Are You Like Martha, Mary or Judas?

The appointed Gospel reading for the daily prayer of the Church comes from the Gospel according to John and it is our Gospel reading from the Eucharist last Sunday:

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.’

When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well. (Jn. 12: 1-10).

John says it so nonchalantly, Jesus and his disciples were at “the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.”  Can you imagine that, being with Lazarus who was once dead and now is alive?  What a miracle! Wouldn’t this change your life?  John tells us how different people react: (1) Martha serves and evangelizes; (2) Mary serves and worships, and (3) Judas has his own agenda looking what is in it for him as he plots to steal.  Where do you and I fall?  Are we like Martha or Mary or Judas?

Let us pray:  Gracious God, let us be open to your Word.  May we give our lives to you in service and worship putting aside our own desires.  We ask this in Jesus’ name who lives with you and the Holy Spirit now and forever.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

This Sunday is Palm Sunday.  We will start at the cross in the courtyard to bless palms and start the procession.  Pease wear red!

Next Wednesday at 6 p.m. the Lenten Series continues at Trinity with our own Bishop, Andy Doyle, as the speaker.

Saturday, 23 March, Garden Meeting with pot-luck lunch at noon.

Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Gladys, Randy, and especially David and Deleoris who have returned home.

Your servant in Christ,

The Rev. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas 77550