Good afternoon,
( We are planning to have virtual communion during our Good Friday service tomorrow at 10 am. Please phone the people who do not have internet to have them prepare their own bread and cup, so we can participate together. )
Thursday of Holy Week ( Maundy Thursday )
" 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, wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of perfume." John 12:1-3 ( RSV )
I have chosen a different Gospel for each day of the first four days of Holy Week. Today is an intimate act done to Jesus in John. Jesus knows the family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus very well. They seem to be good friends . They live near Jerusalem. Martha is a worker, Mary a reflective person and Lazarus has been raised from the dead. Jesus' best friends , the disciples, are also lounging at the meal.
The family invited Jesus for dinner, a little lamb, hummus, bread and wild herbs. His friends here must have realized that there was tension among Jesus' followers. After the meal, Mary gets up, takes a jar of perfume and puts the fragrant oil on Jesus' feet. She wipes his feet with her hair.
How did Jesus feel about a woman touching his feet ? And then, taking her long hair, and wiping his feet dry ? She might have broken the Jewish code of conduct in many ways. I believe it to be a highly intimate act of love and devotion. What did Martha and Lazarus think about this ? We know what Judas thought about it, " She is wasting money on this act.", he said.
Jesus says Mary understands what is about to happen , and is doing this to prepare his body for death and burial. Then, I presume that there was silence. They heard once again that Jesus was to die. Nothing more to say.
All four Gospel writers tell this story, in slightly different ways, but the intimacy of the act is there ? How would you describe your relationship with Jesus Christ today ? How would you talk about the personal and intimate way you follow Christ ?
Prayer for Maundy Thursday
Keep watch, dear Lord,
with those who work, or watch,
or weep this night,
and give your angels charge
over those who sleep.
Tend the sick , Lord Christ;
give rest to the weary, bless the dying,
soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted,
shield the joyous ;
and all for your love's sake. AMEN
— Sing The Journey #182
Fred
Ponder Anew 