While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Matthew 26:6-13
“There is this wonderful quality about being together in community that takes place whenever each individual takes whatever gifts he or she has been given and offers them to the body for the glory of God. The only way to describe it is that something magical happens.
It is like precious oil being poured out on everyone. Somehow, mysteriously, abundance is created. The sum of the whole becomes much greater than the sum of the parts. It is sheer delight, for somehow, as the gifts are being given, they renew themselves, even as they are being poured out.
Whenever we freely give to one another the things an the gifts that God has freely given to us, real community forms, and somehow new life is created both within us and among us. So let us, this very day, give what is ours to give. Let us pour precious oil on the heads of those who come into our paths, knowing that by doing so it will bring life to our souls and deep joy to the heart of our God.”
Jim Branch in Reflection on “Together” in The Blue Book: A Devotional Guide for Every Season of Your Life (Scotts Valley: CreateSpace, 2016) 337
I want to challenge you to do three things today.
Firstly, move toward, not away from people society labels as “lepers.” Jesus went to the home of Simon the Leper in today’s text. The guy would have been labeled unclean, but that did not slow Jesus down. It must not slow us either.
I am scheduled to travel to South Africa and Zimbabwe this weekend. I am eager to go and serve workers from across Southern Africa despite the recent COVID outbreak. Sadly, the world has labeled all these people lepers.
Secondly, celebrate what happened when one woman poured out her oil. She made history. As long as the gospel is proclaimed, her story will be retold. Jesus saw her sacrifice and celebrated.
He’s still watching and celebrating when people give sacrificially. Magic still happens when people sacrifice what God has richly supplied to them. It creates abundance. He replenishes the supply.
Thirdly, “let us this very day give what is ours to give.” Happy Giving Tuesday. Today, I want to invite every reader to give to GTP to help us add staff to multiply faithful stewards around the world.
Here’s the link. Check out our Giving Tuesday campaign to add staff to respond to unanticipated demand for our programs around the world. Help us reach the goal by giving generously today.