What do you say, when you receive an unexpected gift? “Aw, gee, you shouldn’t have!” “But I didn’t get YOU anything!” “What did I do to deserve this?” Especially if it’s a really extravagant gift! I remember that the bald man responded, when given a comb: “I’ll never part with it!” Readings of scripture that folks will hear this weekend describe unimaginable gifts–and the reactions to them. We can take ’em straight, or we can allegorize them as representative of the Creator’s unrestrained lavishness.
Isaiah of Babylon describes the Lord as one “who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters.” (43:16-21) Here is One who will stop at nothing to restore the People of Israel, to give them another chance at their homeland. These people will not sneak back under cover of night, nor will they straggle along the old river road–no, God is making a direct road through the wilderness, a personal involvement in bringing back the Holy Community. An exorbitant involvement indeed!
St. Paul reminds us, through his Letter to the Philippians (3:4b-14), just how blessed and gifted he is. Yet he relegates all these significant trophies to the rubbish-bin in favor of the greatest gift of all, Christ Jesus the Lord. Paul recognizes that this is an external bestowment, neither earned nor justified. And he’s just begun to appreciate the magnificence included in it: “Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” This extravagance is designed to lead us on through the wilderness to the Promised Land, even through and beyond a Cross.
The Gospel, John 12:1-8, tells of Jesus & Co. at dinner in Bethany, just outside Jerusalem, at the home of newly-resurrected Lazarus and his irrepressible sisters, Mary & Martha. There are many nuances available: pre-Passover, Mary’s intimacy with Jesus, the overpowering aroma of perfume, Judas’ worldly reaction, Jesus’ burial… But the central point, to me, is the extravagance of the gesture which could be a response to the knowledge that in Jesus was God’s greatest gift. Those who travel with Jesus reflect this generosity in their own compassion and unrestrained giving to the rest of the world. George W. Stroup affirms, “In the figure of Mary, Christian discipleship is an act of adoration of and gratitude to the one who alone is holy.” (FEASTING on the WORD, C 2:144)
Charles Wesley wrote, “What shall I render to my God for all his mercy’s store? I’ll take the gifts he hath bestowed, and humbly ask for more.”
God Bless Us, Every One Horace Brown King
My understanding of lessons to be read on the upcoming weekend can be found every Tuesday at this space on Facebook; or at horacebrownking.com
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