Monday Of Holy Week

John 12: 1 - 8 (NIV) - "Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, "Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages. "He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. "Leave her alone," Jesus replied. " It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me."


Mary demonstrated that she knows what is supremely important in life--to give of her best, with all her heart, in an action of selfless giving, to her Lord. By giving all she had she loves "just right." And, her example not only affected Jesus deeply (Matthew has Jesus conclude his version of the story with these words: "Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her," Mt. 26:13), but it is a continual challenge to us over 2000 years later. In what ways, as we approach this Easter Day, are we unreservedly pouring out ourselves to God? In which ways do we hold back? In which ways to we give a "Judas-like" financial explanation of ours or others' gifts? Mary's extreme action challenges us, then, on a number of levels today. How do you hear her?