In Memory of Her

And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.” Mark 14:3-9

One of the great blessings of Phoebe's wedding was having friends and family gather from far and near. Seeing old friends and having family near was such a wonderful gift. There are several women in my life who came to our rescue giving their time and their all to make things go smoothly and to give me aid. They gave from their heart and their skill and I can never repay them for their love is priceless. When a person offers love without price, how can we not help but treasure them and honor all that they do?

Jesus is sitting at the family table of a man who was cured from leprosy. A grateful household, they wanted to do all they could for Jesus. A woman came forward and anointed Jesus with her love, tears and expensive perfume. She offered love without price as a sign of her gratitude. Some would see her action and ridicule her. They don't understand love or the gratitude that comes from a loving heart. Jesus understood her heart and knew that it was this kind of transformed love that stands the test of time. We are invited to be people who are willing to love without price and give of ourselves with gratitude. God knows our hearts and looks beyond all our mistakes to the love we offer and share.

Today I ask God to help me love completely and offer all that I have. May we live like the woman who anointed Jesus, offering all that we have, with gratitude and love that has no price. May we have big hearts, forgiving constantly and celebrating love where ever we find it. And may God find us always being generous and giving from the heart.