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Lenten Journey – Day 32
Biblical Scripture: John 12:1-11 Open Invitation to Join Terri from
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24-Mar-12: John 12:1-11
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 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. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
“……and you say HIS FEET needed the balm more than ours?”
So did friends all holding hands and sticks and ears and noses
Lean and huff and carry on with guff up this higher hill, this brighter hill.
So did friends all critterly and snorterly topple and bend to toeses
Keen in pain of scratches and scrapes and wounds to water the thrill.
“Oh, Crow, find that oil, that balm, you say Old BeadyEye did spy!”
“Oh, Bluesay Fly! Buzz over a drop of that healing so rare!”
“Nay, friends and critters and flopping topsies! Oil not for you nor I!”
“Wait, friends, for streams down below! Oil for feet of THE ONE so bare!”
granbee 
Mar 25, 2012 @ 03:57:14
Nosey woesy that balm not for yousey, I Old Crow knows that balm belongs to Mary Mary airy fairy we see she wants it just for him, he the one without sin! We must be contentes just to bathes in the golden light of his love !! for now.xxxx
Mar 26, 2012 @ 22:17:23
Yessseeee-fairsey willowsees! Dot,dot! The cleansing water more than sufficient for us waits within sight—always! The balm is offered in proper worship and signage of who THE ONE really is!
Mar 25, 2012 @ 13:33:55
Such extravagant love did Mary demonstrate. If we could all love so generously. What a wonderful world it would be!
Mar 26, 2012 @ 22:18:25
NO LOVE, no offering, is actually too extravagan for Our Lord,Terri! Would that we could all be so unstinting, as you so correctly say!
Mar 26, 2012 @ 12:56:58
Rose! This is a very interesting side to Jesus. It seems out of character of him to think of himself first.
Mar 26, 2012 @ 22:20:09
Actually, Peter (you who responded just as I hoped SOMEONE would!), Jesus is not being selfish. He is properly honoring Mary’s act of worship and being sensitive to the intentions of her heart–as we should all be when offered gifts we may not understand at first. We should honor the intention of the giver’s heart!
Mar 27, 2012 @ 12:37:45
Rose! Well replied!
Mar 27, 2012 @ 23:01:52
So glad my response was intelligible and applicable to your concern, Peter. Thanks for letting me know this!
Mar 26, 2012 @ 17:44:50
I love you Rose – have a great day 😀 x
Mar 26, 2012 @ 22:20:40
Jane, I love you back, dear girl! You have a great day and a fabulous week, okay?
Mar 27, 2012 @ 00:09:41
Dear Granbee, I don’t always comment on your wonderful critterly prosey poemsies, but I am reading and listening … they are absolutely wonderful! ~ Love, Julie xox
Mar 27, 2012 @ 00:27:29
JulieCath, so VERY honored and pleased to have you visit here and comment. So delighted you are enjoying these critters!
Mar 27, 2012 @ 00:42:30
Granbee, imma cooing and cackling with such delight. Even Old Crow knows that we need more than some balm, or fragrant perfume that only attracts the heels of man. We need the love of God to sustain us, in this time of day. I guess I will mosey about and posey into a soothing scripture to rest these old tired feet and pray.
But don’t you wink or blink Granbee, I will be straggling around waiting to see what Old Crow brings to the Lord’s Supper. What wisdom awaits in the wrinkles of time and truth. Sharing the beacon of light to all who will listen. I hear Judas the snake may be lingering around and up to no good, and he is like a thief in the night. Granbee, I am sure Old Crow can lead him to the truth and the light.
Imma hugging, cackling and full of cheer, I hear God is all around and very near. If you see Him Granbee, send Him back my way so I can hear the still voice that paid for our sins. I look forward to fellowship with my sweet dear friend, Granbee my little treasure within! I THANK GOD FOR YOU…
Shenine
Mar 27, 2012 @ 01:27:43
Shenine, I WILL be back with you later today–STILL catching up with all you guys after meeting several deadlines! Bless you for such a fun-loving and light-filled commentary here! How unselfish and generous of you. And you HAVE given me some great embellishments for what I had planned to the passages upcoming in our Lenten Journey! Hooray! Gotta luv ya!
Apr 02, 2012 @ 00:58:05
Rose, your reply to Peter is so clear, it’s blinding! He brought up a good question and I love your answer. It’s very difficult to accept gifts and this chapter depicts Mary’s love and His gracious acceptance. Thank you for shedding the light, as always, and conveying these wonderful messages through your delightful language! Hugs!
Apr 03, 2012 @ 02:36:10
You are very most terriffically welcome, dear Lauren, for such strong affirmation both of this post and of my reply to Peter. Isn’t our blogging brotherhood/sisterhood a true gift from above?
Apr 03, 2012 @ 02:25:52
Sorry for being so far behind, Granbee! I was having trouble loading your blog on my home computer yesterday.
I’m with Lauren–you reply really clarified Jesus’ seemingly uncharacteristic acceptance of Mary’s extravagant gift to him.
I also think Jesus’ words are key–“You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me”–in that there is nothing stopping them from helping the poor at any time…with or without his direction.
Apr 03, 2012 @ 02:39:22
Excellent points and affirmatons here, Diane! So pleased you are back with us! I agree that, obviously those tricksters could always help the poor! I suppose I have heard this story of Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with the expensive nard so many times and since early childhood that I did not quite see Jesus’ acceptance as “uncharacteristic”. And we had a reading from Mark at church last night that emphasized how Mary was actually performing the traditional burial rites of annointing the body, only a little bit early!
Apr 03, 2012 @ 04:32:29
granbee — how I have missed reading your posts from our journey …. I am glad to pick this one as my first in catching up … such a delight … a wonderful reminder. I am so sure Mary’s actions have been misunderstood through the ages … but what a wonderful gift and action to perform for our Lord! Thank you ~~
Apr 03, 2012 @ 06:56:31
So pleased you returned to help us anoint His Feet and wipe them with our hair, becca!