Have you ever visited or driven by a church and seen something that was clearly an extraordinary expense; an item that most of cost thousands, if not tens of thousands of dollars? Upon seeing such an item, have you ever thought to yourself, “Wow! What a waste of money! They could have used that for ministry! Maybe they should have passed on that money to the poor!”

            I find myself thinking this every time I drive down I-75 towards Dayton, while trying not to be distracted by the giant Jesus with many names. I’m not talking about names like “King of kings” or “Son of Man”, but “butter cream Jesus”; “touch down Jesus”; or Jesus, the “H” in O-H-I-O. Indeed, in most churches we can find something that seems extravagant, wasteful, or even downright gaudy. Often, we think to ourselves, “What a waste. That money should have gone to the poor!”

            A similar story unfolds in today’s gospel text. Jesus is in Bethany, dining with Lazarus, Martha, his disciples, and other guests. Mary comes in, breaks a jar of perfume, anoints Jesus’ feet, and dries them with her hair. According to gospel, this jar cost 300 denarii, which was roughly the equivalent of a year’s salary. Judas, the keeper of the money box, raises a complaint. “This should have been sold and the money given to the poor,” he exclaims!  The writer of John’s gospel reveals to us that Judas will betray Jesus; and further, that he did not care about the poor, but instead was a thief. Then, Jesus’ response is one that, on the surface, seems shocking. Jesus says, “The poor you will have with you always, but you will not always have me”. It sounds an awful lot like Jesus is saying, “Oh, there will plenty of poor people in the world. Right now, spend your money on me!”

            However, there is deeper meaning to the words of Christ. You see, rabbis were known to quote one portion of Hebrew scripture and expect their followers to know the rest of it. In other words, only a piece of the scriptures would be shared, but the lesson was in the whole of the scripture, not just in the bit that was quoted. In this section of John, Jesus is referring to a passage in Deuteronomy 15:11. Jesus says, “The poor you will have with you always” but the whole passage reads as follows: Since there will never cease to be some in need on the earth, I (the Lord) therefore command you: Open your hand to the poor and needy neighbor in your land. Jesus, then, is saying to Judas, to those listening, and to you and me, “Yes, there are poor people. Give to them!”

            These words convict us and can make us uncomfortable. When I really think about it, I realize that when I drive past big Jesus on I-75 and become righteously angry that the money used wasn’t given to the poor, I also do not go home and write an extra check to the church for those in need. I don’t open my hand to the poor and needy neighbor in this land. Instead, I am content to pass judgment and declare that something was unnecessarily extravagant and then applaud myself for not being as wasteful as those other people. So, these words of Jesus are a call to you and me. We are to give to the poor. We, whom God blesses with an abundance, are to share our resources instead of clinging to them tightly.

            Now certainly, there are ways that happens at Trinity. We are sharing the land God gives us so that others may grow their own food. We share food on Thursday nights, so that people might have extra resources for basic needs like clothing and shelter. Through Kate’s Cupboard, we give away needed items, which free new mothers to purchase other products that will help their child grow up healthy. The question is this. Is there more we can give? Are there steps we can take to address the root causes of poverty?

            Think about this. What would happen if we raised $100,000 for a college scholarship? We could put the money into an interest bearing account, and provide four to five $1000 college scholarships to needy Mt. Healthy High graduates. Using only the interest means these scholarships could last into perpetuity, and each year, we would be helping someone who is impoverished achieve an education. Maybe we start a series of classes on things like cooking, job readiness, parenting, or sewing. These classes might help people master skills which can lead to healthier, more sound lives and assist them in learning skills which will help them break the cycle of poverty.

            Whatever the case may be, God calls us to open our hands and give. Because God blesses us with an abundance, we have the resources and ability to do so. May God empower us to overcome our temptation to cling to this abundance and use it only for ourselves.

            In the midst of Jesus’ call to give in today’s gospel, the question remains. What about Mary’s use of expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet? Well, Jesus points out that she was preparing his body for burial, alluding to his impending death. However, it also raises another interesting point for us. Mary’s act was one of love, devotion, and service. It seems that where we are to be wasteful and extravagant is in love, service, and devotion to God. I’m not suggesting that we should spend thousands of dollars on beautiful additions to the sanctuary or gold communion cups and claim we are praising God. Instead, it seems that we give of ourselves and our time; that we empty ourselves in love of God.

            Perhaps we do so by spending intentional time each week reading scripture or praying. Maybe we do so by actively participating in worship, singing out (even if we think we can’t). It might mean looking at worship as an opportunity to praise and glorify God and not a chance to complain if we don’t like something. Maybe it means committing to being here on Sunday, even if the weather is nice and the golf course or outdoor activities are beckoning.

            Indeed, we can walk in these doors with excitement and joy that we get to sing and pray and listen together; that we get to feast together at the Lord’s Table. All the while, we acknowledge that, as we pour out our very selves in worship, God is also filling us up, so that we might go into the world to love and serve neighbor. We acknowledge that God is giving us what we need to give freely. We trust that God, through Word and Sacrament, is enabling us to open our hands and give.

            For this is what God calls us to do: open our hands and give. When we close our hands, we make a fist. The temptation of this world is to make that fist; to cling tightly to what we have and assume we know best how to use it. The temptation is to make our fist and shake it at other people, other churches, and giant statues of Jesus, declaring that those people and places are wasteful in their spending. Yet, God is calling. God is beckoning. God is reminding us, “Give! Give to those in need.” Slowly, through Holy Word, Holy Sacrament, and Holy Spirit, God is freeing our hands; opening our fists; and empowering us to share of our abundance, so that we may, as we proclaim each Sunday in Lent, go in peace and remember the poor.

Amen.

© 2010 Rev. Todd A. Cutter. Please do not reproduce or distribute without permission.