When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.”

Matthew 26:8-11

For Meditation

1. Is anything done for Christ a waste?
2. But, do you know that was what Judas implied when he questioned the propriety of Mary anointing Jesus with her expensive perfume (John 12:1-8)? What really motivated Judas to question Mary’s beautiful act, as Jesus called it (Matthew 26:8-9)?
3. Do you see how the Holy Spirit revealed the hidden motives of Judas (John 12:6)? Was Judas not being selfish? Can you imagine what the ‘poor’ would have thought, if they had heard Judas that day: “What a guy he is … he cares so much for us; but the rich, they don’t care about us”? Can you imagine Judas’ head at that time?
4. Don’t we sometimes make such comments when the Church engages in something special – for example, a dinner on a special occasion? Don’t you often hear the comments about how the money could have been used on the ‘poor’ instead of being ‘wasted’ that way? Don’t you hear such comments as: “That money could have been used for evangelism”, as if caring and nurturing the flock that are already in the barn is a useless activity? Is it not hypocrisy? Do you see how often those kinds of comments have brought divisions among congregations?
5. But, can you hear Jesus’ response to Judas and the rest of the disciples who may have thought the same way: “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me” (Matthew 26:10-11; cf. Ecclesiastes 3:4). So why, like the older son in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:28-30), do you berate people for indulging a little bit sometimes? Why do you criticize the Church when they feast before the Lord once in a while?

I pray that before you object or criticize somebody for “dancing or laughing” on a festive occasion, you would have checked your real motive. For, you may be thinking you care so much about the ‘poor and deprived’, when actually, your motivation is all wrong and nothing but self-seeking indulgence. Hard words to swallow, but bitter pills for your healing!

So: May you allow room for the occasional expression of joy in the Church rather than this ill-perceived somber and joyless character some people think the Church of Christ should always assume and portray; and may you enjoy and rejoice with everyone on such occasions; for it is good for your spirit to feast and rejoice before the Lord sometimes!