June 23th

“Jesus Anointed at Bethany”

 Pr. Silvana

                                  

Matthew 26.6-13

At Jesus’ time, it was their custom to anoint the heads of guests, as an act of honor.

      

                                                                   

-         Learning with Mary’s attitude (She anointed Jesus pouring out on Him a very expensive perfume of pure nard):

-         * She was not required to do what she did. It was not her obligation. She decided to anoint Jesus spontaneously, willingly, freely. It was HER desire. That’s how we should serve Jesus.

-         * She didn’t use any perfume. It was a very expensive perfume. She spent on Jesus the most valuable, the most precious thing she had. That’s what we should offer Jesus: always our best!

-         * She didn’t care about what others would think of her. She was courageous and took the risk, took the opportunity to honor Jesus. We should never miss the opportunity to honor Jesus, whatever the cost. It doesn’t matter what people will say about us…

-         God’s point of view is different from ours. What we consider wasteful, insignificant, can be valuable at God’s sight.

-         Isaiah 55.8-9:  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

-         Money (price) cannot be the central question, or the most important thing. What matters is the real expression of love – that’s the true worship that pleases God. True love (true worship) never counts the cost.

-         God will always honor those who honor Him.

-         When we do something outstanding to honor God, it’s like a sweet fragrance filling the air… everybody around us will feel it.

-         For our reflection:

-         * What is something beautiful we can do to honor Jesus out of love (not as an obligation, but as an expression of love and honor)?