Sermon for Second Sunday in Lent
[Is. 61:1-3; Hebr. 11:23-27; Mk. 14:3-9]
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
"Leave her alone,’ said Jesus. ‘Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me." (v. 6)
The story of the woman with the vial of oil is mentioned in all four gospels: Matthew chapter 26, Mark chapter 14 -our reading this morning-, Luke chapter 7 and John chapter 12;
There are however some differences in the details of the narrative:
-In Matthew and Mark 'the sinful woman' anoints Jesus' head, in Luke and John His feet, while she dries them with her hair;
-In John she's described as Mary, Lazarus's sister (v. 3), but other commentaries have suggested she might in fact have been Mary Magdalene;
-All four gospels give us a setting in Bethany, about 2 km from Jerusalem, across the Jordan River, in the house of a rich pharisee, very likely named Simon;
-John gives us a timeframe of six days before Passover, Easter, during what we would now call Holy Week.
The anointing is reminiscent of what Isaiah had written: "the oil of joy instead of mourning" (v. 6); and the spike-nard used here would have been extracted from a plant imported from northern India.
It would have cost 300 denarii, a year's day-wages for a common day-labourer, a year's minimum wages; also, the alabaster container the woman had preserved the oil in wouldn't have come cheap either.
Not only the expense of the nard would have shocked the Disciples, especially Judas Iscariot the treasurer of the group, but also the fact that a woman had come into male company on her own and had dared sit at Jesus' feet as if she too were a disciple, and had touched Him; in the society of the day being touched by a sinful person would render someone ritually unclean, something to be avoided at all cost.
Moreover, in using her hair to wipe Jesus' feet she broke another taboo in a time when Jewish women covered their heads when going out, as many still do today.
Whoever she may have been, the woman in our passage this morning had a strong character, was very courageous and displayed a great deal of will-power and tenacity.
Jesus isn't swayed by the objections of the other dinner guests, and reminds them quite sternly what the anointing with oil actually represents: the woman has prepared His body for burial as was the custom of the time. The oil would clean the remains of the deceased and help dissipate the smell of a decaying body, laid in a niche or a tomb rather than buried in the ground.
'Yes, the money could have been used to feed the pour,' He admits, 'but at this very moment, here and now, this takes priority, this has to happen.'
Let's not forget, only a few Sundays ago Jesus prophesied His own death for the third time; time's literally running out.
"Leave her alone,’ said Jesus. ‘Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me."
Why were the Disciples really so annoyed? Did their dismay really revolve around the assumed cost and wastage?
Or was it perhaps because a woman -and not they themselves- had realised what was at stake for Jesus in the coming days, and had prepared and supported Him in the right way, when the men had had no clue?
Were they so jealous and upset that they wouldn't let someone else -let alone a woman- steal their limelight so to speak, let them contribute to the narrative, and had preferred to chastise them and play down their efforts.
They just couldn't see past their own male egos.
Far too often people, especially religious people and especially the religious establishment and the clergy, just can't seem to mind their own business, just can't accept the important input of others in the Jesus story.
Far too often they -as we ourselves- are too busy with the lesser details of how people worship, how people vote, how they contribute to the Church, whom they love, how they behave in public, how they raise their children, etc...to see and acknowledge the brave and wonderful commitment others make to our calling here on earth, namely to love God and serve our neighbour.
Far too often they ignore the fact that we're called to be co-workers with God for good not envy, in order to build up not tear down.
Judgement then becomes the main focus, not joy for what others in new ways are bringing to how the Good News is carried into a world that so desperately needs hope and love and forgiveness.
"Leave her alone,’ said Jesus. ‘Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me."
The faith of the woman -who in a way represents each and everyone of us kneeling at Jesus Christ's feet and touching the Saviour's body- teaches all of us this Lenten season about focus, about discernment of what is important, of what takes priority.
When we come in the presence of Jesus, in His physical proximity -just like in the bread and wine, the Body and Blood of Holy Communion-, no matter how much scorn and jealousy others heap on us, our Lord will speak words of acceptance and kindness, just as He spoke to the woman who anointed Him.
Then we'll hear the words He spoke to her in Luke's version of the story: "Your sins are forgiven...your faith has saved you; go in peace." (vv. 48, 50).
Vi ska inte döma andra när dom bidrar till Guds verk i världen.
And the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.