21st March 2010 - "Sacrifice"

Diane Whittaker - St Mary's
Philippians 3:4b-14
John 12:1-8
Passion Sunday

This week it’s the 30th anniversary of the death of Archbishop Oscar Romaro. He was Archbishop of El Salvadore at a time when there was much unrest – the rich elite were suppressing the poor people of El Salvadore who were protesting at the conditions that they were living in.

Romaro was chosen for Archbishop because it was thought that he wouldn’t cause any trouble. However, shortly after becoming Archbishop, one of his closest friends, a Jesuit priest was killed by the regime. As a result, his eyes were opened to what was going on and he spent the rest of his life working for the rights of the poor people of El Salvadore – speaking out against the regime and calling for peace. He was shot in church as he celebrated the Eucharist.

Romaro was the son of a carpenter –and his service lasted 3 yrs – strange parallels there with Christ!

Romaro decided that his own life was not important set against the message of Christ.

Paul, likewise, lived his life as if it was of no value against the riches he perceived that Christ was offering, as we heard in today’s reading – he regarded all of his privilege and knowledge as nothing compared to Christ.

Then we come to Mary –

“Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

This episode had such an effect on the early Christians that it was recorded in all of the gospels - one of the very few stories that this has happened to. In fact, this has fulfilled a prophecy of Jesus, which was attached to two of the versions of the story - that this act of worship and love would be remembered for ever.

For us, the impact of the story has lessened, as we can't conceive of a flask of perfume so costly - we are all used to the extensive displays of perfumes in the department stores. In fact, it is often a battle to get though unscathed - untouched by the sprays of perfume being offered by sales people, hoping to interest you in their products.

Imagine owning a flask of perfume that is worth about £15,000 or £20,000 - a whole year's salary. Mary takes this precious perfume, which, if sold could have made her life a lot easier - or been used to help others in need, broke it and poured it over Jesus feet - other versions of the story say she poured it over his head - it does not really matter.

It’s a very counter-cultural act – to freely give all we most prize to the one we love without counting the cost. Possibly something that Christians can offer into the situation today, where it seems that the emphasis up until the current economic crisis has been on acquiring wealth no matter what the consequences. We have an opportunity now to show others an alternative way of life, if we dare…

Back to Mary - she was so full of love for Jesus that the only way for her to release those feelings was to act in such an extravagant way. Maybe her feelings overflowed when she saw her brother, restored to life sitting next to Jesus, enjoying a festive meal, we will never know.

When Mary is attacked by the disciples for being so free with such a valuable possession, Jesus defends her. Leave her alone, the poor are with you always, but I won't be. Mary has anointed me for my burial. Jesus took Mary's extravagant act of love and used it as a fore telling of his forthcoming death - now only a few days away.

For us, the story marks the beginning of the final week in Jesus' life. It is considered so important, that we read twice – now on Passion Sunday and again on the Monday of Holy Week - the event probably happened either just before or just after that triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

This Sunday – Passion Sunday is where we move from considering our own walk through life as Christians - with the temptations in the desert as the key theme, to contemplating our walk with Christ through the events of Holy Week towards Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection three days later.

To stay with Jesus through the tumultuous events of the final week of his life, we need a measure of the passionate devotion Mary showed. We, and I definitely include myself in this, are generally not comfortable with deep emotions - I suspect that I would have sided with the disciples, who were probably made uncomfortable by the extravagant display of love by Mary. But we need to allow ourselves to experience those emotions of joy, love, loss, betrayal which all are present in the events of Holy Week - the joy and excitement of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, when it seemed that Jesus at last was revealing himself to be the Messiah.

The scary excitement of watching him cleansing the Temple forecourts of the traders.

The worry of the gradual turning of the crowds against him.

The mixed emotions of the last supper, when the disciples were probably beginning to feel rather scared.

The watch in the garden - with all its heaviness.

The terror of the betrayal.

The trial. His death on the cross, the deep sadness and loss at his burial - the need again for spices and perfumes, and then the sheer disbelieving joy of his resurrection on Easter Day.

How many of us retreat during the week - unable to face the roller coaster of emotions - preferring to return on Easter Day when all is well? I know I am tempted to and often do because the weight of emotion becomes too much and the human response then is to fall asleep as the disciples did in the Garden of Gethsemene. I suspect though, that if I were to stay by the side of Jesus for the whole week, I would have a far more profound sense of the sacrifice he made for me, and thus would be far more willing to make an extravagant sacrifice of all I own for pure love of my Saviour.

As did Oscar Romaro and indeed Paul.