In the first reading today we read about Jesus being anointed at Bethany. Mark keeps her nameless, simply calling her ‘woman’ but in the gospel of John he actually names her as Mary. John states that Lazarus was there with Jesus, reclining at the table. The same Lazarus who was raised from the dead by Jesus. What joy must have filled the heart of Jesus as he watched this once dead man now interacting with his sisters and interacting with his friends? What joy must have lit up the face of Lazarus every time his eyes rested on Jesus, reclining on that table with him? John says that Martha was serving – she was doing what she knew best to do. I would like to think that by now Martha served with joy. Her heart singing as she went about serving food and looking after those gathered around the table, seeing her Master interacting and laughing with his disciples, with her beloved brother – the one she thought she lost forever. But Mary – Mary does something extraordinary. Mary brings an alabaster jar full of nard – something so exquisite, something so costly, something that could have very well been her inheritance – she breaks that jar and pours it over Jesus. She anoints Him with this sweet fragrance – a fragrance that was reserved for the anointing of kings.

Such extravagance! It delighted the heart of Jesus and offended the sensibilities of Judas and those like him. They justify their offense it could have been put to better use they said. It could have been given to the poor. But it doesn’t matter. Mary knew that once again she has chosen the better thing. She poured out the best she had on the One who deserves nothing but the best. And this gesture so truly touched the heart of Jesus that He declared that wherever the gospel is preached, Mary and her extravagant love will also be declared. Oh the grace to have a heart of extravagant love like Mary! Oh to delight His heart like she did.

Soon after this, Jesus is betrayed. Taken captive, beaten and crucified on the cross. But that sweet smell of nard would have lingered on. Very likely the soldiers would have smelled it as they crowded around the cross of Jesus. Very likely Mary herself would have smelled it as she wept broken-hearted at the foot of the cross. Very likely the mother of God herself would have smelled it and it would have given her comfort at that moment as she saw her son being crucified so cruelly. A display of extravagant love for the One who displayed love at its best.
This action of Mary captures my heart. She truly knew the art of loving well. She recognised the One that her heart found its rest in and she abandoned everything in favour of Him. She didn’t try to serve Him like her sister did. She didn’t waste her energy trying to win His approval or try to busy herself in work. She was able to settle herself and focus on the main thing. This is something that often I am unable to do. I love being in the Presence of God – truly I find peace in Him that I don’t find anywhere else. And truly I could spend hours with Him without noticing the time. But I get so easily lost in the ‘work’ I do for Him. Be it raising my children, keeping a clean home, serving in this community or caring for those that I’ve been sent to – it’s all from Him and its all unto Him – but so often I get my eyes off of Him and onto the things before me and I get lost in the work. So instead of wanting to break that alabaster jar, I would want to keep it even safer – for another day, for another time, for when I feel safe enough to recklessly give up all that I can control.

We celebrate palm Sunday today. The day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people greeted Him and celebrated Him crying ‘Hosanna’. They took off the very cloaks they were wearing and laid it on the road so He could ride over them. Conquering kings would come charging in on warrior horses. Our King of Kings, the Prince of Peace, comes riding on a non-threatening donkey. The Saviour has come. He’s come to save us from our own selves. He’s come to save us from the sin that enslaves us. He’s come to save us from the busyness that we’ve lost ourselves in and to remind us and declare over us the truth of the victory of the cross. So let’s join Mary today. Let’s take out that precious jar we’ve been hiding in a corner. Let’s take off the cloaks of control and being our own masters. Let’s lay it all down and invite the King to ride on them. To crush the lies and to throw away the heaviness that oppress us and to take us with Him to the victory that awaits us through Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, I bring before You my own precious alabaster jar. Lord spilled at your feet, it releases a sweeter fragrance than it ever would otherwise. So I give it all to you. Let me live in your sweet Presence. Amen