As we continue our Lenten journey we are coming ever so much closer to the cross, the darkness, and the glorious resurrection! Over these last few weeks we have been considering our spiritual lives, looking deep within to find ourselves falling short of what God intends for us and yet also at the same time finding ourselves recipient of God’s extraordinary act of love in Jesus Christ. In this week's Gospel reading, we see extravagant love embodied in the ritualistic act of anointing by Mary of Bethany. As we witness this beautiful act of love, we can allow ourselves to be filled with awe at Jesus’ ability to simply “receive.” Enveloped by the scent of perfume and love, Jesus was able to receive because he was open, an empty vessel to receive the outpouring … I invite you to breathe deeply as you imagine this scene taking place before you.
John 12:1-8 (CEB)
Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Lazarus and his sisters hosted a dinner for him. Martha served and Lazarus was among those who joined him at the table. Then Mary took an extraordinary amount, almost three-quarters of a pound, of very expensive perfume made of pure nard. She anointed Jesus’ feet with it, then wiped his feet dry with her hair. The house was filled with the aroma of the perfume. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), complained, “This perfume was worth a year’s wages! Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would take what was in it. Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. This perfume was to be used in preparation for my burial, and this is how she has used it. You will always have the poor among you, but you won’t always have me.”
Can you smell the fragrant aroma of God’s love pouring out through this simple act?
How easy is it for you to receive acts of love from others? Sometimes we are unable to receive because we are closed off, full of other things … thoughts, feelings, attachments, etc.
Lent is a time when we seek to be a fragrant love offering to the world. How do you embody this kind of love? Perhaps you can concentrate on the Journey of Discipleship through contemplative/reflective prayer practices such as Lectio Divina, Breath Prayers, Centering Prayer and Walking the Labyrinth …
As you breathe and settle into a place of deep gratitude within yourself, listen for the echoes of the deep love and care God has for you ... if other feelings arise too, welcome them all with this part of Contemplative Outreach's Welcoming Prayer ...
Focus, feel, and sink into the feelings, emotions,
thoughts, sensations, and commentaries in your body.
Welcome the Divine Indwelling in the feelings, emotions,
thoughts, commentaries, or sensations in your body by saying
“Welcome.”
If other feelings emerge, welcome them all as they come by circling back to this prayer as often as you need to. If you find yourself doing this often consider exploring spiritual direction with a trained spiritual director whose gift is to be a companion on the journey of others. Spend time with this welcoming prayer until you feel it is time to move from prayer into the sacred reading of the biblical text, and then ... Pray:
As I welcome you into my time of sacred reading, open my senses as I read and fill me with the fragrant aroma of your agape love. Amen.
Read John 12:1-8 again slowly, immersing yourself in these beautiful and delicate images of God that are the gifts of this narrative ... noticing the emergent discordant attitudes as well.
Read the passage again slowly and Reflect on Mary of Bethany's sense of who God is and on Judas Iscariot's sense of who God is. Listen for a word or a phrase that draws your attention. Repeat that word or phrase. Ponder this Word or phrase through which God is speaking to YOU as you let the story unfold in your mind and heart. Where does your word or phrase intersect your life where you are right now … as you feel yourself listening, not listening, obeying, not obeying, doing, not doing, speaking, not speaking, praying, not praying, fasting, not fasting ... How are you responding, not responding … make an honest assessment, where are you?
Read the passage again slowly and Respond. Share with God how you feel about what you are hearing through your word or phrase. Speak your word or phrase out loud and ask God to help you surrender to the word you have heard and the wisdom it holds as you explore its meaning for you where you are right now.
Read the passage again and Rest. Allow the presence of God to surround you and deepen your faith so you are able to surrender to God's call. Rest until the peace of God settles into your soul ...
When you sense the time to move on,
Pray these words from the song, "Breathe."
This is the air I breathe, This is the air I breathe
Your Holy presence living in me
This is my daily bread, This is my daily bread
Your very word spoken to me
And I, I'm desperate for you, And I, I'm lost without you. Amen.
Now ... Listen to This is the Air I breathe on Youtube and rest in the sense of abandonment and surrender to God's Presence through worship and song.
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