[She]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 … said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
John 12.3-5
Come, let’s be honest: who of us would not have made the same comment that Judas did? Three hundred denarii would have been nearly a year’s wages for a labourer. Surely, an outrageous waste of money to spend … on perfume, for goodness’ sake!
John’s explanation of the event is that Judas was a thief, didn’t care for the poor in the least, and wanted access to this money in the common purse. John was wise after the event!
Take some moments to articulate your views on money and possessions. Does the evidence match your views?
How do you deal with the tension of being in a world where excessive consuming, earning, succeeding and achieving is available to a few, and the majority survive with a fraction of the resources?
I confess that I enjoy the comforts and privileges that affluence brings, and that i could do more to come into line with God’s will. However, I do see wealth not as something I deserve but as God’s stewardship request. I try not to think of it as mine to consume but as a responsibility and obligation to support charities, church, one-off appeals and people homeless on the side of the road. I am inspired by Joanna, who used her work and her assets to support Jesus’ ministry.
Thanks for engaging with these Lent reflections. I hope you are finding them inspiring. Yes, we can’t on our own tackle the huge inequalities and injustice in our world, but we can – like Joanna – live with gratitude and generosity. Bless you.