Wednesday, March 17 “The Good and the Bad”
40 DAYS and 40 NIGHTS
John 12:1-8
4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 `Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)
As you can see, this story is not just about Mary and Jesus, but also Judas, who is no less a witness and no less a disciple than Mary. Judas is outraged that the nard was not sold and the three hundred denarii (perhaps a year’s worth of wages) given to the poor. But was Judas really worried about the poor? Or was self-interest playing out here? And what church serious about discipleship has not struggled with the tension between money spent in beautiful acts of worship (or architecture) and money spent on behalf of the poor?
On another note, Judas plays just as important a role in John’s story of Jesus’ death as does Mary. Just as without Good Friday there is no Easter, without Judas there is no death/resurrection of Jesus. In one sense, we are both, the good and the bad, and Jesus’ bright light of new life is cast over all of it.
Most of us would like to identify with Mary, but honestly, how often have you been unfaithful to your calling as a disciple? Don’t we each embody both?
I have seen the way our church handles how it spends it’s money from being on the board maney years. i am totally impressed with the way ideas of individuals and small groups are heard and considered. I think our church does a great job of putting the money in the best place that it can be, considering the situation.
Boy, this one hits home. I almost didn’t sign up for this “40 Days & 40 Nights” blog becz I knew I’d be away on little weekend trips for 3 of the 6 Sundays of Lent — Away, doing new things and enjoying precious time with my husband, during a season that calls for introspection, moderation (if not giving things up), and the more intense reflection on human brokenness and, yes, sin. I AM being more introspective, more prayerful, more letting go of unhelpful habits — AND I have been away from congregational worship on Sundays. I have to claim that shadow side of myself as well as the sunshine which is God within me. My effort, with this passage of scripture, is to claim and love Judas where he is, in HIS brokenness and anger, just as I am much happier to claim Mary and her generosity and beauty. This is lifelong work for each of us as disciples, isn’t it?!!