25 03 07 The Most Generous Gift John 12:1-8 Colin Finlayson
We’ve heard today from Claire about how evocative smell is. Music photographs and objects also have the power to bring back to us important moments in our life or experiences that never leave us e.g. here are two items that bring back strong memories for me:
We’ve heard today from Claire about how evocative smell is. Music photographs and objects also have the power to bring back to us important moments in our life or experiences that never leave us e.g. here are two items that bring back strong memories for me:
o A family photograph which evokes in me an emotional response of the sense of loving family that stretches back in this photo about 35 years and for me seeing my parents evoking memories back to more than 60 years ago, that come right down to the present time
o This is a present of a paperweight that was given to me by my first head teacher when I left the first school I taught in to become an assistant head teacher. It evokes in me a whole range of more than 30 years of good memories of my working life.
Powerful memories often stay with us even when there is no smell or object or photo to remember them by, and those memories shape part of who we are as individuals today. Hopefully all of us have good memories, but sometimes memories as painful and debilitating.
It’s the memories of people and what they meant to us that are often incredibly powerful, sometimes evoking in us an emotional response long after the event -
o As a child I was once hit by a push bike when I was stepping of a bus. I can still warmly remember the kindness of a stranger who stopped to help me and still have a memory of his face 50 years on even though I only saw it once for a few moments
o I remember Colin Chapman, who was once a curate here at St James. He took the time to listen to me and talk with me in a way that changed the whole course of my life. I still remember with warm gratitude what he made me feel even though that was about 40 years ago.
Despite being many years ago, these memories still evoke a strong emotional response within me. Perhaps in a moment or two of quietness you might recall a positive evocative memory of someone who made you feel good, and just quietly give thanks to God for that person.
I’m reminded of what Maya Angelou, a famous black American Poet, said -
The Gospel reading today is a great story with very evocative images and feelings, and reading it, I wondered what Jesus felt and what he remembered about this meal.
Lazarus had died and Jesus miraculously raises him from the dead. Some of the crowd who witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus believed in Jesus (Chapter 11 verse 45); others reported it to the Pharisees and they began to take counsel on how to put Jesus to death (Chapter 11 verse 53). With his life under threat, in this last week of his life and ministry on earth before the Passover feast, Jesus no longer goes about openly among the Jews. The whole setting and context for this meal that Jesus has with Mary, Martha, Lazarus and Judas must have been tense and highly emotionally charged.
I wonder what Lazarus was feeling about having a meal with Jesus who had raised him from the dead? What did they talk about? Did they discuss what it felt like to be dead? We are given no clues in the reading. However, Mary who was the sister of Lazarus has a highly emotive response to the resurrection of her brother, which is described in verses 3 and 4. She lavishly honours Jesus with the gifts that are in her power to give:
o The gift to Jesus of the very expensive ointment worth about 300 days wages – no expense is spared in her response to the person who saved her brother’s life
o The gift of her great humility in the presence of Jesus, expressing her devotion to him by anointing his feet
o The gift of her dignity given to Jesus by using her own hair to wipe his feet
o The gift to Jesus of the wonderful fragrance from the ointment she used that filled the house
By contrast, the response of Judas to Mary’s gift is grudging, claiming it should have been spent on the poor. We don’t have time now to fully discuss this issue – suffice it to say that the whole teaching of the Bible, stresses the importance of giving to the poor and treating them justly e.g. Proverbs 19:17 states that "Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and will be repaid in full," and Deuteronomy 15:11 states that “Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, 'Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land' " Judas does not appear to understand the uniqueness of Jesus’ death and this one-
Mary, in her spontaneous thankful response to Jesus selflessly casts aside all her pride, to express her gratitude for her brother’s resurrection and for forgiveness. Our Lent theme of “Priceless – new values for renewed people” would have sat well with Mary. Her priceless gift to Jesus, remembering the context of the threats to kill him, is anointing and preparing him for death and burial, which is to come within the next week. At this crucial moment in the life of Jesus, Mary is clear about her priorities and spares no expense in declaring her love and in preparing him for death.
People often have regrets at the funeral of someone they love – things that were not said or done while the person was alive; apologies not made; things that should have been done not done; love not declared clearly enough. Mary makes sure she has no regrets by lavishly expressing her love and devotion to Jesus. She is clear about her values at this moment in her life – expressing her thanks and love and devotion regardless of cost.
As we ponder this story, let’s wonder what was in the heart of Jesus after Mary’s response. The memory of that meal must have warmed his heart in those few remaining days of his life, despite the terrible stress and death that he experienced. Perhaps, even as he hung on the Cross, the evocative memory of the smell of ointment that filled the house just 6 days before brought to his mind Mary’s loving response, giving him courage and helping him to face death. This lavish and loving response of Mary was the forerunner of the relationship with God that Jesus was to make possible for all people by his death on the cross. Mary demonstrates what is supremely important in life -
As priceless people Mary demonstrates for us how to conduct our lives giving of our best, with all our heart, to our relationship with Jesus in acts of selfless love, valuing and demonstrating gratitude to other people and to God for all they have done, and expressing that gratitude in our daily life by our service to others and to God.
As we think about the extravagant response of Mary to the love and care of Jesus, let’s reflect on what we will leave behind at the end of our life. Will those we love have warm memories of our loving care that will sustain them? Will we be remembered by others as having made God’s world a better place by what we have said and done? Mary demonstrates those wonderful biblical values of gratitude, thankfulness and devotion to service; let’s today spend a few minutes of quiet reflection on our relationship with the living Lord, considering how we can take these values and translate them into small yet sacrificial actions in our every-