Renewing Devotion

My wife and I showed our devotion to Jesus by packing food for starving children.

'Why give money to World Hunger when they should help themselves and there’s people to take care of your own family or church or country?’

Or, one could say, why waste expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet when you could have used the money to feed the poor?

That’s rational, selfish, and sarcastic Judas speaking to willfully discredit Mary. Mary however, responded with love, generosity, and extravagant devotion.

Word

The lectionary gospel on the Sunday before Holy Week tells of Mary sharing her devotion for Jesus. She uses expensive oil, and outrageously, her hair and tears, to express her love, her service, her faith in Jesus.

While they are at dinner, “Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair.” (John 12:3)

Guess what? Mary doesn’t care about the cost, or what other people might say. She does what feels right to her. She anoints Jesus for his burial, and shows her deepest devotion. And Jesus, aware of his impending passion, approves of Mary’s extravagant act.

Connection

So, what would we do? What would we do with our possessions, time, and abilities if we knew to expect our death, or that of a loved one?

Wouldn’t the awareness of death change everything? Wouldn’t you give everything, for someone you love more than anything in the world?

So why hold back our devotion, while we still have time and opportunities, to share our time and money with Jesus, those around us, and others who are poor?

Mary didn’t wait til Jesus’ burial. She used her gift while Jesus was still alive and with her.

Message

The Good News is: God has done mighty deeds for the Israelites in the past, and again for the whole world through Jesus.

Jesus says to you: My sacrificial passion that changed everything. Your acts of faithful devotion change the lives of others now.

Comments

Give Praise

Church vocal and bell choir in worship leads the assembled congregation to give God praise. Throughout the Bible, God and humans have used music to communicate with each other and about God’s greatness. Word In the Old testament, King David instructed the worship leaders of Israel to praise God for the kind and powerful help they received: “Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done. Sing to him; yes, sing his praises. Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds. ” (2 Chronicles 16:7-9) The songbook of the Bible encourages creativity and diversity for giving glory to God with a new song. In one of its poetic hymns we are told that it is not only fitting but pleasing to God to join all creation “... with trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn. Make a joyful symphony before the Lord, the King!” (Psalm 98:6) And the early church saw spiritual songs as an expression of their new life in Christ. The apostle Paul wrote to believ

In Touch with Jesus

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Power of Faith

Your faith doesn't need to be huge like a mountain. Faith the size of a tiny seed can accomplish great things. What are our excuses? We need more faith like the apostles? Or we don’t speak well like Moses? Or are too young like Samuel? Or are too old like Abram and Sarah? Faith might be able to move mountains, but only if you are committed to put it into action. Word The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” (v. 5) Oh, says Jesus, if you just had faith the side of a mustard seed, you could instruct a tree to uproot itself and plant itself in the sea. No, Jesus tells his followers, what they need is not more faith but the right attitude and purpose. He wants them to be messengers and servants. Connection Is it possible that too many people stop with faith confession and don’t take the next step of faith action? Can we call ourselves Christian without acting like Christ? Instead of only understanding or knowing God, you and I are called to work for God.

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