Thursday December 9, 2021

Did you say “mess” ?

Why haven't we sold this perfume ? John 12.5

We live in the age of mess. “What comes out of the kitchen must not come back in." This is one of the rules of collective catering. The remains, sometimes very important, therefore go to the trash, whether in hospitals, schools, restaurants, while many poor people are starving. However, this culture of waste is being called into question and initiatives to limit it are multiplying.

Mary, Lazarus 'sister, uses half a liter of a precious perfume (The value of a year's salary.) To wash Jesus' feet ! Still... in Judas’s eyes, it’s a huge waste, three hundred denarii spread and wasted. We would have had enough to give to many poor people !!!

But Jesus approves of Mary's gesture and does not praise Judas' “good intentions” : “Let her do it. It’s for the day of my funeral […] Poor people, you will always have them with you. While me, you won't always have me with you."

Judas did not care about the poor, but coveted this money. Jesus does not denounce his hypocrisy, but speaks to him of his own imminent death.

Judas, who followed Jesus for three years, witnessed all of his miracles, heard his teaching, received nothing for his life. He mentally counts his pennies. Such a waste ! All the more so when you consider the end of her life.

To avoid this mess, let's take Jesus' words to heart.

Elfriede Eugene

__________________

Proposed reading : Gospel according to John, chapter 12, verses 1 to 8.

12.1 Six days before the Passover Jesus arrived in Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom he had raised from the dead.

12.2 There he was offered a meal ; Martha was serving and Lazarus was among those who were at the table with him.

12.3 Mary took half a liter of a very expensive pure spikenard perfume, poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair ; the house was filled with the smell of perfume.

12.4 One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot the son of Simon, who was about to betray him, said :

12.5 Why was this perfume not sold 300 pieces of silver to give them to the poor ?

12.6 He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief and, as he had the purse, he took what was put in it.

12.7 Jesus said then : Leave her alone ! She saved this perfume for the day of my burial.

12.8 For you have the poor always with you, while I you will not always have me.

Source (Live Today)