Emptying out

James Cathcart December 30, 2021 0 1

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Mark 14: 3-9 (NRSVA)

3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4 But some were there who said to one another in anger, ‘Why was the ointment wasted in this way? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.’ And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’

What are the boxes, the containers, the vessels, we need to empty out to demonstrate our love?

Have we been hoarding what we could have been sharing?

Have we been saving what we could have been giving?

Have we held back what needs to be spilled out?

Have we left things unsaid that could have been said?

Have we stockpiled praise and given away harsh words?

Have we closed the door when we could have thrown it open, bouncing on its hinges?

Have we turned the lock and lost the key?

Have we dug a hole and buried hope?

Have we shut up the possible in a cage of impossible?

Have we sung deeply?

Have we laughed widely?

Have we cried honestly?

PRAYER:

Dear God,

May the jars of our love

our hopes

our longings

empty out

in a fragrant cascade

of praise.

Amen.