John 12:1-8
1Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3Mary 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. 4But 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.) 7Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”
- Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
- Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
- Sit comfortably in a chair with your feet flat on the floor.
- Take off your shoes and socks if you wish.
- Let the chair hold you.
- Let the ground support you.
- Notice this feeling of being grounded.
- Imagine you are at the table when Mary comes to anoint the feet of Jesus.
- See the love in her face, the gentleness of her touch, the anticipated grief in her eyes.
- See the love of Jesus giving praise for her act of abundant love.
- Hear the invitation spoken by Jesus to be with him.
- Smell the sacred scent of incense that permeates the room.
- Notice this feeling of being grounded in love.
- Yet, there is a temptation for your possessions in the world to distract you.
- What temptation tries to distract you?
- Hear again the invitation from Jesus to be with him.
- Notice how you desire to be freed from this distraction to be as fully present with Jesus as you can be.
- Be with Jesus.
- What is God’s message for you?
- Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
- Share as you feel led in the reply box below.
Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, April 7, 2019, the Fifth Sunday in Lent (Year C)
- Isaiah 43:16-21
- Psalm 126
- Philippians 3:4b-14
- John 12:1-8
(c) 2019 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings. Please give credit to author.