John 12:1-8
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 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. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 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.”
REFLECTIONS:
The value of a person’s words is grounded in their intent. Judas intended to put Mary down and make himself sound righteous. Mary’s intent on the other hand was to lavish Jesus with adoration and love. Her act of kindness added meaning to what was about to happen to him. She has begun a journey of faith while Judas has begun his journey of betrayal. An act of charity does not make us righteous as an act of extravagance does not make us wasteful. The heart measures our actions. Peace, Keith
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