Pastor's Corner

for Sunday 2nd Jan
“Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus' feet with it and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with fragrance. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples—the one who would betray him—said, "That perfume was worth a small fortune. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor." Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. She did it in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but I will not be here with you much longer."(Jn. 12:3-5)
Matthew’s account of this story adds that Jesus said, “wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be talked about in her memory." What was so remarkable about Mary’s action that Jesus said she had done a beautiful thing and that it would be told in years to come? I want to notice several things from this story. First, because this was a spontaneous action of love, it was a beautiful thing. Whatever we do out of love for Jesus, no matter how simple or small, it’s a beautiful thing. We are always concerned with the “bigness” of our action but Jesus is concerned only with the heart; with “why” we did it. A simple glass of water given out of love for Jesus to a thirsty traveler is remembered by Jesus. (Matt. 25) Second, she did what she could; what was in her power to do. And third, she did it when the impulse moved her. Because she did it then instead of waiting she was the only one who actually anointed Jesus for His burial. The woman came on Sunday morning to anoint Jesus but He was gone!
Love seizes the moment. Love does what it can and does it “now”. Don’t wait for tomorrow to say “I love you” or, “Please forgive me”. Don’t wait for tomorrow to mend the broken relationship. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring or if there will even be a tomorrow for us. So do it and do it now.
Pastor Don.