Focus

Let your soul take a moment of rest as you hear God’s word. Put your busy schedule, wandering mind, stressful thoughts, and burdened heart at the feet of the cross and open up to God’s voice as the Giver of Life tends your soul.

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Read

John 12:1-11 (NRSV)

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.

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Reflect

Growing up I was taught not to waste my time doing certain things and not to waste food because of the hungry and poor people in the world. My mother would say, “Steve, eat everything on your plate, don’t waste this food.” As I reflect upon my mother’s words, I realize she had a genuine concern for people who were poor and hungry.

In the scripture above, Judas expressed concern about the use of money, claiming that it should have been used to help those who were poor. However, Judas did not have a genuine concern for those who were poor nor did he have any ideas on how the money could be used to feed people who were hungry. He was just disturbed by the extravagance of Mary’s gesture.

Jesus immediately knew that Judas’ concern was not for those who were poor, but for what would benefit himself. Mary’s extravagant act of love overwhelmed Jesus. No doubt Mary’s heart had been transformed by the grace and power of God’s love. Her action was motivated by love, not greed.

Mary gives us an example to follow. Just as with Mary, God gives us opportunities daily to show our extravagant love for God and others. To use the familiar words of Jesus, “Go and do likewise.”

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Pray

God, we long for daily opportunities to show our extravagant love for you and others. May our motives for showing love be genuine and pure. Open our eyes and help us seize all those opportunities for service. Amen.

Go with God.