Fifth Sunday in Lent Day | Thirty-three of Forty
While I can’t say this with utmost certainly I would imagine that most people have had at least one moment where someone else did something for them that was totally cool. It was something unexpected and filled with unhindered joy in the action itself.
Just before my family and I departed Tennessee for Georgia more than fifteen years ago, a parishioner family that was dear to us gave us, perhaps, one of the most unique Christmas gifts we’ve ever received. They made several Christmas Tree ornaments for us that acknowledged our ministry and friendship in north middle Tennessee. Each ornament has a picture attached to it and on the back of the picture is a word of explanation. One is a picture of the couple in formal attire attached to two love birds joined together. On the back it says, “Jimmy and Jackie: A strong couple who’ve set a godly example for all of us to follow.” Another is a picture of all four of them attached to a heart. On the back of the picture it says, “Our hearts break as you go, but you will always be in our hearts.”
When they stopped by our house to give us the gifts, we were touched. Jackie and I were speechless. We and they shed tears. It was unexpected. It was tender and affectionate. It was warm and inviting. It was so gratifying. It was a joyful moment packed with seriousness. A cool thing was done to us. Each Christmas since, we’ve carefully hung those ornaments, reading each one and remembering the Goad Family for their extraordinary gesture.
That’s sort of what’s going on in this episode just before the first Holy Week. Mary gives a gift with great joy and tenderness. She does so with utmost seriousness. There is nothing flippant about it. What she does is so Gospel oriented. One of the disciples, Judas Iscariot, complains, however, that the money that could have been received from selling the perfume could have taken care of many poor people, since it was unbelievably expensive – a year’s salary for a day-laborer! Jesus scolds him, telling him to leave her alone because what she has done is nothing less than a powerful symbol of His coming death and burial.
There will always be ample opportunity, He says, to give to the poor. He’s referencing Deuteronomy 15:11 – “Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I therefore command you, “Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land.” The opportunities to serve the poor will never cease. Their needs are important. But the opportunities to minister to Jesus are limited and soon will be gone. Now is the time to do something special for Him.
Don’t be afraid to do something extravagant for someone. Think of someone who needs an overgenerous act from you. Don’t hold back. Determine to do something out of the ordinary for someone else. Don’t put any conditions on it. Pour it out with relentless joy.
During this last week of Lent, do something really cool for someone. You are doing it for Jesus.
This morning I will be installed as the Ninth Senior Pastor of Garden Lakes Baptist Church in Rome, GA during the Morning Worship Gathering at 11:00 a.m. There will be a Reception welcoming my wife, Jackie, and me to the church and community of Rome from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. in the church’s Fellowship Hall. We are especially looking forward to introducing our children and granddaughter to the congregation. Jackie and I are humbled to be part of and serve this exceptional group of saints at 2200 Redmond Circle NW.
