It is the fifth week of the season of Lent . How are you doing ? Is there anything that has been different for you this year ? Did you hold hands with Jesus, while walking with his disciples on your way to Jerusalem ? Has the war in Ukraine changed your experience with Jesus/God/Spirit for these five weeks ? Has the ups and downs, and ups, of Covid strained or strengthened your personal walk with the Lord ?
12:1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
12:2 There they gave dinner to him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.
12:3 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. —from John 12
The above text is for the Fifth Sunday of Lent. A quiet and reflective meal before the big meal of the week/year, the Passover. The disciples are there. A family that Jesus knows well is hosting the meal. There might have been conversation around the raising of the life of Lazarus at the meal. Lazarus was seated at the table, eating. The story was recorded in John 11, so it might have happened just a week before. I think it would be startling to be in the presence of Jesus and Lazarus. Martha prepared the meal ? Mary watched and spoke with Jesus ? Then the meal was interrupted by Mary, by her breaking a bottle of perfume, smearing it on Jesus’ feet, and wiping up the mess with her hair. STOP. Listen to the sounds in the room. Look at the expression on Jesus’ face. How about the look on Mary, Martha or Lazarus’ faces ?
We are planning a worship/conversation on Wednesday April 13 at 7:30 over Zoom. A ZOOM invitation will be sent to you the week of the event. Hope you can be there.
Fred
Chaos in the winds Scattering my troubled thoughts to land on soft clouds Monica Pieper Landoni 2022
