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Daily Devotion for Tuesday 19th March 2024

Tuesday, 19 March 2024

St Mark 14: 3 – 10

While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.  But some were there who said to one another in anger, ‘Why was the ointment wasted in this way?  For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii,  and the money given to the poor.’ And they scolded her.  But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me.  For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.  Truly I tell you, wherever the good news  is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’ Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

Reflection

This story is easy to read as one character is pitted against the other.  Judas says the wrong thing.  As he later does the wrong thing, we aren’t surprised.  Perhaps to the surprise of the community, the unnamed woman does the right thing.  Jesus clearly says we need to follow her example.

When we read the story as either/or, I wonder if we are missing something?  I wonder whether they both have something to teach us about how we are meant to follow Jesus?  

The unnamed woman is an example of extravagance.  Anointing him is a recognition of who he really is—a leader and king.  The nard is a way of showing she truly sees him and wants to honour him.  She cares for Jesus the King.  When challenged by Judas about the seemingly in appropriate use of the money, Jesus commends her for her actions.  Perhaps he felt seen by her.

In his own way Judas is also showing deep care.  His question and later actions indicate he doesn’t really understand who Jesus is—which kind of king he is—but he does care about the hungry and the lost.  His challenge about the use of money indicates he does understand Jesus’ care for the vulnerable.  

As Jesus’ disciples, perhaps we need to listen to Judas and the unnamed woman.  Judas cares and challenges the use of money.  The unnamed woman acts extravagantly.  Together they call us to act extravagantly to ensure everyone has ‘enough’.

We are called to care extravagantly for everyone—for the people near us who are working so diligently and modelling their lives on the life of Jesus; for those who come into our circle whose needs—for food, clothing, work, care—are great.  Extravagant care means there is enough for all.

Prayer

Living Lord, give us courage to challenge structures of society.  Help us offer our gifts extravagantly.  Guide us to offer our care for all—whether the need is to be fed or to be recognized and loved.  Amen.

Today’s writer

The Rev’d Martha McInnes, Minister, Cardiff and Penarth Pastorate

Copyright
New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Copyright © 2024 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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Station II Jesus takes up his cross

Station II
Jesus takes up his cross

 


John 19:16-17

Then Pilate handed Jesus over to them to be crucified. So they took charge of Jesus. He went out, carrying his cross, and came to “The Place of the Skull,” as it is called. (In Hebrew it is called “Golgotha.”)
 
Wisdom 1:12-20

Do not bring on your own death by sinful actions.  God did not invent death, and when living creatures die, it gives him no pleasure.  He created everything so that it might continue to exist, and everything he created is wholesome and good. There is no deadly poison in them. No, death does not rule this world, for God’s justice does not die. Ungodly people have brought death on themselves by the things they have said and done. They yearn for death as if it were a lover. They have gone into partnership with death, and it is just what they deserve.

Prayer

Cross-carrying Christ, burdened with the sin of the world,
Embracing death so death may die,
We cry out in grief and pain for all those held hostage by hate,
In partnership with death,
And all whose every waking moment expects death.
Help them cling to the hope that death does not rule this world:
That God’s justice will have the final word.
Through Love stronger than death. Amen.
 

The Artist and Author

The artwork is © 2019 Margaret Adams Parker.  The prayer is © 2024 the Revd Muriel Pearson.

Copyright
‘Scriptures and additional materials quoted are from the Good News Bible © 1994 published by the British and Foreign Bible Society. Good News Bible © American Bible Society 1966, 1971, 1976, 1992. Used with permission.’
Copyright © 2024 United Reformed Church, All rights reserved.
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