3-21-10
Bulletin Listen Watch video

Dear Friends,

Sometimes the most important things we do in life are done without much consideration as to their actual importance.  In my own personal life, I have often found that a tendency to over-think an issue or a decision can sometimes get in the way of doing the right thing.  Our need to “consider all the options” and “weigh the pros and cons” can easily become just another excuse for not doing anything at all.

Take this Sunday’s story from John’s gospel, for example, in which Mary – the sister of the recently-resurrected Lazarus – pours costly perfume on the feet of Jesus while Judas criticizes the lavish act as wasteful, suggesting instead that the perfume should have been sold and the proceeds given to the poor.  And who could argue with Judas?  Mary’s act was hardly practical.  Had the perfume been sold, a hungry family could have eaten for an entire year.  Instead, it was poured out with no thought about anyone but the one whose feet it had anointed. 

Was it an impulsive move, or had she planned it all along?  More importantly, why did she do it?  Was it out of love?  Was it out gratitude for Jesus having raised her brother back to life?  Or was it that she knew that, in just two days, Jesus would be dead?  We do not know, the way John tells the story.  All we know is this: She didn’t over-think it.  She simply did it, and it was beautiful, and the whole house was filled with the fragrance.

Add to the beauty.  Live fragrantly.  Feed the poor.  Serve the Lord.  Live in such a way that these tasks never have to be mutually exclusive.

See you Sunday,

Rev. Mark