Isaiah 43: 16-21
Psalm 126
Philippians 3: 4b-14
John 12: 1-8

If I asked you to name Jesus disciples, you would probably give me the names of 12 men, including Simon Peter, Andrew, James John, ‘Doubting Thomas’ and end the list with Judas, commonly remembered as his betrayer. Missing from this usual list of 12, however, are the countless others who travelled with him, hosted him, supported him financially and no doubt, with what is commonly called ‘moral support’. Among these folks are at least three women named ‘Mary’. The Mary we encounter today is sometimes referred to as ‘Mary of Bethany’. She, her sister Martha and their brother Lazarus, may well have been Jesus’ best friends. John’s gospel makes a direct connection between the raising of Lazarus from the dead and the plot to kill Jesus.

This is a story of extravagant love; some would call it a story of wasteful love. Another word for that is ‘prodigal’. Last week we read the story of the ‘prodigal son’ ; this week we read of the prodigal friend. Internet colleague, Elaine Bowen wrote: “One week after the odour of the prodigal son’s pig pen had dissipated our nostrils are now filled with the stench of a whole jar of perfume spilled. [The prodigal son’s] waste a and extravagance have been trumped once more by another prodigal act.” From a sermon posted on the PRCL-L list

Many people have a problem with extravagant gifts, especially with receiving extravagant gifts. They, or we, respond with comments such as:

“Oh! It cost far too much. Take it back and give the money to the food bank.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have!”

“Oh. This is too much. You can’t afford this. Take it back and use the money for yourself.”

Of course, the gift industry would like to encourage extravagance. I read a guideline somewhere which stated that since it is a very important purchase, a man should spend three months’ salary on an engagement ring. Of course, the jewellery store giving this advice, has plenty of rings in that category available! When I’m out shopping I see a great man things that are both nice and “nice and expensive”. For the most part they are luxury items for which a practical replacement could be purchased at Zellers for a fraction of the cost! I wonder, sometimes, who buys some of the gift items I see in stores because they are so utterly useless and so extravagant in price. No doubt many are bought by people who can indeed afford them. No doubt some others are purchased by those trying to ‘earn’ the love of someone special. Sometimes the buyer just falls in love with it, purchases it , and then regrets long after the MasterCard Bill is paid.

But sometimes an extravagant gift is the completely appropriate thing to have done. In today’s gospel lesson we have a story of an extravagant gift. Its easy to confuse this story with the one where another woman anoints Jesus’ feet, wetting them with her tears as well and drying them with her hair, but that’s not this one. This is Lazarus’ and Martha’s sister, Mary of Bethany. This family were, as I have said good friends of Jesus. Not long ago Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead, prompting some of the “powers that be” to plan his arrest and execution.

This extravagant gift can be seen both as ‘response’ to Jesus’ gift of the life of her brother, and a foreshadowing of the fate that awaits him, largely because of this gift.

Let us take a closer look at the story for a few minutes. What was so extravagant about this gift? We are told that it was worth 300 denarii. Well, 300 denarii was the average YEARLY wage for a labourer. Since most people lived on the edge of poverty on 300 denarii, this was an amazingly extravagant gift for any family, let alone a woman. So much for the modern, “three month’s wages” guideline about engagement rings!

What is nard? Nard is a fragrant derivative of the spikenard plant, the consistency of an ointment. It seems that it was used in the royal palace of King Solomon, as a bridal perfume and, in preparing a body for burial.

John places this story 6 days before the Passover. His comments, remind the reader that this is the same family for whom Jesus raised his friend and theri brother Lazarus. When he arrived at their home and found out that Lazarus had died he approached the tomb, but Martha attempted to keep him away because of the smell of decay. This day, the smell is as strong, but it is now one of love and extravagant devotion.

The writer of this gospel just can’t tell the story, he has to make comment as he goes. We are told that Judas, the disciple who objected to this expensive gift, was the one who was both a thief and the betrayer. Nevertheless his objections become an opportunity for Jesus to teach. The exchange is an important one and it is vital to keep the comments in context.

Judas objects on the grounds that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. It sounds like a good idea. Jesus was always talking about the poor and the Christian church, from its very beginning, has a concern for the care of widows and orphans, the ones who were most commonly poor! But, Jesus’ challenges this thinking. He says that the poor will always be there and this occasion calls for such an extravagant gift. Down through the ages this comment of Jesus has been used to justify a lack of concern for the social justice work of some churches. When this passage is quoted in this kind of context, it is used to dismiss the concern for social change aimed at eradicating poverty. It is used to justify a more so-called “spiritual” focus. I believe that nothing could be further from Jesus intention. This comment should be read something like this, “the poor will always be a concern for you as my followers, but on this occasion it is appropriate because I won’t be here much longer.” It is not a justification for allowing corruption and hard heartedness to keep people poor. True discipleship is about a wholehearted response to Jesus. Jesus has acted by giving to them the life of their brother. What else would be appropriate? What else would be appropriate when Jesus own life was about to be taken away!

This leads us to do some reflecting on what this means for us in our lives. I was raised in a very practical home. There were several principles my mother tried to instill in me. “Don’t spend a dollar where $.75 cents will do.” “Don’t buy something new if it can be repaired.” “Don’t throw out something in case a use for it may be discovered in the future.” I think that in the context of raising 5 children on the income generated on a small mixed farm, it was a necessary philosophy, but it’s not the best response of true discipleship. It forgets that there are times, even in my childhood, where extravagance is required. Extravagance, of course, does not always have to involve money. It can well involve outward displays of affection, the budgeting of time, the effort put into connections with family and friends and the hospitality offered to friends and strangers. Sometimes, you just HAVE to pull out all the stops. Sometimes extravagant, slightly ‘crazy’ ideas are the most appropriate!

Almost 2 years ago I was riding an elevator to the observation deck of the Empire State Building in New York City and overhearing a conversation between a group of people who were obviously plotting something, I must have looked suspicious. The older of the women told me that it was “an engagement plot”. On the other elevator were the girlfriend and someone who would take her the ‘other way’, while the boyfriend and the person on our elevator would roll out a long “Will you marry me sign”. When the girlfriend arrived at the place where the sign was he was to get down on one knee, open the ring box and propose. It went without a hitch. Except that on the observation deck of the empire state building its hard to get far enough away from a ten foot long banner to take a good picture. She was totally floored and said yes! Last time I saw them they were holding hands and but gazing at each other as much as they were at the city.

Sometimes, some people have done so much for us that the effort put into the response seems extravagant, wasteful, but for the one giving it, it’s not. Oftentimes though the recipient has trouble receiving the gift. Jesus’ response is a lesson for us all. We sometimes need to simply accept it and say, “Thanks”. We need to be able to participate in the relationship of grace which is symbolized and informed byu the great gift of life that Jesus of Nazareth has offered to each one of us.

In the world outside of Bethany things are heating up. This will soon become one of those times when people must chose a side! Mary was showing with this gift whose side she was on! Mary was clearly aligning herself with this group who would soon be on wanted posters all over the place. She was and is a symbol of great courage as well as well as extravagant devotion.

God’s grace has been lavished upon us. In this lenten season we are called to come to terms of this abundant generosity. When we are faced with the God of life; the One who had the power over death itself, we are compelled to respond with all that we have and are.

As our lenten journey continues, let us respond to God’s love with all that we are, but let us also respond in appropriate ways to those who have brightened our lives and given to us meaning and purpose and love and joy and hope.

Let us respond with the generosity of Mary of Bethany.