Daily Devotion for Tuesday 24th June 2025

St 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

This gospel writer is not convinced that Judas believed his own argument that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. But it’s an argument that has force and the other gospel writers take it at face value. There are moments when we ask ourselves whether we are doing enough to put right the terrible inequalities and injustices in the world. The CEO of Christian Aid testifies that he knows people who put their giving to charity above their own needs, but most of us don’t exactly do that. We could always say, whenever we buy anything, or give presents to those we love, or make our homes (or churches) beautiful, that the money could have been better spent. It’s hard to fault the argument. 

But Jesus does. He says plenty (elsewhere) about giving, even giving away everything you have, a message that will always be needed because we are acquisitive and self-centred creatures. But here, Jesus affirms the kind of giving that is not functional or about justice, but extravagant, beyond what is needed, beautiful, gorgeous, wondrous. We give flowers, jewels, perfume, chocolate, art… because these things are beautiful and because they signify the love that makes life more than surviving, but flourishing. This perfume was to have had a function (‘for the day of my burial’), but Mary loves Jesus and can’t wait to show him how much, and perhaps to see his face. Love is not only about what is fair and right, but what is beautiful too. 

If today, like every day, is a time to review what we do to bring justice and equality to the world and to relieve the burdens of the poorest, then let it also be a day when we show someone love in gestures and gifts of beauty and wonder. They don’t have to cost much, but the money is not wasted. 

Prayer 

Jesus, 
who received so warmly 
an extravagant gift offered from love,
give us your Spirit that we may grow
in gratitude and grace.  

Bless all our giving 
with the generosity
that calculates little
and begrudges nothing. 

Bless all our receiving,

so that those who give to us
may never find us churlish,
but grateful for love expressed.
  
And thank you, above all,
for the gift of your love,
poured upon us,
filling the house. Amen.