In Remembrance of Her

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ‘You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. But they said, ‘Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.’ 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.’ Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What will you give me if I betray him to you?’ They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. Matthew 26:1-16

Today we hear about the woman who anointed Jesus. She gave all that she had and her compassion and kindness is always remembered. Today, we went out blueberry picking in a neighboring field. Not wild berries, but a wonderful moment in the sun. The woman who owns the field was so very kind, I will never forget her kindness in bringing me in her golf cart and helping us back to the car. Her kindness was extraordinary. Blueberry picking is not back breaking labor, but it reminded me of all the folks who spend all day in the hot sun, so we could have food. I pray for them even though I don't know their names. May we remember and pray for all the unnamed folks who care for us and are tender, kind and give their all.

Wondrous Creator, we give thanks for abundant fields

the richness of this earth, sacred and always turning

and for the unnamed who care for us in times of need.

We often overlook the ones who serve and labor for us

we ignore their needs and distrust the strangers here

yet you know and love those who labor in our fields.

Help us to remember, Lord, how you love all

the unnamed, the forgotten and the ones called aliens

and make us your people as we love as you do. Amen.