Matthew 26:6-13

Matthew 26:6-13New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Now while Jesus was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, 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. But when the disciples saw it, they were angry and said, “Why this waste? For this ointment could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.” But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me. By pouring this ointment on my body she has prepared me for burial. 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.”

It is Luke's version of this story that has always been my favorite.  In Luke it is at the home of a Pharisee where Jesus dines, and he uses this woman's action to teach on forgiveness and love.  In Luke also, the woman bathed Jesus' feet with her tears, and the perfume also was for Jesus feet, not his head.  A big difference.

So Matthew's take has always seemed a bit sparse to me.  Here, the focus seems to be more on the cost of the ointment - an issue not raised in this particular story in Luke.  Instead, the disciples bring up the subject of the wastefulness of the woman's action.

And yet, for all the sparsity of his version of events, Matthew hits home a point that is worth looking at.  In these few lines, we have two issues that matter quite a bit in our current faith communities: how we spend our money and how we worship.  How many meetings have you been in where those have been the primary focus?  I'm betting more than a few!

The disciples really aren't so far off from viewing things the way any reputable treasurer we have in place at most churches would.  Waste isn't something most churches have the luxury for.

And this woman also touches a nerve regarding worship.  How she worships Jesus isn't what the disciples are used to.  It doesn't follow the right liturgy or format.  There isn't proper order or flow.

And yet with this woman's actions, the gospel, Jesus says, is told.  This woman, preparing Jesus for the burial to come, has become part of the good news.

For Jesus, through the actions of this woman, how we spend our money and how we worship are led by the gospel.  We are here to spread the good news.  When we ask about money and worship in our committees and our meetings, if the gospel leads the question, the answers may surprise us!

God of generosity and good news, help us to spread your gospel with the same love and abandon as the woman with the alabaster jar.  Amen.