St Luke's Church Eccleshill - Articles from "The Link"

The Last Straw

Why this waste?
What a disgrace!
The perfume in that jar,
sold for cash,
instead of splashed
on Jesus, would go far!

What a stink!
Stop, woman, think!
The poor we could have fed,
if you'd sold
that nard for gold
instead of wetting his head!

"Let her alone," said Jesus,
"She's done a beautiful thing.
I'll not be here always,
I tell you, the world will sing
of her great love and sorrow
wherever the gospel is told.
You can feed the poor tomorrow,
when death has claimed my soul."

One year's pay
gone in a day:
it's poured into his hair.
How's it right
to_ignore the plight
of thousands in despair?

What a smell!
Sniff it, and tell!
Rebuke her for this deed!
Such a sign
of love divine
will not feed those in need.

"Let her alone," said Jesus …"

That's the end!
If he'll pretend
that he is so much higher,
I'll betray!
What will you pay
for me to sell the Messiah?

By coincidence (?) one of the songs used at our “Good Friday Meditations” this year examined the question of what made Judas decide to betray Jesus? The gospels don’t give a window into Judas’ soul - but Mark puts Judas’ decision immediately after Jesus had been anointed by a woman pouring perfume on him, and the disciples had been outraged at such a luxurious waste.

They seemed to think of it as a choice: should we labour to make the world a better place, or should we worship Jesus instead? Should we “love our neighbours as ourselves” or should we “love God with all our heart and mind and soul and strength?” Judas makes his choice.

But I think this is a false way of putting the issue. Statistics show that Christian believers are more generous in charity than the rest of the population. True love for Jesus results in love for others too.

John Hartley