4-16-2014

Good Morning All,

          Matthew 26:11; “For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.”

       “Limited time only!”  That phrase seems to make us sit up and pay attention.  If a movie or a band is playing for a limited time only, well we just have to figure out why this is so important.  Sometimes it is just an advertising gimmick, like the store that is continually going out of business.  Yet sometimes, it is a limited or even a once in a lifetime chance.  If you got a chance to visit the President of the United States, that may very well be a once in a lifetime event.  If you witness a celestial event, like Halley’s Comet, that might be a once in a lifetime event. 

    The woman in our story saw Jesus as a once in a lifetime.  This story occurred shortly before Jesus was crucified.  The woman came and poured expensive oil on Jesus’ feet.  Some of the disciples, especially Judas Iscariot, criticized her for “wasting” money and not giving the money to the poor.  Jesus stated that the woman has done a beautiful thing.  “The poor you will always have but I won’t be here long” was the gist of what Jesus told them.

    Initially, we might see this as a contradiction.  Earlier, Jesus told a rich young man to “sell all you have and give it to the poor.”  So now what does this mean?  First we need to see it for what it is.  This woman is glorifying God with her offering.  What she is doing is bringing honor and worship to Jesus.  She isn’t trying to impress anyone; this is an honest and heartfelt expression of her faith.  This is the exact thing that we should do, have an honest and heartfelt expression of our faith.

    Most people are offended by this, supposed, slight to the poor.  All this statement really means is that as long as there is sin in the world; there will be the poor.  There will also be the orphaned, the widowed, the chronically sick, the emotionally distraught and so on.  As long as sin is in the world there will be troubles and struggles. Yet this doesn’t mean we ignore them or look the other way or think “I can’t help them all so I won’t help any.”  This can paralyze us.  What this passage is encouraging us to do is to have an honest and heartfelt expression of our faith.

    How do we do that?  Well if you see Jesus you can pour oil on his feet like the woman did.  Yet if we never have that once in a lifetime event, we can do this by living a life that shows our faith.  We can care for the poor, the orphaned, the widowed, and all those who struggle with the challenges of life.  We can pray; we can worship God in spirit and truth; we can be part of the active body of Christ.  The real issue here isn’t how do you do this (express your faith) but that you do this (express your faith).

Father in heaven, send your Spirit to guide me that I may express my faith in the manner that may bring glory to you.  Help me to focus on your grace that I may boldly confess with my mouth that Jesus is Lord.  Help to live this truth in my life.  In the precious name of Jesus our risen Savior, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret