Year C - Lent5 or Conviction5
March 13, 2016
Mary’s pound of nard is later outdone by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus when they are recorded to have brought 100 pounds of myrrh and aloes, other spices for internment of a body.
Mary’s pound of nard is later reduced by Jesus as he washes his disciples’ feet with simple water.
If Judas was upset at the money available from Mary, wouldn’t he have regretted not being able to tap into the buying power of Joseph and Nicodemus. There was and is a huge cash cow in institutionalized religion if only Judas could have stopped going for a quick buck. This short-term view is still bedeviling churches as they nickel and dime their budgets. Of course naming the fiscally conservative money gates keepers in a church as Judases is not good for church membership.
On the other hand, if Judas could see how Jesus dismisses pricey nard for his foot-washing scene, Judas would certainly have justification for getting at least 30 pieces of silver while he could, before Jesus gave it all away.
When you have a horse in a religious race it makes it easy to dismiss all evidence except the short-term result—sell nard, get silver, off both Lazarus and Jesus.
Where is the second-thought, the longer vision, that arises in this passage in your specific setting?
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