John 12:7-11: a reflection

7But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. 8For you always have the poor with you, but you don’t always have me.” 9A large crowd therefore of the Jews learned that he was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had raised from the dead. 10But the chief priests conspired to put Lazarus to death also, 11because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

Mary had poured out a jar of costly perfume on Jesus, an extravagant act of love, and some had objected that it was wasteful, that the money might have been given to the poor. But Jesus defended her: Leave her alone. She has kept this for the day of my burial. For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. Jesus received Mary's lavish, seemingly wasteful act of devotion as beautiful and fitting, not as waste.

Notice how Jesus regarded Mary's extravagant devotion. To the practical eye, it looked wasteful; a fortune's worth of perfume poured out in a moment, when it might have been put to useful purpose. But Jesus saw it differently: as an act of love poured out on him, beautiful and fitting, worthy of honor. He did not reduce devotion to mere usefulness; there was a place for this lavish outpouring of love on him, even if others called it waste.

That honors something we can undervalue: extravagant, uncalculating devotion to Christ. We can be so practical, so focused on usefulness, that we have no room for the lavish outpouring of love on Jesus that looks, to a calculating eye, like waste, the costly worship, the time given simply to be with him, the gift poured out in love. But Jesus honored Mary's extravagance as beautiful. Do not let a merely practical spirit crowd out extravagant devotion to Christ. There is a place for love poured out on him lavishly, uncalculatingly, even when others might call it waste. Give Christ not only your useful service, but the extravagant devotion of a heart that loves him, as Mary poured out her costly perfume; he receives such lavish love as beautiful, and honors it.

Lord Jesus, when Mary poured out costly perfume on you in an act of extravagant love, and some objected that it was wasteful, you defended her, receiving her lavish devotion as beautiful and fitting, not as waste. Honor in me what I can undervalue: extravagant, uncalculating devotion to you. I can be so practical, so focused on usefulness, that I have no room for the lavish outpouring of love on you that looks, to a calculating eye, like waste, the costly worship, the time given simply to be with you, the gift poured out in love. But you honored Mary's extravagance as beautiful. Keep a merely practical spirit from crowding out extravagant devotion to you. There is a place for love poured out on you lavishly, even when others might call it waste. Help me give you not only my useful service, but the extravagant devotion of a heart that loves you, as Mary poured out her costly perfume. Receive my lavish love for you, and let me not withhold it in the name of usefulness.