Mark 14:3-9 - Not a Waste of Oil

And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.

 But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted?

 

For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor. And they criticized her sharply.

 

But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me.

 For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always.

 She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.

 Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.

Pouring Oil
photo by Quinn Dombrowski
used under the creative commons license.
check out more photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/quinnanya/

People can always come up with a reason for criticizing what you are dong. Almost everything the detractors in this story say is true: Yes, the women could have sold the oil for a lot of money and, yes, that money could have been donated to the poor. Yet, those who disagreed were shortsighted. It is never one thing that is our obligation. We are to take care of the poor and do other things that seem like a waste of money, like beautifying a house of Worship.

Both the Roman Cahtolics and the Orthdox are routinely criticized for spending money on Icons and expensive religious articles. Communion chalices are made of Gold, Icons cost thousands of dollars to create. Someone could say that money should have been given to feed the hungry....and yet, why can we not do both? "You should have done the latter without neglecting the former," says Jesus on a different occasion. (Matthew 23:23) 

How important it is to Worship Christ in the Beauty of His Holiness. Being surrounded by beautiful Icons and chalices made of gold, elevate my soul. Help me, O Lord, to be like the woman who "wasted" the oil, for truly You were pleased.  Giving my best in Your service is what I want to do. Amen.