Some
background to the story you have just heard.
We
have met this family before – Lazarus, Martha and Mary.
In
John chapter 11 we read the story of the death of Lazarus, and Jesus calling
for the tomb to be opened, and for Lazarus to walk out of the tomb. John 11: 44
“ The dead man came out, his hands and feet
bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to
them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’ ”
After
the raising of Lazarus form the dead, John notes that the religious officials
planned to put Jesus to death.
Luke
has another story about Mary and Martha, in Luke 10 we read of the visit of
Jesus to the house of Martha. Martha who was working, while Mary was listening
to Jesus. Martha asks Jesus to intervene and tell her sister Mary to help: Luke 10: 41-42
“But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried
and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has
chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.’”
Is these the same sisters?
John is the only gospel with this anointing
story, but each gospel has a story of a women anointing Jesus.
In
Matthew’s gospel, we are in the house of Simon the Leper, which is in Bethany,
2 days before Passover, and a woman enters and pours ointment over his head.
The disciples ask about the waste and the poor.
In
Mark’s gospel, we also are in the house of Simon the Leper in Bethany, 2 days
before Passover, and a woman enters and pours ointment over his head. This time
it is some of the people present who ask about the waste.
Luke
has a similar story taking place in the house of a Pharisee, the woman is a
sinner who, “Begins to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her
hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the
ointment.” No one asks about waste, the Pharisee questions Jesus allowing a
sinner to touch him.
John’s
gospel also sets this story in Bethany, but this time 6 days before Passover
and in the home of Lazarus. John names the woman as Mary, and as in Luke it is
the feet which are anointed and dried with the woman’s hair. The question about
waste and the poor is asked by Judas.
In
three of the gospels, the ones where the question of waste is raised, Jesus defends
the women for their actions in preparation for his burial.
So
what might all this mean?
I
invite you to imagine this scene.
You
have been invited to a dinner party at a friend’s house. You know the meal will
be beautiful as your friend is a wonderful cook. You arrive, the table is set
with the best silver, a vase of fresh flowers is on the table and food smells waft
through from the kitchen. Mmm, it smells wonderful and your mouth begins to
water.
Your
friend greets you, introduces you to the other guests, and gets you a drink.
The
meal is served and you are enjoying the delicacies that have been prepared and
the company of like-minded and interesting people.
Then
another guest opens a bottle of expensive perfume, you have seen it in photos
of celebrity weddings, it costs more than what you make in a year!
You
watch, stunned, as she pours it over the feet of the guest of honour. The room fills
with the amazing scent – cardamom and lavender, rose and cinnamon, citrus and
spices.
You
notice that everyone is now silent, shocked at what is happening in front of
them.
And
then it gets really bizarre!
She
unwraps her hair, kneels down and starts to wipe his feet with her hair!
People
around the table look at what is happening and then to each other.
You
can see the surprise and discomfort in their faces.
Then someone
says: what a waste! She could have given
the money to the poor, there are plenty of worthy causes that could do with
that kind of money. [Based on an article by The Rev. Chana Tetzlaff http://modernmetanoia.org/2016/02/29/lent-5c-a-scandalous-gift-of-love/ ]
The
response of Jesus to the accusation that the perfume could have been sold and
money given to the poor, is unexpected. Jesus is usually speaking up for the
poor.
Here,
Jesus isn’t saying do what you want, but that you can always do something for
the poor. The opportunity to serve the poor is not limited by time. The
opportunity to be with Jesus was limited.
The
more I have thought about this reading, and then discussing it with the Lent
event study group on Thursday, this reading seems more and more bizarre.
A
woman at this time was not meant to touch, or to be touched by, a male who was
not a close relative.
Think
of the way some Muslim women dress with their hair covered – that was quite
likely the case for Mary. A woman’s hair was not to be down in mixed company.
I
wonder did Mary know she was anointing Jesus for his burial the following week.
This
story that John records is shocking. A woman unties her hair in front of a man
who is not her husband or a relative. And she touches a man who is not her
husband or a close relative.
What
Mary does is sensual and sexy
It
is extravagant
Is
it wasteful?
Jesus
had raised his friend Lazarus from the dead. It seems that this is a family
that Jesus knows well. I wonder what else Mary has seen and heard.
What
is it that Jesus has done for you – if you had to name one thing – a life
transformed; healing; a new name; total acceptance; …..???
There
are plenty of biblical passages and hymns about God’s love for all of creation,
and the way that the life, death and resurrection of Jesus has opened up the way
for us to be reconciled to God, and to be agents of reconciliation in the
world.
If
we believe that God loves us, loves us enough to go through Gethsemane and
Calvary, what do we do in return?
Reflection:
What
are the ways that you usually respond to the love of Jesus?
How
else might you respond?
