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.

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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

Invitation

The Weekly Word will be brief, so it can be read or viewed easily, yet without compromising on faithful and meaningful content. It will consist of four parts which will draw your interest, help connect with the topic, learn about biblical stories or ideas, and share a transformative and encouraging message for your life. There will usually be a topic introduction, some real-life connection, biblical reflections, and the good news God’s message from Jesus. Get God’s message for your life. Sunday worship offers a unique way to celebrate God’s love and experience the love of faith community. Throughout your week, read my Weekly Word blog or watch the Weekly Word video online. May the Spirit deepen your understanding of God’s message of love, keep you encouraged to follow and serve Jesus, and invite you to practice trust in God’s promises and join a local faith community. Your Weekly Word author Pastor Stefan Munker

Spreading the Love

This is a childhood photo of myself. I learned about love from my parents. God wants everyone to share love with others. Do you realize that you are commissioned to be God’s messenger of good news, and an instrument for sharing the experience of love? Word The prophet Jeremiah is told there are no excuses not to spread God’s message of love, “I appointed you a prophet to the nations ...” And, “Do not say, ‘I am only a boy’; for you shall go to all to whom I send you ...” That is, everyone is chosen to speak and show love to everyone. Jesus announced his mission to bring good news of God’s life changing love. But he did not stop there. He went on to renew people’s lives by setting them free from guilt of sins, suffering with disease, and loneliness from exclusion. Connection Church experience can be comforting like a cozy quilt. You got your friends, the familiar words and hymns of worship, or the comfort that comes from the feel and look of the place. But God wants o

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