What this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her. - Matthew 26:13
The heroes
and heroines of the Bible often take us by surprise. The woman in today's Scripture
reading is a prime example. She was singled out by Jesus to be mentioned wherever the
gospel is preached. She had scandalized some of those dining with Jesus by her
breathtaking generosity. In anticipating Jesus' death, she had anointed Him with costly
perfume that was worth more than a year's wages.
"Why this waste?" asked those at the table who expressed a concern for the poor.
Had these same people been attending Jesus' funeral rather than a dinner with Him, I
believe they would have reacted differently. Yet, when this woman showed Him her lavish
love while He was alive, she was severely criticized for such waste.
We can learn a valuable lesson from the devotion of this woman. We need to break out our
best perfumes for the living. Yet all too often we wait until someone dies to show the
appreciation that we are reluctant to show in life.
Is there someone who comes to your mind, a friend or family member, who would be honored
and encouraged by an expression of your love and appreciation? Then do something to show
it - while the person is still alive!
-HWR
Give praise to people young and old,
Encourage them while they are near;
For when they've gone to their reward,
Your loudest praise they will not hear.
-D.
De Haan
Don't put off until tomorrow the loving words you can say today