|
To read:
John 12:1-11
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of
Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner
for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table
with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard,
anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was
filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of
his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was
this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given
to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but
because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal
what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it
so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have
the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’
When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they
came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had
raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to
death as well, since it was on account of him that many of the Jews
were deserting and were believing in Jesus. |
To think about:
Bethlehem Lutheran Church sits in a nice suburban community 60 miles
west of Chicago. One might think that such a suburb, proud of its
rural roots, growing with new homes and aspiring to attract the best
businesses, would not have many poor folks around.
Bethlehem operates a food pantry and I oversee expenditures from the
Good Samaritan fund, a direct assistance fund that all too often
runs out of money. This nice suburban setting is not immune to
poverty. “You always have the poor with you,” Jesus said. Toward the
middle and end of the month the requests grow: “I need gas money to
get to work,” “My babies are sick and I can’t afford the medicine,”
“I had a fire in my apartment,” “My father died and I need to get to
Chicago,” “The rent is due…” The poor are always with you.
“You always have the poor with you,” is but half the sentence spoken
to Judas. Jesus finished the sentence by saying to Judas, “but you
do not always have me.” Our Lenten reflections always keep Easter in
mind. What was true for Judas, “but you do not always have me,” is
not true for the church. Jesus is present in the work done for the
well being of neighbors near and far. Food pantries and direct
assistance funds are dedicated to serving the poor in Jesus’ name. I
am often reminded of Jesus presence when help is accepted with a
simple, “God bless you.” |
|
To pray:
Lord Jesus, present with your church in
the waters of baptism, the bread and wine of Holy Communion, the
living Word, and the outstretched hands of your people, bless work
we do in your name, that we who are richly blessed will be a
blessing to others. Amen
Back to Lenten
Devotional Calendar |
