surrender himself to the reality before him, still
trying to make deals, still being the Zealot he was, refusing to get
caught in the game that just wasn't his cup of tea. How many of us
come to worship Sunday after Sunday stil holding on to our egos and
unwilling to surrender ourselves to Him who died and rose again. It is
for this reason most of my congregation thinks of Easter as a "promise
for eternal life" instead of seeing in the events of Holy and Easter
the movement of God toward us, bringing us from the darkness of our
own destruction and death to abundant living. Mary know in heart all
of this ahead of time.
tom in ga
Jude in Wash,
How can there be a good joke about brokenness?
I am reminded of the man who said he complained about not having
shoes, until he met a man who had no feet.
It's not a joke, but it might lead into a theme of brokeness.
Michelle
KHC: Approch those ladies again. Asking them about what they feel
would be too much work. Ask them if they mind if you recruit a few
younger ladies to help them. If this is UMW group get the purpose out.
Ask them if God is done working through them. I would keep at them a
bit more, God is calls us to be persistant. Maybe if you can pick out
a specific mission that might get the younger ones interested. With
missions in over 100 countries that money is badly needed. I would
contine to try to ignite them. I told my congregation that if they
thought they were too old to do anything any more that it was hogwash!
There response is hogwash! As you can tell it really makes me upset
when vision is myoptic or worse turned to the problems of self always.
Nancy-Wi
A clergy woman pointed out to me that this verse is again about love.
The wasteland showed Jesus loved God more than self The hen and chicks
shows that God loves us. The prodical sons were looking for love. and
now in preparation for the greatest love of all, Mary shows her
awesome love for Jesus.
I am mulling this in relationship to extravagant worship.. Nancy-Wi
PH in OH - I couldn't get your link to open - Dratz!
No one has mentioned the placement of this story in the gospel of
John. As I see it, this is basically a passage telling of the closing
of Jesus' public ministry. Then, the anointing (by Mary - but WHICH
Mary is debatable)was the anointment before death. I'm still not sure
where I'm going with the text, but I think there's something to say
about God's desire that we worship. Worship nurtures relationship, and
without relationship, all the committee meetings and do-goodings of
the church merely noisy gongs and clanging cymbals.
IowaStarr
Sally, They sound like they are in Lazarus's tomb... I hope you can be
their Jesus and resurrect them! My prayer for your sanity! Nancy-Wi
P.s and I was complaining because mine are a bit slow in getting
around to giving and pledging for the new sound system. Lord forgive
me!
Here's a joke about giving of yourself, that speaks to our far too
frequent stinginess.
The story is told of a woman who accompanied her husband to the
doctor’s office. After his checkup, the doctor called the wife into
his office alone. He said: “Your husband is suffering from a very
serious disease, combined with some horrible stress in his life. If
you want your husband to live, here is what you must do: Each morning
fix him a healthy breakfast. Be pleasant and make sure he is in a good
mood. Pack him a nutritious lunch so he doesn’t go out and buy junk
food at noon. Have an especially nutritious and appealing supper for
him when he comes home from work. Don’t bother him with little details
of your own problems. It will only make his stress worse. Make love
often, and satisfy his every whim. If you do this for the next year, I
think your husband will regain his health completely.” On the way home
the husband turned to his wife and asked her, “What did the doctor
say?” She looked straight ahead and said, “You are going to die.”
Our congregation was considering putting in an elevator. The richest
man in town (but not a good giver) said, "Why do this, the
congregation will not be here in ten years." My response is that if we
don't do something about our entrance, we are only hastening our
demise. It got voted down.
JRW in OH
Sally, you asked how can you approach the subject of extravagence in a
congregation that has no extravagence. You said, "without wagging my
finger." Sometimes, fingers need to be wagged!
A couple of quotes from Philip Yancey.
"When I say the words 'evangelical Christian' what comes to mind? In
reply, mostly I hear political descriptions: of strident pro-life
activists, or gay-rights opponents, or proposals for censoring the
Internet. I hear references to the Moral Majority... not once - not
once - have I heard a description redolent of grace. Apparently that
is not the aroma Christians give off in the world."
"We live in an atmosphere choked with the fumes of ungrace. Grace
comes from outside, as a gift and not an achievement. How easily it
vanishes from our dog-eat-dog, survival-of-the-fittest,
look-out-for-number-one world.... Every institution, it seems, runs on
ungrace and its insistence that we earn our way."
I wonder how I, and the church I serve, smells?
Brent in Pincher
Try this picture of Mary.....
She blew $25000 on Jesus. But more than that..... She lowered herself
to be position of being a rag to wipe his feet.
I mean, it’s not like she washed his hair. It was his FEET.
Feet that walked dirt roads in sandals. Dirt roads that were traveled
by sheep, goats, and cattle.
And there she was, wiping those feet with her own hair. She made
herself into a common wash rag for him.
You get the impression that she thought Jesus was of much greater
value than she was.
.... That he was of much greater value than anything in the world.
She loved him.
Do we love him that much? Do we see him as that valuable?
GC in IL
KHC: You wrote, "I felt my gift offer was extravagant, and it was
rejected on the spot." It was an extravagant offer, true, and it was
rejected on the spot, true. I wonder how many people in this world
have rejected God's extravagant offer? But God keeps after them. Maybe
you should, too.
I found a joke that relates to Judas' criticism of Mary's act (or at
least being critical)
While traveling separately through the countryside late one afternoon,
a Hindu, a Rabbi, and a Critic were caught in the same area by a
terrific thunderstorm. They sought shelter at a nearby farmhouse.
