John 12:7-8 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it [the perfume] 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.” The events of Jesus' last week in Jerusalem read like a first-century spy thriller. The plot to kill Jesus thickens, Judas goes over to the Dark Side and not only betrays his friend to the killers but steals the money he's supposed to be giving to the poor. Admiring crowds, many of them poor, mob Jesus, pressing him and begging for healing. Lurking spies report what they fear are Jesus' heresy and political agitating to the religious leaders. If there's enough uproar in this little corner of the Empire, the Romans just might take out everyone with their stormtroopers. The poor always seem to be caught in the middle.
During a quiet dinner with friends away from the hubbub, Mary of Bethany pours expensive perfume on Jesus (anointing him for burial, he notes). Judas, no doubt irritated by the strong fumes, criticizes Mary for wasting the money instead of giving it to him for the poor. Then Jesus says this surprising thing. We know how the thriller ends, yet somehow we're part of the on-going story.
How can we show kindness to the poor (and to Jesus) today?
Linda Foltz
This Holy Week, join in the full spectrum of the drama. Maundy Thursday worship with dinner at 6:15. Good Friday family worship at 10 am. Good Friday evening worship at 7 pm. Easter Vigil worship with baptisms and festive fellowship at 7 pm on Saturday. Then, Easter morning at 8:30 and 11. There will be an Easter Breakfast to benefit the 35 traveling to New Orleans for the National Youth Gathering between services. Full calendar is available at http://www.allsaintspalatine.org
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