In this fifth week of Lent, we retell the story of Mary’s costly gift of precious nard ointment she used to annoint Jesus. Her act enrages Judas who demands to know why the perfume wasn’t sold to help the poor. Jesus defends Mary by making theological space for the need to respond in generosity, but neither does he let us off the hook in helping others: they are everywhere and in all times: be always about the business of helping the poor, but don’t neglect the many ways God is served. In his sermon, Rev. Kent teased out some of the ways in which our response to God, God’s Christ, and God’s on-going work still echoes these passages. Here is the prayer we shared as we make our way to Easter.
Break open the jars of our hearts lord and let us pour out. All that is precious of in action, in hope, in honor, in love… let these signs to the poorest and poorest in heart be how we are known. Help us not make gifts of pointless greed, but rather let our generosity reach deep into hearts to help. Guide us in complexity and beauty to heal both ourselves and anoint the world with extravagant love that transforms and inspires. Help us be foolish enough to offer the impossible in your service, and wise enough to know when and how “to spend and be spent” in the cause of a resurrecting love. –Rev. Kent Gilbert
To watch the whole service click HERE!
Leave a Reply