Live Holy Week: Monday

Today begins a week-long series of readings and devotions for Holy Week. Read more about living holy week here.

Read Mark 14: 1-21

Remember a time when you gossiped behind someone’s back? What happened? Betrayal hurts. What do you do now in similar situations?

When Jesus was anointed, he was confirmed as God’s chosen. Instead of staying in a clean righteous place, Jesus stayed with a man who had suffered from leprosy. Instead of being anointed by some great prophet, scribe, or high priest, he was anointed by a harlot. Simon’s house and the woman with the jar showed generosity and blessing. Jesus meant the world to them. Their attitude of appreciation is very different from the scribes, some of the people, and even Jesus' disciple, Judas. These people were more concerned with proper actions and showing off rather than with nurturing, generosity, and blessing.

Jesus’ nurturing brings peace and growth. The others who would sell the perfume for money to help the poor would do good, but they dismiss the love the woman shows for Jesus and set people against one another-- not the way of Jesus. Judas would sooner betray Jesus than live according to his more messy way of nurture. Betrayal hurts everyone, nurture grows everyone. Have you felt betrayed?

Let us pray,
Lord God, sometimes our priorities get confused. We are more concerned with how we measure up than with nurturing the faith in someone else. Open us to receiving blessings from unexpected places. Remind us how gossip hurts everyone involved. Teach us to confront gossip by not listening to it, by not participating in it and by checking it out with the source out of respect. Let your ways of nurture and peace, flood our hearts. Amen.

Pastor Michael