5th Sunday in Lent — April 7, 2019      

Isaiah 43:16-21; Philippians 3:4b-14; John 12:1-8
Lent 5C

What thread ties these three texts together on this fifth Sunday of Lent?

The Isaiah reading and the one from Philippians have a similar theme: God is doing a new thing. Forget what lies behind and instead look forward. Don’t remember the things of old. Run toward God’s good future. But what, then about this iconic text from John? Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with expensive oil and wipes them with her hair, Judas’ rebukes her wastefulness, Jesus’ rebukes Judas’ callous obtuseness and there’s talk of burial and death, not rivers of life in the desert. The hopeful tone of the lessons surrounding the Gospel one for this week seem a bit off in the face of the tension-filled dinner at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. So, what’s the connection?

Could the link be the painful truth that birth, new life, radical transformation and God’s brand-new thing do not emerge without loss, death, pain and burial? Perhaps these three readings also call us to hold nothing back from the God who holds nothing back from us in order to bring forth this new, salvific future. Mary appears to understand and mark this reality in the most heartfelt, authentic way possible through unabashed, extravagant, emotional affection and love. Mary leaves nothing unsaid in the face of Jesus’ impending death. She leaves no expression of her care and commitment concealed on the cusp of the most upending, new thing God will bring forth just days from this other last supper of Jesus with his close friends. Would that we all poured ourselves out, gave all we had, held nothing back not just from Jesus, but from the creation and each creature God so loves.

Have you ever regretted showing someone your love for them? Alternately, have you ever regretted failing to tell someone how you truly felt? Has any act of spontaneous generosity ever brought you sadness? Did that prized possession you kept protected give you what you really needed most? Isaiah, Mary and Paul all push us to let go of so much we think valuable, in order to fully know, love and follow God.

Mary recognized the rarity of the moment. She did not fail to seize the opportunity to show her commitment to the One who raised her brother from the dead and promised Martha he was the resurrection and the life. Mary knew all too well the pain of loss inherent in such radical newness; burial proceeds new life and that time in between feels eternal. Even confident of the promise of what’s coming, we mourn the loss of what was. We cannot help but consider and remember the things of old when we’re waiting for what lies ahead to be revealed. Mary’s loving ritual honors the past, present and future as she remembers what Jesus has done for her, attends to him right in front of her and anticipates the painful, extravagant, loving, new thing on the horizon.

Perhaps that’s one of the lessons we can learn from this story deep into Lent. Generous acts of care, done in love and for the sake of Jesus faithfully honor all God has done, is doing and will do. Willingly giving to Jesus the best of what we have, holding nothing back of ourselves or our stuff, makes us the fragrance of Christ to God and a witness to the world.

All three of the texts appointed for the day contain over-the-top sentiments. Rivers will rush through the desert. Wild beasts will worship God. God makes a way even through the ocean. Paul says that absolutely everything he has ever had, as valuable as he once thought it was, he now sees as garbage, rubbish, dung. Whatever gain, advantage or accomplishment, none of these things matter in the wake of being found by Jesus. Mary takes a pint of pure nard, a large amount of expensive oil, and pours it out. She wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair. The stakes could not be higher in all of these texts. God’s power is incomparable and our commitment to God should therefore be commensurate. Nothing can prevent our loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and also our always-with-us-neighbors as ourselves. Nothing can hold us back from Jesus or the new thing God is doing. Right?

The challenge for me imbedded in these expansive words and acts is my tendency to idolize restraint. All things in moderation. Shun ostentation. Be decent and orderly. Keep calm and carry on. Do not make a scene. Consider the cost. Weigh the options. Maintain control. Be prudent. But these texts are akin to Jesus admonishment to the rich young ruler: sell all you have, give it to the poor and follow me. These stories push me to cry out to God in lament or praise or thanksgiving or petition, no matter how others perceive me when I do. These characters don’t exhibit much of a need for a plan B or C, for tucking something away for a rainy day or waiting to act until conditions seem favorable. Mary and Paul give all they have and are to Jesus, knowing nothing is better than the gift of having him in their lives. On this fifth Sunday of Lent, could I do that, too? What would that even look like?

The answer to that question begins with recognizing what I am holding in reserve and keeping from Jesus. On this fifth Sunday of Lent, the time is now. Jesus is at table with us. God is right now doing a new thing. We are given the opportunity to recognize this kairosmoment and act with abandon, showing Jesus how we feel and pouring ourselves out for his sake. Even as we grieve what once was, we can trust what lies ahead. We can risk it all for the sake of the gospel, knowing that doing so is no risk at all. We can bring out the pure, expensive nard, pour it out completely, give ourselves totally and trust that in so doing we are perceiving the new thing God is about to do and striving toward a resurrection future with the Savior who holds nothing back from us.

This week:

1. As you come to the end of Lent, how have you been shaped by your Lenten practices? What have you learned about yourself or your relationship with God?
2. What are you holding back from Jesus? Why are you keeping it in reserve?
3. What would it look like for you to not remember the things of old, but be on the lookout for the new thing God is doing?
4. What do you value highly that you may need to reevaluate in the face of your commitment to follow Jesus Christ?
5. Can you think of an example of something you thought was wasteful or extravagant or could have been used differently that may have actually honored God? How do we discern what is a faithful use of resources?
6. When has God provided rivers in the desert for you? Your church? Your community?

Want to receive Looking into the Lectionary content in your inbox on Mondays? Click here to join our email list!