April 3, 2022

My nephew Matt sent me a gift book about aging called Well Aged by Ralph Milton who is Matt’s great uncle. Ralph Milton has written many church books as well, including that big Story Bible series for children that I saw a volume of at St. David’s. Milton was one of the founders of Woodlake Books, and he used to send out weekly lectionary emails called “Rumours” that often contained great sermon humour. How I hated to see that ending, but he was 75 at the time, and a caregiver for his ill wife. Just a third of the way into this Well Aged book, I’ve already found great excuses for my forgetfulness like using the line: “I’m having a senior moment – I can’t remember your name.” And then he writes this: “By the way, it is true that us old-old people [he’s 86] can tell each other the same joke over and over. We do it all the time. And we can't remember what we've told to whom or when. We never run out of things to talk about." (p 47). Hmm … we do tell the same stories over and over in the liturgical years.

Perhaps when we heard today’s gospel about the anointing of Jesus as we get close to Holy Week, we might have thought -- oh yeah, that old story. Did it sound totally familiar to you, or was there something a bit off? I admit that when I first reviewed it last Tuesday I thought – wait, was that who anointed Jesus – Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus? And I started worrying that my older age memory was getting me confused. But Hallelu … oops, can’t say that word during Lent. I was SO relieved when I stumbled upon that Wikipedia article on the Anointing of Jesus where they explained how the four gospels have various versions of this story. In both Matthew and Mark it’s an unnamed woman who comes in, while Jesus is dining at Simon the Leper’s home; and she simply pours the jar of “very expensive perfume” over his head. I’m pretty sure none of us would appreciate this happening in our church, would we? It would ruin our clothes and make a mess AND it’s against our scent-free rules.

Then in Luke’s gospel Jesus is at the home of one of the Pharisees and a woman who was known as living a sinful life came in with her alabaster jar of perfume. She starts weeping remorseful tears which fall on Jesus’ feet, hence washing his feet with her tears. Then she uses her long loose hair to wipe his feet -- respectable women in that time and place did not wear their hair long and loose in public. After this she kisses his feet – no doubt while gasps of horror are uttered around the room – and then pours the perfume on his feet. It shouldn’t be surprising that the Pharisees are aghast that Jesus allows this to happen. And as the Christian tradition unfolded over time, this unnamed woman came to be associated with Mary Magdalene – with classical theology often portraying her as a prostitute, even though the Bible says nothing about this.

And finally, we have today’s version from John’s gospel, in which the plot twists and thickens because now it’s Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, who anoints Jesus. So that’s only one out of four gospels that picks this Mary, and therefore puts Jesus in a different home as well. And over time this gospel contributed to further confusion as to whether this Mary was the same as Mary Magdalene. And furthermore – what a mess as she pours the perfume on Jesus’ feet and then wipes that ointment with her hair! I’m glad I have short hair and can’t possibly get into these predicaments. Many people disparage Wikipedia, and it has its faults but with articles like this it’s helpful to see these differences all lined up, so we know we’re not crazy or senile.

Three of the versions include the final part of the story we heard today – with Judas or others objecting to the waste of money involved since this expensive perfume could have been sold for a good sum, and the money given to the poor. Jesus’ response that “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me” has also caused confusion over time. Surprisingly the novelist Kurt Vonnegut is among those who’ve rightly complained about how that line has been MISUSED to justify ignoring the needs of the poor (https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anointing_of_Jesus# footnote #12)

Our Isaiah reading today also helps prepare us for the Easter story when God says “I am about to do a new thing: now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Human ways of perceiving cannot encompass the new ways that God may have in mind. Psalm 126 is also encouraging “Then our mouth was filled with laughter” and “Those who go out weeping bearing the seeds for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves”. Like Paul in our epistle reading, it’s easy to rest on our laurels and assume that our traditional ways of following Jesus will serve us for all time; but God is continually doing new things, as especially evidenced by the Resurrection of Jesus which we will hopefully celebrate in two weeks’ time. May God grant us the grace and courage to join in Paul’s goal of “forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead”.

As our churches reopen more fully … while our pews stubbornly stay emptier, let us not lose heart. God may be doing a new thing. The Holy Spirit loves to surprise us. So, while we lovingly plan to celebrate Holy Week starting next Sunday with the palms and the Passion, let us also leave space for the unexpected, making room for God’s grace and wisdom to unfold among us … as the Spirit blows where it wills, Amen.