Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “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.”
John 12:1-8
Questions for Reflection:
Where is my heart at?
How can I spend some time extravagantly worshipping Jesus today?
Prayer
Jesus, I love You! I want to love You today with my whole being… my whole heart, soul, mind and strength. Jesus, show me, teach me, mentor me in how I can love you well today. I need your help, your Spirit and your strength so that today I “love my first love first”. I consecrate my body to You, my money, my energy, my effort, my intellect, my sexuality, my family and all my relationships to You …. so that in all of these dimensions of my life I might love You well this day. Thank you for loving me first and always, even the many times I have not loved you back. Today I will “love my first love first”. I love You! Amen
