The Message from Sunday, April 3, 2022, Fifth Sunday in Lent

Le Parfum de Madeleine

Painting by James Tissot (c. 1900)

Would you pray with me: Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, our strength and our Redeemer. Amen.
 
While today’s Gospel Lesson from John is rather short in length, there is a lot to unpack here. In this passage there are major themes with minor subtleties playing out. So, let’s take a look at some of these themes, one theme at a time.
 
For many, hearing the words “you always have the poor with you,” [1] raises the subject of social justice. There were poor people in Jesus’ time, and this still holds true today. In this passage Judas objects to the jar of nard being poured out upon Jesus’ feet, claiming that the "money would have been better spent taking care of the poor." [2] Some might think that Judas' heart was in the right place, but in reading further we learn more. We learn that Judas was not as concerned with the plight of the poor as he was with filling his own pockets. The nard “was worth a year’s wages.” [3] He saw things from a monetary perspective, knowing the nard was of great monetary value. And as the treasurer of the disciples, the “keeper of the money bag,” he helped himself “to what was put into it.” [4] “He was a thief.” [5] And a minor subtlety playing out here is that money had become his idol, despite being a follower of Jesus.
 
Today, we must recognize that we live in a corrupt and fallen world where wealth and materialism can easily become a false idol for us. Sometimes we can see corruption similar to Judas’ behavior, though it may not always be made readily apparent to us. For there are thieves among us seemingly everywhere, guided by their hidden self-motives. And often they are disguised. After all who would have thought that one of Jesus’ disciples would be a thief?
 
So, how might we recognize the thieves today? As an example, take corporate executives who receive big bonuses even though they do no extra work to receive them. They authorized these big bonuses to profit themselves, while workers and laborers are exploited doing the demanding tasks and often the hard grueling work while being paid low wages. In our history, many any of the wealthiest people in this world earned their wealth off of the back of others, through thievery and exploitation. And while some wealthy people are philanthropist, giving back to their communities and to society from their abundance, many are not.
 
Another example is that there are some charities in which organizers skim from the top of the funds solicited, benefiting themselves for their own profit and gains, while very little of the funding actually goes for the charity. While it is acceptable for those who work for non-profit organizations to earn an income, it is not acceptable when their financial income and benefits outweighs that which is given to the cause. It is therefore important for us to do our due diligence when making contributions to charities; understanding where the money goes and how it is being used.
 
And today go-fund-me pages have become quite popular. While some are legitimate, there are many that scam people out of money through false claims. While it is a good and just thing to help those in need, we should be careful to avoid falling into such traps, becoming victims of exploitation.
 
In addition to social justice issues, this passage touches upon death. First, we hear that Lazarus has been raised from the dead. Yet, the resurrection of Lazarus is only temporary, and he will die of this earth again. Then there is the nard, which is a costly aromatic ointment preserved in alabaster jars. Used from the time of the Old Testament and even in Jesus’ time upon this earth, nard was used as a pungent perfume to prepare a body for burial. It serves as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ death to come, something he is well aware of, having told his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” [6]
 
Yet, one of the underlying themes here is a reminder that from death comes new life. Lazarus, raised from the dead by Jesus was given a second chance at life on this earth, but it was only a temporary state in the seasons of life. But Jesus’ death and resurrection would change the nature of this world and of the cosmos for all of time. The grave could not hold him. And through him, no longer would humanity be enslaved by the bonds of sin and death. Christ opened the gates for salvation and for eternal life. In all things, death brings forth life. We see it in the seasons, with the blossoming of new life in spring, reaching maturity in the summer, and the harvest in the fall, followed by a period of barrenness and rest in the winter months. Death from this earth is a temporary state, for death brings forth new life, life eternal in and through Christ.
 
And finally, in this passage there is a focus on Jesus. On his journey to Jerusalem, Jesus stops to visit with his close friends in Bethany. He is at the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. And a dinner is given in his honor. And for Jesus this is a time of rest and relaxation, before he continues on his final journey to Jerusalem, to face what he knows lies ahead. Today in Jesus’ life on this earth is a day of celebration. It is a day to live and just enjoy life. It is a time to be in the company of those whom he loves, and to share in fellowship. It is a time for him to just be in that moment, taking in all the goodness and love being poured out upon him.
 
As you heard this passage could you relate to the multisensory experience of the moment?
In your mind, could you picture what was taking place?
 
Martha has prepared this special dinner. And now she is busy serving their guests, fussing over every detail wanting to make all things perfect for this special occasion. Lazarus, whom Jesus has raised from the dead, is reclining at the table with him enjoying the meal and conversation. And Mary pampers their guest of honor by anointing Jesus’ feet with perfume and wiping them with her hair. The air is filled with the smell of food, and fragrance. Jesus, the honored guest is being shown affection by those whom he loves through their acts of service, sacrifice, fellowship, and loving kindness. It is what some might call a perfect day, that is, until the beauty of the moment is interrupted by remarks made by Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ disciples. And Jesus responds, “Leave her alone.” [7] “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” [8]
 
And perhaps this picture is also tainted by debate over which Mary anointed Jesus’ feet, for it is not clear within this Scripture passage. Some biblical scholars believe that it was Mary Magdalene, others say that it was Mary, the sister of Martha. Regardless, of which Mary anointed Jesus’ feet, it was an act of loving kindness, and of great generosity. It was an act of love and respect. And it was a way of ministering to Jesus, who had ministered to so many.
 
As we near the end of our Lenten journey, this final Sunday before we celebration Palm and Passion Sunday, let us focus on giving honor to Christ, just as Mary did by blessing him with her anointing. Today is a day for us to pour out blessing and praise and worship upon our Lord. As we share in our Eucharist feast, let us partake in the celebration of life. Let us share the meal that Jesus shared with his friends, remembering that from death comes new life, and in Jesus we will share in eternal life. In Jesus we are restored to righteousness, made clean in the eyes of God by the saving grace of our Lord and Savior. And in him and through him we are united eternally with God, and all of creation by the bonds of love. Love so great that our Lord and Savior was willing to submit himself to the will of the Father, even suffering upon the cross unto death, to restore us in right relationship to God. By his death and resurrection, we have been set free, and we have been healed. All we need to do is to open our hearts, open our lives to the saving grace of God, repenting of our sins and receiving Jesus Christ into our hearts and lives as our savior.
So let us thank God. Let us bless God on this day. As we gather around the table and break the bread of eternal life and drink from the cup of salvation. May our hearts be filled with blessing and praise and worship for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we honor him this day. Amen.

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[1] John 12:8, NIV
[2] John 12:5, NIV
[3] Ibid.
[4] John 12:6, NIV
[5] Ibid.
[6] Luke 9:22, NIV
[7] John 12:7a, NIV
[8] John 12:7b-8, NIV