04/09/2022
LAST SUNDAY'S SERMON
Text: John 12:1-9
Mark Trotter claims this is a true story. I could not verify. A man is kidnapped. His kidnappers called his wife asking for a $100,000 ransom. She successfully talked them down to $30,000. He returned home unharmed, the money was recovered, and the kidnappers were sent to jail. I wonder what he thought of his wife’s frugality. Would we want our loved ones to spare expenses like that? Or to be extravagant, like Mary, in today’s Gospel reading.
Right before crowds will line the streets to give Jesus a parade, he and his disciples dine with Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. They are friends. One chapter earlier, Jesus resuscitated Lazarus leading the religious leaders to plot his death. The cross looms large as Mary washes Jesus' feet with costly perfume. Pure nard, worth a year’s wages. Mary’s act of extravagant love toward Jesus fills the house with fragrance.
Beth Sanders suggests that Mary pours out her whole bottle of perfume without regret. She knows it is a small act compared to the magnitude of God’s love that she sees in Jesus the Messiah. Mary knows that Lazarus will die again. She knows that Jesus will die. Anointing him now shows her belief that Jesus brings victory over death. She wipes the oil away because it will not be necessary to cover up the smell of death. Martha had said, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days” before Jesus resuscitated Lazarus. With Jesus, Mary smells the fragrance of new life. Joyfully filling the house with the abundant fragrance of Christ’s love.
Judas challenges Mary's act of love because of his own issues. We know people like Judas. The co-worker who always has a “better way.” The naysayer who “knows” that your idea is doomed to fail. The clueless one who “knows” just how you feel. The powerful, who “know” what is best for the powerless. The family know-it-all. Will we be like Mary or critical like Judas?
A Hindu, a Rabbi, and a critic get caught in a storm and find shelter with a farmer. He says, “You can stay here, but my house is small, One of you must sleep in the barn.: “I’ll be the one,” said the Hindu. But he soon knocks at the door, “I’m sorry, there is a cow in the barn. Cows are sacred. I cannot impose.” “Don’t worry,” said the Rabbi, I will sleep in the barn.” Then another knock, “There is a pig in the barn. In my religion pigs are unclean, I can't sleep near a pig.” Finally, the critic said, “I’ll sleep in the barn.” A few minutes later another knock at the door. Do you know who was there? The pig and the cow.
Critics may claim to know it all. Leonard Sweet suggests that claims of “absolute knowledge” guarantee the same results as “absolute power.” Absolute disaster. In our reading from Philippians, Paul shares that which made him a kind of religious know-it-all. A “Hebrew among Hebrews,” a Pharisee, a zealous, blameless, righteous defender of the faith. But Paul recognizes these human achievements as “loss.” As “rubbish.” Replaced by one thing -the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.
I invite you to join me in praying words based on Selwyn Dawson’s work, summarizing our Gospel:
Lord, I am humbled by Mary's unreasonable extravagance. Pouring precious ointment on your feet. Part of me agrees with Judas. The money could have been better spent - on feeding the poor, paying the bills, or supporting the temple.
But you accepted her gift of ointment and tears.
That goes against the grain for me. I learned the hard way that money is not to be thrown around. That I must live with prudence, modesty, thrift, and discipline. To avoid life getting out of hand.
Lord teach me that love requires something more than habit, routine, schedule, and a balanced checkbook. Let me join you in fresh and spontaneous responses to life. Allowing myself to be vulnerable. Making unexpected gifts. Showing my love in action and embrace.
Let not my fear of what others might think rein in my emotion to love extravagantly. Let not my forgiveness of those who hurt me be cold and conditional. Let not my fear of rejection keep me from reaching out.
Lord, Mary knew that her moment had come and might never come again. Help me to know when it is time to cast prudence aside, to break open the container of nard and fill my world with the fragrance of love. Amen.
How many of you have watched or do watch the Game Show Jeopardy?
Remember the 3-way tie. Mathematicians say the odds for such a thing were 1in 25 million. But those odds do not take into account the capacity for human generosity. Once, in the ‘Final Jeopardy’ round, the second-place player and the third-place player both had $8,000. Scott Weiss, the leader had just over $12,000. The leader usually makes a final bet that is in their best interest. Scott bet so that if the other two players both bet their entire $8,000 and got the question right, then all three players would have a total of $16,000. Scott forfeited his victory and some money so that all three players could be winners. Leading to a moment of pure joy made possible by an act of generosity and graciousness.
Might we find similar opportunities to show generosity and gratitude?
