The Perfume of Mary - Worship in Action
This reflection encourages you to use the smell of a perfume or aftershave as a prop.
Reading: John 12:1-11
Reflection:
The time is drawing near and as the man with the sandwich board reminds the passing shoppers - ‘the end is nigh’. And where does the hurting and the condemned man go but to friends? A safe haven when the world becomes dark and heavy with tension. Yet nowhere is truly safe, but perhaps for a wee while there is illusion of normalcy as friends gather around the table. A celebration of life and yet also a wake, a purvey, a last supper of sorts.
Lazarus who was in the grave sits with the man who faces the grave. A little scared, joyful, grateful yet uncertain. Martha once again is scurrying about going from kitchen to table to kitchen, feeding the menfolk. The conversation is scattered and rambling and no one feels truly at peace as they recline to eat - the normal eating posture, with their feet stretched out at some distance from their heads. Conversations peppered with fear as the hunt is on for Jesus and even Lazarus because he is an anomaly upsetting the carefully balanced relationship between Rome and Jerusalem.
Suddenly, the air is filled with a sweet sweet smell. Its fragrance catches the attention of the room and all look for its source. It is the smell of passion, of romance, of wealth yet is it out of place, indeed unexpected.
Breathe deep of the scent before you (carefully). How evocative is the smell? How out of place is it at this moment in time? What does the smell awaken within? How do you react to it?
Push the push button here as ponder the reactions the smell evokes at the time, and in you.
The pure nard, worth a year’s wages, imported from India where the best nard comes from drips from the feet of Jesus as Mary resumes her favourite location - at his feet. Kings are anointed on their heads, the dead are anointed from their feet up. As the shock settles in the room, Martha gazes in wonder at the actions of her sister, part enthralled, part holding her breath in fear.
Mary, meanwhile, is lost in her worship of Jesus and unaware of the drama unfolding around her. Her hair falls around her shoulders, her tresses unwound only for her husband and or as a distraction in grief, fall over his feet and she wipes up the perfume with her hair. Touching yet not touching him. It is unashamed love spilling out from her very centre, as she worships him, and yet prophetically speaks of his death and burial. What she does is announce that he is the Messiah, son of the living God, just as Peter had done in words previously. Actions speak louder than words perhaps, for she truly committed to the action of worship.
When was the last time you worshipped Jesus with unashamed love and abandonment? Where you defied the social norms and danced like no one was watching, sang like no one was listening, wept like no one could see the mess, laughed in holy joy til your sides split, gave your very best without counting the cost...
Perhaps pause for a moment and consider that moment that comes to mind, or consider what that moment might look like for you? I’m a dancer for God - not talented but as the music washes over me that’s my honest moment of worship, my connection point.
Storming into the moment comes the harsh words of Judas, breaking, indeed shattering the silence as the room lets go of its breath. Again Mary is in the spotlight and called out for her behaviour, and again the Lord defends her. This time she is not just lazy, she is wasteful, a thoughtless woman through and through. But not to God.
To God she is amazing. She is insightful. She is faith-filled. She is generous. She sees the eternal not just the present. She worshipped in love, with extravagance, with passion, and even after Jesus left for Jerusalem the smell lingers in the air, causing her to pray and worship some more. As for the others in the room - where they inspired, blessed, anxious, or with hindsight able to praise her for her worship? How might they have felt at the time or afterwards?
For how long the smell carries with Jesus we know not but if you have quality perfume you will know the scent lasts, clinging to skin and fabric. The smell for Jesus evokes feelings of love, of faithfulness, of worship, of hope. Perhaps he was further emboldened that even the people who had followed Jesus and disciples to Bethany didn’t report the presence of Jesus to the authorities. In amongst the tension, the impending death sentence Jesus knew was coming, there is a moment of beauty that encourages and strengthens him for the road ahead. As flashes of the scent caught him time and time again - did that love shown, remind him that his Father loved him dearly also?
As we worship God, as we bring prayers of gratitude, as we look for his blessings on our lives and the lives of those we know, we too are encouraged and strengthen for the road ahead. Pray for the strength to face our foes not with condemnation but with love. Pray that we would never put down another for extravagant worship - just because we don’t get it. Pray that God’s church, especially where we have stripped it to its bare components would become extravagant and fulsome again, that the love we readily show ourselves and our families would be evident in our faith as well.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
As we read about Mary and her expensive nard we are inspired and afraid at the same time. You truly are worthy of all worship and praise. And Lord we do bow before you in humble adoration. We are without a doubt blessed because of you and your sacrificial love.
And yet we know that too often we are reluctant to be extravagant in our worship. We keep our hands in our pockets, we keep our feet firmly planted and years of conditioning allow us just to clap our hands. Lord, we are so afraid to let go and truly worship for fear of embarrassment or making a fool of ourselves. Yet Lord, those moments when we sing out our hearts, when our bodies move to the rhythm without care for style or shape, when our hands rise above our heads, when our generosity to you blesses those around us, you are worshipped. Occasionally Lord help us be extravagant and to worship you like no one but you is present.
May we be insightful this week, that we might embrace the pain and the sorrow, that when joy comes we truly rejoice again at the empty tomb. May we be honest that we know that we should be willing to give our all no matter the cost, because your generosity and love is without limit in return. May we be gentle with those we don’t understand and know that you welcome us all whether we are faith filled or feeling lost on the edges. Lord, help us look for your light and come into your holy presence forgiven and loved. May we love and worship in return without fear or constraints. In your name we pray. Amen.
Blessing
God loves you so very much.
May the sweet smell of God’s presence
Touch your soul, heal your brokenness and restore your heart and mind.
And the blessing of God almighty Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon you and remain with you now and forevermore. Amen
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