Six days before the beginning of the Passover, Jesus was visiting his friends, Martha, Mary and Lazarus at their home in Bethany. It was an ordinary visit of the time. Lazarus sat at the table with the men. Martha took care of the guests, because that is what she did. And Mary honored their guest by anointing his feet, instead of washing his feet.
Judas was annoyed because he failed to see the honor that was being offered and, well he thought, the oils should be sold to fill his purse, even when claiming it would be for the poor.
Jesus admonishes Judas to leave Mary alone. In that admonition, Jesus tells the guest that something is happening, and he will soon be gone.
We never read beyond that point. We aren’t reminded that Lazarus was raised from the dead and reminded that those who are poor will always be with us. The leaders aren’t willing to let the world change and be filled, rather they are plotting to kill Lazarus, because Jesus should not have changed their narrative and soon, they would act to end his life and ministry because people, good Jews, were leaving the community and lives were being changed.
Lives are being changed at that dinner and a few days later Jesus enters humbly into Jerusalem to shouts and waving clothes and palms on the road. He does not enter the city on a white stallion. He does not bring an army, but hope. Even so, he is prepared to die, for us.
Greeks wanted to talk to him, strangers wanted to be with him and lives were changed. As Jesus sat at table in preparation for the Passover, he welcomed the disciples to his table by washing their feet in a gesture of welcome and transformation. And he went out to pray and journey to the cross for our salvation.
We know the story, we know how the world wants to be right, and powerful and have the money and the answers and keep things all the same. But we forget that Jesus came to heal us. We ignore that caring for someone might cost us our understanding of what it means to forgive and be forgiven and that it an amazing gift to share.
Sitting at dinner, he told them he was going away, sitting and offering community. Living, suffering, dying and rising so that our journey of faith might heal our world.
Rejoice in the joy of the risen Christ. Give thanks and come to the table, child of God. Alleluia Christ is risen.
