A woman's instinct

In Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper

a woman went with her gut

she saw something she could do

and, in love, she did it.

While the religious authorities were pontificating,

getting all aerated about their rules being flaunted,

while the political kaisers were brewing venom

perceiving their supremacy was being eroded

while the men around Jesus were humming and hawing,

knowing something was up but not sure what to do,

a woman saw an act of spontaneous love she could offer

and she did.

Pure nard became pure love

poured out extravagantly

without inhibition

flooding the room with fragrance

soothing the Lord

with healing balm.

"Wherever the gospel is preached, this story will be told in memory of her."

We remember a woman who gave

spontaneously, extravagantly, uninhibitedly, in love.

We salute her instinct.

And we look for opportunities

to trust and to act on our instincts with spontaneous love.