Extravagant sacrifice

(John 12.1-11)

Many times I've stood by graves with grieving folks who have lost a loved one. In those moments, and time following, I've never heard a one of them who regretted any amount of money they had ever spent on that dear one.

On the other hand, there have been many times when I've deeply regretted having been stingy...and wished desperately there might be some way of redoing that moment.

About thirty years ago a woman told me that "it's okay to spoil those girls - the world has ways of knocking them down, they need to know they are loved."

I've observed the crushing that can come to my wife and daughters through the insults and injuries of day-to-day living. I can't stand to see them hurting. With all that is within me I want to bind up their wounds and broken hearts and hurting spirits.

Sometimes it's the things of 'value' which we share that shows how deeply we care.

To any who would condemn me for an extravagance I might extend to anyone I love - I care not the slightest what anyone except the recipient thinks of my gifts of love.

 To those who would try to make anyone else feel guilty for their generosity by bringing up world hunger or world poverty...I give to you this marvelous snapshot of extreme generosity that Jesus presents us of Mary, the sister of Lazarus, with her anointing of the living in anticipation of death.

A Russian philosopher once said, "We must treat the living as though they are dying and the dead as though they are yet alive."

As Mary (of Bethany) treated Jesus, so should we treat those closest and dearest to us.

A man or woman whose own children cannot 'rise and call them blessed' is cursed, and probably for reasons of his/her own thrift. "Where our treasure is, there will our heart be also."

Where have you placed your treasure?