In some ways, the start of this Holy Week for Jesus began not just on that first day of the week, but the evening before at a dinner held in his honor in the nearby town of Bethany. Bethany was the home of Jesus’ close friends, Lazarus, Martha and Mary. The same Lazarus that Jesus had recently raised from the dead. The same Martha who often opened her home and served Jesus, and had confessed to him, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” The same Mary who listened at Jesus’ feet.
This time Mary did more than listen. John tells us, “Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”
Mary was grateful for what Jesus had done for her brother and for their family. This act of kindness, or as Jesus put it, a precursor to the preparation for his soon to come burial, was not appreciated by all. Judas criticized what he saw as a waste of resources.
We should certainly help the poor, and using some of what we have to show gratitude to our Lord is always appropriate, too.
The next day, in the midst of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem with the praises of his followers, their gratitude was also criticized. “Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
Gratitude shows up in different ways: An act of sacrificial kindness, spoken words, simple gestures of love.
Once my daughter, young at the time, saw me coming into a restaurant for a reunion after being away for awhile. She ran to me and jumped into my arms, grateful we were together again. It didn’t matter who was watching or what others may have thought. She wanted to show her love for her Dad.
I pray I will always be ready to be thankful and show my love, no matter who is watching or what may be said.
“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3
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