Daily Devotion

9 April – What a Waste?

Audio

Prepare
Today is Wednesday, 9th of April. It is the thirty sixth day of Lent. Let us take a moment to gather our scattered thoughts and be still before the Lord.

Psalm
The appointed Psalm for today is Psalm 55. Here we read verses 12 to 14 and 20 to 22.

¹² For it is not an enemy who taunts me—
then I could bear it;
it is not an adversary who  deals insolently with me—
then I could hide from him.

¹³  But it is you, a man, my equal,
my companion, my familiar friend.

¹⁴ We used to take sweet counsel together;
within God’s house we walked in  the throng.
…

²⁰ My companion stretched out his hand against his friends;
he violated his covenant.  

²¹ His talk is smooth as butter,
    yet war is in his heart;
his words are more soothing than oil,
    yet they are drawn swords.

²² Cast your cares on the Lord
    and he will sustain you;
he will never let
    the righteous be shaken.

Reflection

The psalmist speaks about betrayal from those who violated the covenant of friendships. The world today abounds with these betrayals, whether it be in the area of trade, international law, wars or family feuds. “He will never permit the righteous to be moved.” Let us claim this promise for the victims.

Scripture Reading

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. ³ Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. ⁴ But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, ⁵ “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” ⁶ He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. ⁷ Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. ⁸ For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”

Reflection

Imagine Mary. She let down her hair before a man who is not her husband. She got down on her knees and washed his feet. And, then, the fragrance hits the room. All the guests recognize the scent as an expensive import from northern India. In one single go, that perfume, which was worth a year’s wages was “wasted” on Jesus. And it wasn’t even his burial. This expensive perfume was meant to be used only once at someone’s death. 

The act seemed illogical. Wasteful. “Why waste such money on an extravagant act when it can be sold to help the poor?” Judas asked.

Why should one’s love for God lead to extravagant sacrifices when it can be practically used for some social cause? Indeed, down through the centuries, many have followed Mary’s example. Christianity is marked by the sacrifices made by many fine men and women for the cause of the cross. Some of them could have been society’s leaders, inventors, philanthropists and politicians. Movers and shakers. Some could have made the list of Time’s 100 most influential people.

Yet they gave all that up for one single cause: following Jesus. They broke their pound of expensive ointment for the sake of Him whom they love and His message of the cross.

One of them was Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In our Lectionary for today, we are asked to commemorate his life and ministry. Dietrich was a brilliant theologian and Lutheran pastor who lived and ministered through the World War Two years. One of his most well known gift is his book, The Cost of Discipleship. It is a tome which carried his no-nonsense approach to following Jesus. He attacked cheap grace as an excuse for moral laxity. He wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.”

While many of his Christian compatriots were moving along with the rise of Hitler and Nazism, Dietrich stayed true to his beliefs as a disciple of Christ. He paid the cost eventually and was hung in April 1945 for his anti-Nazi activities.

He had all the marks of a brilliant leader and theologian. We can only imagine the impact he could have made if he had taught and wrote into his sixties. Instead, like Mary, he broke his flask of ointment on Jesus and followed Him to his own cross at the age of 39.

We want to follow Jesus. We want to make a mark in life. We would like to be “fishers of men.” But there is a cost to it. Sooner or later, we have to break our flask of ointment. For some, the sacrifices will be more radical than others.

No matter. Jesus speaks about the daily cross we have to bear. Our sacrifices do not need to be dramatic. There are many little ways for us to show our Love for Jesus. In this season of Lent, will you be willing to sacrifice something for our Lord? Let us pause for a minute to pray and reflect on this question.

Collect

We end with the Anglican collect to commemorate Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s life:

Embolden our lives, O Lord, and inspire our faiths,
that we, following the example of your servant Dietrich Bonhoeffer,
might embrace your call with undivided hearts;
through Jesus Christ our Savior,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Alabaster Jar by Blessed Vineyard

This alabaster jar is all I have of worth
I break it at Your feet, Lord, it’s less than You deserve
You’re far more beautiful, more precious than the oil
The sum of my desires and the fullness of my joy
Like You spilled Your blood, I spill my heart
As an offering to my King
Here I am, take me as an offering

Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory
Take me
This time that I have left is all I have of worth

I lay it at Your feet, Lord, it’s less than You deserve
And though I’ve little strength, and though my days are few
You gave Your life for me so I will live my life for You

Like You spilled Your blood, I spill my heart
As an offering to my King
Here I am, take me as an offering
Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory
Here I am, take me as an offering

Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory, take me
Worthy, worthy, You are worthy, worthy is the Lord
Worthy, worthy, You are worthy, worthy is the Lord
Here I am, take me as an offering
Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory
Here I am, take me as an offering
Here I am, giving every heartbeat for Your glory
Take me

Link to today’s Morning Office