John 12:1-8
1 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.”
3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair.
Once you’ve stood-up to be counted, you can’t sit down again. We’ve all had times in our lives when we were called upon to take a stand – to choose a side. It happens in families, in congregations, in classrooms, in workplaces, among friends, and in politics. Sometimes, we choose to remain silent, or go along with others, to keep peace. But when our silence or inactivity implies consent to unconscionable things, the Gospel compels us to speak and act.
When Mary knelt down beside the dinner table and anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive perfume, she stood up to be counted among his followers. Her act of overwhelming devotion boldly showed her belief that Jesus is the Messiah. Word of this would most certainly get out, casting Mary and her family as enemies of the faith.
There are times when publicly following Jesus puts us at odds with those who hold power and authority over us. Sometimes following Jesus separates us from family and friends, from our jobs, and from our liberty. In rare instances, it can even put us at odds with the Church, itself.
Mary stood up to be counted…
Prayer: Lord Jesus: The cost of following you is sometimes very high. Strengthen my faith and resolve so that I’m ready to publicly claim my allegiance to you above all else when the need arises. AMEN