March 17, 2008
(Monday in Holy Week)
Poured Out
By
The Very Rev. Terry White,
Dean
Isaiah 42:1-9
• Hebrews 9:11-15
• John 12:1-11
• Psalm 36:5-11
(From The
Lectionary Page)
John often tells stories which feature priests or scribes or
others sitting around the edges, commenting on, taking issue with,
or condemning what Jesus teaches or does. Thus, at several places in
his Gospel, John weaves glimpses of the Kingdom of God with the
reactions of those who oppose the in-breaking of that same Kingdom.
And the sad irony is that most often, the religious leaders, those
who should have been the first to recognize what was happening, are
those who cannot see the Messiah in their midst.
When Lazarus was raised from the dead, they could not celebrate the
new life Jesus brought, they could not enter into resurrection joy
and thanksgiving. Instead, they chose to respond to new life with
death, conspiring to have Jesus put to death from that point on.
Now, as Mary anoints the feet of Jesus, this extravagant gesture of
love and worship causes the chief priests to again respond with
death, and it is decided that Lazarus, too, must die. The Life Giver
and the Recipient must both die, eradicating all signs of new life.
In the Passion, God’s love is poured out for all, even those who
betrayed and crucified the Lord. Thus, it takes courage to submit to
this new life. It takes courage to love extravagantly. It takes
courage to die to self, that we might be raised a new creation. As
we walk the Way of the Cross in this Great Week, let us focus both
on the new life that is offered if we die to self, and on the
life-giving response we are called to share with the world, as
baptized people and together as the Body of Christ.