Lent

April 3, 2022

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. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. –1 Timothy 6:10

Greed is our world’s idol of choice. It is an addiction, harder to vanquish than any drug or alcohol or smoking. Greed alters the values by which we live. All aspects of life are impacted by the worship of wealth. People project the measure of their worth onto the ability to acquire whatever it is that they lust after. I am beginning to understand better the word endemic.  Endemic means belonging or native to a particular people or country: not introduced or naturalized*.  Those who study viruses are now saying COVID in its various forms has now become endemic in our world and in our country. We must learn to live with it. Those characteristics are true regarding greed. We all have a touch of greed. The difference is that greed cannot be treated by vaccines. To conquer greed, we must learn to recognize it and faithfully decide to avoid it. We humans have proved that we do not like being responsible for our well-being. However, that is exactly what Christ calls us to do. Love one another, care for one another and own the well-being of all.

Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit can and will enable us to love like Jesus if we choose to change.

Prayer: Lord, help us to see where greed is ruling our lives and actions. Grant us the courage to let greed go and be made anew through your love. Amen.

*https://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/endemic

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.