Life on the Pasture

We read in Mark 14 about a woman who anointed Jesus with expensive perfume. Some who were there began to criticize her for the apparent waste. The perfume could have been sold to raise a lot of money to help the poor. “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to Me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have Me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on My body beforehand to prepare for My burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”(Mark 14:6-9, NIV)

Every time I hear that account, there is a part of me that wishes I could do something in service to our Lord that was so noteworthy that it would be told in memory of me around the world. And then I try to imagine what that would be. I’ve not been called to be a great evangelist like Billy Graham. I’ve not been called to a ministry of working among the world’s poor and forsaken like Mother Teresa or Father Damien who ministered to lepers in Hawaii before succumbing to the disease himself.

But then I go back to the account of the woman who is identified by John in his telling of the story as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She was the one mentioned in Luke 10 who sat at Jesus’ feet while Martha was busy with preparing the meal for such an honored guest. When Martha came to Jesus, asking Him to tell Mary to help, Jesus replied, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42,, NIV)

Mary chose to not only listen to the Word, but to take it to heart. And so while it seems that the disciples were oblivious as to what would happen to our Lord in a few days with His crucifixion even though Jesus had told them it was coming, Mary had taken His words to heart and acted in love for Him who loved her.

What a great lesson for all of us to keep in mind as we continue our Holy Week observance and hear again the wondrous words of the precious Good News thad God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the Word, Lutheran Service Book)

– Pastor Schmidt

Photo by Patrick Schneider on Unsplash