Being Prodigal
John 12:1-8
Jesus commends Mary for
being prodigal. In today’s Gospel
reading Jesus commends Mary for being prodigal.
Many of you will remember
that last week, preaching on the so-called parable of the prodigal son, I
talked about God’s prodigal mercy and forgiveness towards us.
This week Mary is prodigal
in her actions with Jesus.
This week I actually looked
up prodigal in the dictionary. It
means: spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully
extravagant.
It’s only our lectionary
that brings last week’s Gospel reading together with this week’s. They come from different Gospels. The parable is in Luke; today we’re in
John. And the settings in Jesus’
ministry are different. In both,
of course, Jesus is teaching those near to him. And, from our vantage point, we know that in both Jesus’
face is already set towards Jerusalem.
The cross is within view.
The chronology of Jesus’
passion is a bit different in John than in the synoptic Gospels. In John’s Gospel the story we heard
this morning takes place just before Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, only
days before his crucifixion. It is
set in Bethany, just across the Kidron valley from Jerusalem.
Mary’s anointing of Jesus is
the focus of this reading. It’s
probably worth noting that it is clearly Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha (and
not Mary Magdalene as often shown in popular depictions), who is the actor in
this story.
In Jesus’ day there were several
reasons for anointing: Anointing
for a purpose, king’s or prophet’s heads were anointed as a symbol of the special
purpose or power to which they were called. Anointing was done for healing, as it continues to be
today. And bodies were anointed
after death for burial.
Mary anoints Jesus’ feet
using a pound of pure nard. Historians
say that would have cost the equivalent of a year’s salary for a typical
laborer in that day. Nothing about
this story is “practical.” None of
it really makes sense even within the context of contemporary rituals. Mary uses way too much perfume. And why Jesus’ feet? There is no precedent for that. (Some scholars suggest it is to
distinguish this anointing from a prophetic or messianic anointing… maybe) And then she wipes it off with her hair.
Mary’s action has no
practical or ritual meaning. It
seems to foretell Jesus’ coming death, but the main point of the action is
simply Mary’s act of prodigal care for Jesus. Mary’s prodigal act of care for Jesus.
And Jesus tells them not to
criticize her for it. It’s OK to
be prodigal towards Jesus. To
recklessly “waste” a pound of costly perfume. Just because.
Just because it’s Jesus.
Last week the story was
about God’s prodigal mercy, love, and forgiveness towards us. Given to us not measuring our worth or counting
the cost. God is carelessly,
recklessly, prodigally merciful towards us.
This week the story is about
Mary’s prodigal care for Jesus.
Maybe prodigality is a good
thing in our relationship with God.
Maybe prodigal acts are a quality of that relationship. Not only in God’s actions towards us,
but in ours towards God.
I don’t do prodigality
easily. Being wasteful or reckless
are not good things in my world.
And I’m not suggesting that we should be prodigal in all aspects of our
lives. I’m NOT saying that
Christians should be wasteful or reckless in everything we do. We are called to be good stewards, to
honor with reverence the gifts we have been given in life.
But maybe in this one area… in our relationship with God. Maybe in this one area, it’s good to be
prodigal.
After all, our relationship
with God is formed of God’s unfathomable, limitless love. And it’s a relationship that exists in
eternity, time without end.
Why not be prodigal?
What does that mean for us? To be prodigal within the context of
our relationship with God? To act
prodigally in our love for God? To
recklessly express our relationship with God?
Our money and material gifts
are certainly a part of how we express our relationship with God, as it was for
Mary, but that’s just one piece and maybe not the most important thing I’m
thinking about.
How about being prodigal in
praise? Not limiting in any way
our extravagant praise of God.
Or being prodigal in what we
bring of ourselves to our relationship with God. Our hopes, our fears, the things that matter most to
us. Recklessly risking all that we
are in the context of our relationship with God. Not keeping any of our life separate from God; holding
nothing back.
Or being prodigal in our
service of others who bear the image of Christ. Recognizing Christ present in others and seeing the way we
treat others as a part of our relationship with God. And expressing that relationship with prodigal service.
As I said, prodigality doesn’t
come naturally to me. I’m still
thinking about what this may mean for me, and I hope you will ponder what it
might mean for you.
