April 7, 2019
For full passage click: John 12:5-8 …“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.’” vss. 7-8
Judas’ suggestion wasn’t a bad one. The perfume was very expensive, there were many poor people in Jerusalem, and the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Sometimes it really is hard to know whether frugality or extravagance is the better option. Many of us struggle with such questions in making our money decisions. While most of the time we would agree that care of the poor is a central part of our call as followers of Jesus. There are some occasions that just scream for opulent celebration, especially when love is involved. It doesn’t spark joy in our souls to scrimp on displays of affection for our beloved! Certainly that’s what was on Mary’s heart that day in Bethany. She wanted the best for the one she had grown to love so much. And so it will be for us as we walk in the way of Mary and all the saints. There isn’t any kind of guidebook for our decisions; we’ll just make the best call we can in every circumstance. One thing for sure: we won’t be interested in using our wealth to pile up treasure for ourselves. That’s a dead end road! Always we’ll be generous with others, sometimes with the hungry and hurting and sometimes as an act of love toward those we love.
Thought for the Day: When was the last time I gave an extravagant gift?
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