Wasteful, Wild, Wonderful Worship
Jane Denniston
April 25, 2024
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Matthew 26: 6-13 (NRSVA)
6 Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment, and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table. 8 But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, ‘Why this waste? 9 For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.’ 10 But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, ‘Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. 11 For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. 12 By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’
This is a beautiful story of praise and adoration, love and sacrifice, but still a story of rule breaking and scandal. Yet this woman’s extravagance became a model for the future. For example, to modern eyes, cathedrals can sometimes look extravagant, and their upkeep is costly. In a world in which there is ever more disparity between rich and poor, and the need of the poor is ever greater, is such extravagance justified? Yet historically, before the invention of the printing press and the education of the masses, visual images were one of the few ways that many could understand, or “read” the history of salvation. The Stations of the Cross described Jesus’ last journey, stained glass illustrated the parables, stories from Old and New Testament, wood carvings depicted the apostles, angels, the crucifixion. The grand interior of great Cathedrals depicted the majesty of God, reaching to heaven in awe and wonder. And so, to enter a cathedral was to enter a magnificent prayer, praising God and extolling his virtues, his majesty, his power.
I wonder if we have lost some of that sense of awe and wonder which leads to extravagance in worship? Have we emphasised the humanity of Jesus our brother at the expense of the majesty of Jesus our King? The challenge to us today is to find ways to be extravagant in our praise and worship of this wonderful Saviour.
Prayer:
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
We are humbled in your presence
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have lifted us to the heavenly places
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have crowned us with glory and honour
O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
We bring you our praise.
O LORD, our Lord, help us today to love you expansively,
to praise you generously,
to worship you extravagantly, Amen
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