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.” vs. 3
John 12:1-3
Mary had gotten her brother, Lazarus, back from the realm of the dead, and her deep anguish had been replaced with overwhelming gratitude. When Jesus came to visit and reclined at her table for dinner, she anointed his feet with costly perfume and wiped them with her hair. It was an extravagant response to his life-giving gift. That’s how some folks are wired! It’s not enough for them just to say “thank you,” they insist on giving a gift, and if it’s merited, there is no limit to their generosity. Others of us, raised in the school of frugality, have a tough time with such careless demonstrations of thanksgiving. We like to hang on to our hard-earned dollars and imagine that they are to be squirreled away and not frittered away on things like expensive perfumes or ointments. But what joy it brings when we break our bondage to practicality and can give free rein to prodigal giving. Sometimes it’s nice to have a party and invite our friends for no good reason at all–it just feels good when our houses can be filled with the sounds of happy people and the fragrances of unbounded love. And if it costs a little more than might seem necessary, well, so what! Life deserves to be celebrated!
Thought for the Day: What sparks extravagance in me?
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