"That storm will be raging for hours," the farmer told them. "You'd
better stay here for the night. The problem is, there's only enough
for two of you. One of you will have to sleep in the barn."
"I'll be the one," said the Hindu. "A little hardship is nothing to
me." He went out to the barn. A few minutes later there was a knock at
the door. He was the Hindu. "I'm sorry," he told the others, "but
there is a cow in the barn. According to my religion, cows are sacred
and one must not intrude into their space."
"Don't worry," said the Rabbi. "Make yourself comfortable here. I'll
go sleep in the barn." He went out to the barn. A few minutes later,
there was a knock at the door. It was the Rabbi.
"I hate to be a bother," he said, "but there is a pig in the barn. In
my religion, pigs are considered unclean. I wouldn't feel comfortable
sharing my sleeping quarters with a pig."
"Oh, all right," said the Critic. "I'll go sleep in the barn." He went
out to the barn. A few minutes later, there was a knock at the door.
It was the cow and the pig.
Jude in Wash
I'm reminded of those funerals we all have... loved ones say, "She
always said she didn't want any flowers at her funeral...'If they
can't give them to me when I'm alive' I don't want them at my
funeral.'"
Perhaps that's Jesus's reasoning... "The poor will always be with
you... Mary has done an extravagant thing... chances are the money
would not reach the poor... there are many baskets for gifts.
Would Judas have felt differently if Mary had "wasted it on him"?
Several years ago, musicians by the name of Avery and Marsh wrote a
piece which captures the essence of this perspective. The words go
like this:
There are lots of lonely people, lots of strange, peculiar people, who
need all the love that anyone can give.
We've been told: "Don't speak to strangers and the ones who aren't
approved of, but perhaps we have forgot how Jesus lived. . .
There are lots and lots of people who are hard to get along with, who
demand and hate and tear down every one.
But we're not to be their judges, not their wardens, nor their
masters, we're supposed to be their servants like God's Son. . .
We are parents, we are children, and we're living here together, but
the way we treat each other is bizarre.
We must learn to see each other with the eyes of understanding, as the
hungry, needing people that we are. . .
Love them now. Don't wait till they're gone away. Love them now, while
they're around.
Touch them, hold them, laugh and cry with them,. Show them, tell them,
don't deny with them. Honor them, give birth and die with them now.
Love them now, before they're just a guilt memory. Love them now, Love
them now.
Still, this passage bothers me for Jesus comes off sounding as though
he is being selfish here... not a "Christlike" quality we have been
led to exemplify in our lives.
Strangely, I am drawn to this passage, perhaps because it shows that
Jesus is more like us than I used to think... perhaps he WAS like
us... selfish, wanting the finer things for ourselves and our
families... still I wonder.
pulpitt in ND
Seeing with the eyes of Christ...
I Had an interesting experience, (you probably can't use it THIS
Sunday. But I think it's worth "filin'" for another time.) You be the
judge...
Last Sunday following worship, my son Brandon and I went out for
lunch. We drove to Arby's by Target. We don't usually go that Arby's…
it's not the closest one to our home. Still, we stopped in. And things
DIDN'T look good from the beginning. First, a worker behind the
counter was handing a cup to a patron adding, "Sorry, I forgot your
drink!" Then, another came up with an order for another patron
stating, "Sorry about the wait!"…
Still, before we were able to put our order in a man in his
mid-sixties or so approached the counter. "Uh Miss, could I speak to
your manager!" Another man walked by me picked up his order and almost
bumped into me with his tray and said to the man, "Good luck!" "Just a
minute sir, she’s really busy!" "That's ok, I will wait!" he said.
I tried to talk my son into going to another restaurant... "Settle!"
said my son. So we decided to stay... in spite of the scene.
I watched the man as he waited… patiently… We put in our order… I
wanted to see what he was going to say… "She'll be here in a minute
said one worker to the man waiting at the counter!" We received our
meal in short order and were forced to go find a seat as it would have
looked "nosey" to stand around waiting, I mean, I could only fill my
pop so many times and sip on it before suspicion gave me away.
Meanwhile my son had taken a seat in a booth on the other side of the
room. I walked over and took my seat facing the serving counter. 2 or
3 more times, a worker would tell the man, "The manager will be with
you shortly."
I sat facing him from the other side of the restaurant. Wondering just
what he was going to chew out the manager for! "She'll be right here!"
said yet another worker at the counter… it must have taken 5 minutes…
maybe 10. It seemed like an hour to my "nosey self".
Finally the manager came and I overheard just what a nearby worker
said, "Sir, would you mind putting that in writing?"
I still didn't get it! I saw the man leave the restaurant doors, he
opened them patiently for his wife… she was using a walker. Out to
their car they went. "Lord, I wish I knew what he said!", ...I said to
myself. I was almost out of pop… and I got up from my table...and sure
enough just then, he returned to the door of the restaurant, his wife
headed to the restroom. He stood by the door waiting for her.
"I thought you were going to really give it to the manager?" I said,
"You got me curious, ...What did you say to the manager?" I asked...
"Oh," he said, "I just told her how much I appreciated them working so
hard so that my wife and I could enjoy our meal. I guess I may have
chosen a bad time to tell her. It's so easy for people to take the
service industry for granted, and I wanted her to know we appreciated
it."
I saw a glimpse of the Savior Sunday at an Arby’s restaurant... last
Sunday afternoon.
I hope you see as he saw too!
pulpitt in ND
