Fifth Sunday of Lent
Isaiah 43:16-21 Psalm 126 Philippians 3:4-14 John 12:1-8
How do you serve God? In this passage in John, we see Mary doing what she can for our Lord while Judas is almost mocking her and questioning Jesus. Mary has her particular way of presenting herself before Jesus while others are confused and do not understand. Has this ever happened to you? Sometimes we may get strange looks for saying, “I’m doing this for the Lord,” or even stranger looks for “The Lord told me….” But if we are to honor Jesus, we must do the hard and sometimes uncomfortable things. We will have to not care about what those around us perceive us to be doing.
Mary probably had rags, but instead chose her hair to wipe Jesus’ feet. Mary probably had some inexpensive perfume, but chose the best for our Lord. She put genuine effort both physically and financially to serve Jesus. She did all this only to get mocked by Judas, who did not understand what she was doing and maybe did not want to understand. How often we encounter those in life who are ready to comment, but not ready to do.
Jesus quiets Judas’ comment by responding in a way to say, “Life is finite. Let her do as she pleases.” Jesus accepts Mary’s offering because he knows Mary’s heart. She is genuine in her action and concern for Him. Let us follow Mary’s example in doing for the Lord without the concern for comments of those who do not understand.
-R. Seth Thibodeaux
The Carpenter's Nail 