Mary had a lot of courage. She was willing to believe what Jesus was saying about his impending death. She took his words seriously enough to do something outrageous and needed. May I be more like Mary, willing to accept what is true, and act on it.
My Prayer:
Grant that I may listen carefully for Your truth, and be willing to follow my heart wherever it leads.
Scriptural Touchstone:
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 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. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (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.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” John 12:1-8 (NRSV)
Invitation To Pray:
As Holy Week continues, what truth is God revealing? As you open yourself to act on it, what prayers are emerging in your body, mind, heart, and imagination? Pray them now.
Photos: The anointing of Jesus in preparation for his death in the Magdalene Window at the Chartres Cathedral in France. Special thanks to Judith Doré whose contemplative meditation on this story at the Église Protestante Unie de Chartres helped me to understand it better and become more willing to open my heart to God.
Other posts in this series:
Holy Week in Chartres (1): Palm Sunday
Pray with Jill Geoffrion 
6 comments