Lent
April 6, 2019
Scripture Reading: John 12:1-8
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. –John 12:1-3
I do not spring for a massage very often, but I will confess a good massage is good for my soul as well as my body. I had known that for some time before I made my first visit to Ghost Ranch and discovered that it make massages available as a routine part of its wholeness ministry. I prefer a complete body massage, but a good foot massage can soothe one’s soul. Of course, the washing of feet in Judah was a routine practice on entering a home in an arid land full of sand where most people wore sandals or no shoes at all. Mary apparently took this routine practice to a higher level of perhaps veneration.
A story somewhat like the one above is told in Luke 7:36-50 only the woman washing Jesus feet is not the righteous Mary, but one described as sinful, thus not worthy to touch Jesus’ feet. Jesus allowed her to express her thanksgiving in this most humbling way.
The receiving and giving of any act of comfort is intimate requiring a high degree of trust. Ministers are now required to attend classes training them in understanding how to meet the need for comfort among those they serve without breaking their trust. We even practice safe hugs. We must be sensitive to the cultural and life experiences that have shaped the way the people we serve gain comfort often without knowing their backgrounds. Some welcome a hearty hug, others may not even be able to make eye contact. Some have primarily related to others in sexual ways and will need to learn that such behavior is not the only way to relate.
The great challenge is that the people attempting to give comfort often must rise above their own cultural and life experiences to comfort others. Comforters are required to be emphatic to determine what will comfort and what might make matters worse. This is particularly important regarding abused and neglected children and persons who have been sexually abuse. In most instances, we may never know the background of person we serve particularly if there is great shame connected to their life experiences.
Jesus modeled loving individuals just as they were but in such a way that they experienced love without hurt or pain or self-degradation. We are called to love like Jesus.
Prayer: Lord, help us rise above our own limitations and see the reality of persons we are trying to love as you love. Amen.