Consider the Word, March 31, 2022

Consider the Word, March 31, 2022
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for April 3:

• Isaiah 43:16-21
• Psalm 126
• Philippians 3:4b-14
• John 12:1-8

 
Collect:

Most merciful God,

by the death and resurrection

of your Son Jesus Christ,

you created humanity anew.

May the power of his victorious cross

transform those who turn in faith

to him who lives and reigns with you

and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: John 12:1-8

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary 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 (the one who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" (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.) Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."

 
Reflection Questions:

1. Why do you think Jesus defended Mary's "waste" instead of Judas' point of "stewardship" in this context?
2. Have you ever calculated or considered what it should cost you to follow Jesus?
3. In what ways have you found Jesus to be worth what it has cost? 

 
Closing Prayer:

Creator God,

you prepare a new way in the wilderness

and your grace waters the desert.

Help us to recognize your hand

working miracles beyond our imagining.

Open our hearts to be transformed

by the new thing you are doing,

so that our lives may proclaim

the extravagance of your love for all,

and its presence in Jesus Christ. Amen.

 
The Message: John 12:1-8

12 ^1-3 Six days before Passover, Jesus entered Bethany where Lazarus, so recently raised from the dead, was living. Lazarus and his sisters invited Jesus to dinner at their home. Martha served. Lazarus was one of those sitting at the table with them. Mary came in with a jar of very expensive aromatic oils, anointed and massaged Jesus’ feet, and then wiped them with her hair. The fragrance of the oils filled the house.

^4-6 Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, even then getting ready to betray him, said, “Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor? It would have easily brought three hundred silver pieces.” He said this not because he cared two cents about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of their common funds, but also embezzled them.

^7-8 Jesus said, “Let her alone. She’s anticipating and honoring the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you. You don’t always have me.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson