Holy Week: No Gifts? PLEEEASE!
Scripture: Matthew 26: 6-13
Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor.”
Reflection: Holy Week begins and ends with Anointing. A ritual action of deep love and connection. Without this action, the actions we remember and reread reverberate with violence, judgment, domination, betrayal, denial and crucifixion.
Anointing happens in every Gospel, take a look at the stories in Luke 7 and John 12. Jesus rebukes the disciples, they voice their outrage at this moment, as they worry about the budget and appearances. Mary knows the costly work of this journey and brings forth an action of love.
Reflect this week on the work of love. The outpouring of love, the action of love, love that is tough and the love that sacrifices. What if Jesus’ death is not to appease an angry god but rather for the deep hope that our humanity and divinity will grow through radical self-giving.
Mary knows the depth of love. This week, read Song of Songs 8:6 in the context of Jesus refusing to back down from his work of making change and facing death on a cross at the hands of the State. Read it in the context of Mary’s loving actions, her presence with him through it all and her refusal to deny, betray or turn away.
Song of Songs 8:6
Set me as a seal upon your heart,
as a seal upon your arm;
for love is strong as death,
passion fierce as the grave.
“And true courage comes when the heart sees so clearly with the eyes of love what has to be, the only way that it can be; that perfect love does, in fact, cast away fear. And I think that until you put Mary Magdalene back in the Gospel, front and center where she belongs in the paschal mystery, you lose that which is really the thread of hope in the whole story and the thread of transformation: that our hearts will be transformed, if we know how to love.”
-Cynthia Bougeault
Journaling: Have you witnessed any extraordinary gifts? What does love ask of us? Where do you see crucifixions today? How do you stay grounded in heartbreak, like Mary? What are your temptations like Peter to deny or Judas to betray or Pilot to wash your hands of the whole mess? Where do you see resurrection through the work of love?
Prepare for Holy Week through communal worship:
Palm Sunday at 9 + 11am, Palm Sunday collective action at 3:00pm
Maundy Thursday at 6:30pm
Good Friday at 6:30 pm
Sunrise Easter Service at 6:30am
Easter Sunday Services at 9 + 11am