precious

Before you read this reflection, you might like to find some hand cream or moisturiser, for the last part.

Here is the story we read today:

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him. 

Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’s feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 

Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”

I wonder how you imagine this scene? It feels quite homely to me. The two sisters and their brother welcoming their friend Jesus into their home again. Bethany is just outside Jerusalem, so maybe this is where Jesus stayed when he was visiting the city.

John mentions that Lazarus, the brother, was the one Jesus brought back to life – so perhaps we can imagine the huge sense of gratitude and love, as Martha prepares a special meal. Lazarus hosts Jesus and the others at the table, and then Mary fetches this very expensive fragrant oil.

I wonder how you imagine Mary anointing Jesus’ feet? How does it make you feel? It seems an intensely intimate moment between them – so much communicated through touch – the air perfumed, the atmosphere this creates.

And then the atmosphere is changed again, when Judas objects. The reason given is about money, but I wonder whether he also just felt uncomfortable in the presence of this intimacy – whether it pushed a button in him – maybe to do with his own boundaries, or longings.

And I wonder how we might feel with such an intimate and physical expression of care. I guess some of us would be more comfortable than others. I do remember telling my fellow chaplains that I had never had a massage and them saying that that’s why I need one!

We can also shy away from real intimacy in our relationship with Jesus. It might feel uncomfortable, or too much. We might not feel good enough – we might want to hide in some way. Perhaps we tend to distance ourselves behind doing the right thing, or being busy, or escaping into words.

In the other story that we have about Jesus and Mary and Martha, Martha is busy preparing the meal. Mary is sitting, listening to Jesus. Martha complains about her sister not helping her. Jesus responds, affectionately, saying , ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things, but only one thing is needed.’

Maybe there is an invitation there for us, as we approach Holy Week. Next week we might be busy at church, or busy at work, busy at home, or busy enjoying ourselves.

But there is an opportunity, each Holy Week, to draw close to Jesus. To share his journey again, to open ourselves to feeling what he felt, to share in wordless communion with him as he approaches this profound time of pain and sadness, as Mary does.

And maybe there is another invitation here, for us to allow Jesus to come close to us. To allow him to touch us – to wash our feet, to bring his healing to our bruised spirit, to simply hold us, soul to soul. Less words, less busyness, just the one thing that is needed – the intimacy of love.

Later today I will go to visit my Mum. She has dementia and conversation isn’t always easy. One thing I’ve begun doing is simply smoothing lotion into her hands. It’s a different way of being with her and showing her that I love her.

Take a little of the hand cream and place it on your hand. 

Feel its cool touch. Smell its fragrance… 

Breathe in and become aware of the loving presence of Jesus.

Now slowly and gently, with one or two fingers, begin to smooth the cream into your palm. 

Remember Mary smoothing the nard into the weary and worn out feet of Jesus, as an expression of love. 

Maybe you can sense of the strain and inner tension that Jesus is carrying as he approaches Jerusalem, and we can offer our gentle, soothing touch to him as a sign of our love. 

Now smooth the moisturising cream into your hands. 

As you do, become aware of the touch of Jesus, bringing the softening balm of his grace into the dry and hard parts of our lives, our hearts, our souls – softening, smoothing, easing, blessing.

Stay for a while in this place of closeness and intimacy with Jesus.

Is there anything you want to say to him?

Is there anything you sense him saying to you?