John 12:1-3
Mary Anoints Jesus
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.
As the fragrance of the costly oil
spread its tendrils around the room
assaulting the senses
and sensibilities
of those gathered
As they breathed in its perfume
and witnessed the unfiltered act
of sheer love
each was assaulted
by their own reaction
each drawn in to wonder
about the extravagance
about the spectacle
about the urge that drove Mary
to indulge in such a gesture.
And might their discomfort
have been more about
their hardness of heart
their inability to let go
their envy of one
who bared her soul
than about Mary's
unadulterated
expression of love?
Challenging words.
ReplyDeleteLove how the words form the shape of a jar.
Thanks, Eileen, shape was more accident than design but effective nonetheless.
ReplyDelete