Knox Holy Week 2020 Devotional - Day #3: Tuesday
Mark 14:3-9
“While [Jesus] was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, ‘Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.' And they rebuked her harshly.
‘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.’"
First, can we take a moment to giggle about the word combo “pure nard”? Okay, phew, got that out of the way. It would’ve been great if the English translation had been a nicer sounding word than “nard” given that it’s meant to be fancy perfume, but we’ll just be glad for the small gift of a funny-sounding word in the Bible reading today.
This is a beautiful story about the importance of praise and the holiness of Jesus—the one who deserves our extravagant worship. Many good sermons have been preached on that theme. What stood out to me in this season was Jesus’ rebuke: “The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want.” Oh, how often we invoke the poor when it’s convenient to our argument rather than serve them and be with them as a matter of regular life. I know I am guilty of this.
It made me think about how during times of crisis, like natural disasters or pandemics, groups that are always in need can finally get much needed support only to watch money and programs dry up once the disaster is out of the news cycle. I know I recently signed a petition asking the city to use hotels to house homeless people, which then did happen here in Toronto, praise God! But, how often do I care about and act on the housing needs of the homeless in non-pandemic times?
This is not meant to feel like a judgemental call to be overly involved in more things than you can—we are all called to serve in different ways,
Rather, this is an invitation to all of us to have longevity of compassion, to have long relationships with those in need and walk with them in all kinds of seasons—not just when circumstances highlight their need.
One of the hard gifts of the global COVID-19 crisis is that it is making us very aware of the most vulnerable: the elderly, those with mental health conditions who are especially struggling with the isolation of social distancing, the working poor who cannot afford to stay home, and many others.
An invitation God is extending to us in this time is to not let any of the vulnerable slip from our minds when life returns to “normal” in the future. They are always among us, more likely to fall sick, more likely to suffer financial hardship, more likely to need stronger community support. We always have the opportunity to reach out, to listen, to build relationships, to become part of the communities that support.
PRAYER PROMPTS
Pray for those most affected by the virus and by the effects of stay-at-home orders.
Confess and repent of any times you have had short-lived compassion and ask God to show you have to have long relationships with those in need.
Think of your needs and the ways in which you are “the poor,” ask God to provide the support and care that you need. Praise him for the ways he has provided.
