The Gift of Receiving

The Gift of Receiving - The Anointing at Bethany

The story of the anointing at Bethany (John 12:1-8) is one of those stories that offers different teachings and insights when viewed from various perspectives.

While this story is rich with lessons, the one that caught my interest was the one about of Mary. She took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard (spikenard), anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. "The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume," not to mention the radiating joy and love she felt for Jesus as she did this. Mary's love for Jesus was uncontainable.

From a "head" perspective, the extravagance disturbed the logic of economics. How could this person spent so much money for this gesture when the money could have been put to better use? Judas argues that the perfume could have been sold and the money given to help the poor! Wasn't this the very thing that Jesus taught?

There sat Mary, expressing her love in a way that didn't consider economics - it is what came to her as a way to demonstrate how much Jesus meant to her. She thought she was doing good, perhaps excited that Jesus would be pleased, but her heart joy was soon pierced by this sudden attack by Judas.

Jesus, sensing this awkward position Mary was now in, came to her defense. "Leave her alone," he interceded, and then defended her actions.

Perhaps this was a lesson in graceful receiving. Can we learn to accept the gifts of others, looking at the intent of the gift and not whether it is "over-valued" or "undervalued"? It is sometimes hard to express the feelings of the heart toward another person, so we try to do it through actions or gifts that fall short of the true feeling. We use material things and physical actions to convey spiritual intent. Quite difficult to do! I, for one, am clumsy at this, but I am also blessed with people around me who know I am clumsy at it. So, they can translate my attempt into its true heart-felt message.

Jesus understood Mary's message of love. Perhaps we can, too, see the same when we are giving and receiving.