Walking with Jesus - Monday

My first reaction to reading about Mary's response to Jesus was, "Eeewww!" First, I'm pretty sure that I would not be real excited about somebody pouring perfume on my feet, and wiping them with their hair. Second, I know that if I had hair, I wouldn't be wiping anyone's feet with it. But then I starting thinking about why Mary did what she did.

Mary loved Jesus. So much that it move her to ignore potential public disgrace and financial hardship in order to extravagantly express her love.

Then I started trying to identify with other characters in the story...

I had no problem identifying with Lazarus. I enjoy spending an evening with close friends. And Jesus and Lazarus were close friends. So it's no stretch for me to picture myself enjoying a dinner party with a close friend who literally saved my life.

I had no problem identifying with Martha. If somone had saved my sibling's life, I would be very grateful. So it's not a stretch to see myself serving as a waiter at a dinner in a hero's honor, especially when that hero is a friend of the family.

It was more uncomfortable to find myself identifying with Judas. Not the criminal part, but the excuse he gives to cover his greed. I enjoy a very simple life. It's not that I don't enjoy some fine things when I have opportunity, I do. But I usually end up thinking about the millions of people who will never have the chance to sit in great seats at a ballgame, spend a day on a boat, or take a week's vacation at the shore.

I could even identify with the chief priests. Man...they had a problem. And although their solution was extreme, what other realistic options did they have?

So that brings me back to Mary. Why can't I identify with her? Ouch!

Jesus, I love you. Why am I so practical about it? As I walk with you this week, I ask you to reset my mind default so that I can ignore what other people think and any other barrier to expressing my love for you in extravagant ways. Amen