Today is Monday of Holy week.

Take a moment and quiet yourself. Take a deep breath. Welcome God’s presence. And say, “Come Holy Spirit.”    
 
Assist me mercifully with your help, O Lord God of our salvation, that I may enter with joy upon the contemplation of those mighty acts, whereby you have given us life and immortality; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
  
Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John, chapter 12.  


Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
 
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.


Here we are in this scene with Jesus, six days before Passover, when he becomes our Passover Lamb. And it is a scene filled with resurrection life. Why? Because we are in Lazarus’ home. The one Jesus already raised. And it is a special meal, one to honor Jesus. Imagine the sense of joy, of goodness, of life, that was around the table this evening. Who do you see with you around the table? What stories do you hear being told about Lazarus, about all that you’ve seen Jesus do?
 
In the midst of hearing those stories and remembering all that Jesus has done—all that you’ve experienced because of the power of this man’s life and words, the power of what you experience when he looks at you—in the midst of that, imagine this is the moment that you’ve prepared for. You stand and walk over to Jesus with your jar of expensive oil and kneel down and pouring it over Jesus dirty feet, and saying to him, “You are worth everything to me, Lord.”
  
Hold on, now you’ve caused a scene. And a controversy. Because you’re now being accused of being selfish, of not caring for the poor. For a moment, your anxiety peaks and your blood pressure rises. You think, maybe you have done something wrong. But then Jesus reminds you and everyone in the room that when you give your all for him, you don’t separate yourself from the poor, hold back from the poor. But you become poor yourself. So that you, like Christ, will be the poor who always has the poor among you.  

Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that I, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Music: "House of Prayer" - Heaven and Earth - (YouTube)