the things God does

The things God does…..

Lectionary readings  for 031713

I've been wondering this week - and I invite you to join me in wondering.....

 

God is doing a new thing, says Isaiah: a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.  A new thing for a people in exile—a way home.  People at the end of their rope, with little hope, are reminded of the stuff God had done in the past, at the exodus from Egypt…a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert—a way home

God has done great things, says the psalmist, so we can trust that God will do great things again.   This isn’t wishful thinking, based on some faint desire; this is hope, based on the character of God.  We who have wandered off, or let God’s activity in our lives take second place, are offered a way back, another chance to come home to God.

And I wonder, could I write a song of the great things God has done in my life, in our common life as a congregation, as inhabitants of the great cosmos? 

And I also wonder, what new thing might God have for us? To those needing encouragement, or at a distance from God, or living in uncertainty, we hear this word, as the prodigal did last week,

come home, I will make a way.

All these new things and great things that God had done did bring our forebears back home to their homeland, and home to God temporarily….but soon they were back into the old ways, distancing themselves from the ways of God’s love, hope, compassion, and justice.

So God fills and empowers Jesus, to draw people back home to God again.

And Jesus, who is so spiritually insightful and developed that he is at home with God all the time, becomes a wandering teacher with no home of his own…..but he has three bff’s: Lazarus, Martha and Mary, who welcome him, often it seems, into their own home.    In the chapter before, Jesus has raised Lazarus from the dead, so he is particularly welcome…..God has done great things for us, says this family, and we respond with gratitude and welcome.

It seems that he is at home here…..

And I wonder if Jesus feels at home in my house, or yours?

This story appears in some form in all four gospels, usually placed between plots to kill Jesus and his betrayal.  The opposition is closing in, tensions are high…we are getting closer and closer to that awful week that so many of us like to avoid.

And Mary breaks open an expensive ointment in the middle of this dinner party, and anoints Jesus…..what’s all that about?

Anointing generally was either a way of naming the new king, or preparing a dead body for burial.   We are not privy to Mary’s motivation, but whatever she may have been intending, it seems she ‘gets’ what is happening in the big picture—

who Jesus is,

the kind of honor he is due,

and an inkling of the coming trouble

so she does this radically, ridiculously extravagant,  tender and holy thing.

And of course somebody has to complain.  It seems like a reasonable objection; one we still hear today;  the new pope brings that quite clearly into our view.  In all the gospels you get the same reaction: what a waste of money!

In the other versions it’s either the disciples or the other guests, but here John says it’s Judas, and with hindsight long after the event, John sees a self-centered motive that he then contrasts with Jesus’ reading of Mary’s motive….it’s anointing for a body that will soon be dead. 

It’s an act of incredible love and devotion.  Is love ever wasted?   Surely a heart that open will also tend the poor, but for now, for this moment, it was the right thing at the right time.

While she still could, she did …no procrastinating.

And I wonder, do I put off showing my love for Jesus?

Mary doesn’t consider the cost, nor does she care what people think, nor is she forced into this act;

…nothing else matters but showing her love; it’s an entirely spontaneous, ludicrously generous, tender recognition of the value of one life, that of Jesus, this agent of the God who does new and great things.

And I wonder how I respond to the new and great things God is always doing?  How spontaneous, generous, tender, recognizing am I?

Then there’s this lovely phrase: and the fragrance filled the whole house.

It’s a little, inconsequential detail, but important enough to be included in the story remembered and written down  years after Jesus.

Perhaps it contrasts with  the “stench of death” of the previous chapter, when there was an objection to opening Lazarus’ grave.  Or with the stench of greed and betrayal and looming violence, festering in and beyond those walls.

So it really speaks to me. the fragrance filled the whole house.

…the fragrance of generosity

…the scent of love and understanding

….the aroma of tenderness

in a world of greed and violence and distance from God.

And I wonder what fragrance are we emitting into our own houses, or this house of God, or the world that is OUR home?  

Do we in any way resemble Mary, and her sister Martha,  who by both  acts and attitudes,                                                             show adoration,                                                                          humility,                                                                                           service, love, gratitude?

While our Isaiah and psalm readings spoke of the great and new things God has done and is doing, this story calls for a response---what are WE doing?  

May our homes be filled with the fragrance of love

May our lives give off the scent of generosity

May our hearts be full of the aroma of grace.

Amen