Poured Love

This morning at our staff devotions, we read these words for Matthew 26:6-13.

6 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, ‘Why this waste? 9For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.’ 10But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. 11For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. 13Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.'

The question I have for myself (and for all of us) this Holy Week is will I live my life like the disciples - in pious disgust of this woman's simple act of love and faith, thinking I know better? Or will I pour my love out on Jesus and on those he loves, unafraid of what others might think? Her loving act certainly followed Jesus to the cross and to his burial -- maybe the only piece of human love that followed him the whole way. Who knows --maybe the smell of her poured love gave him the strength, courage, and resolve to die for love of us.

All too often, I am convicted in myself of being related to the disciples' ugly reaction instead of the woman's beautiful action. What about you?

Have a blessed Holy Week.

j