Pastor's Message

In John’s Gospel we find the story of a woman named Mary who breaks open a jar of very expensive perfume. She uses the perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet at a dinner party. Overwhelmed with thankfulness, praise and love for her Lord -- Jesus had just raised her brother from the dead -- Mary offered the best she had to welcome Jesus. Judas, one of the twelve, is offended. Water, common water, was what a proper host used to clean guest’s feet, not perfume. Judas would have preferred to see the costly perfume sold and the money given to the poor than poured out on Jesus’ feet in an emotional public display praise and thanksgiving. To Judas, Mary’s worship is an exuberant waste and sign of some misplaced personal priorities.

Jesus disagrees. Jesus instead responds to Mary’s strange, beautiful and sensual act of worship and adoration with vocal appreciation, and in doing so, he reminds Judas that it is he, Jesus – not social causes or personal economic security – who stands at the center of a disciple’s life and motivates a disciple’s behavior. Mary’s got it right.

When this story came up as part of our Sunday readings, it got me questioning myself, wondering, “What’s the point of our Sunday worship? Is it worth my time and effort? Would I rather be spending my time, energy and resources in other ways than publicly worshipping Jesus?” That story got me thinking, so, let me pose that question here, too: On whom, on what and where do you want to lavish your valuable time, resources and energy? What are the most important things to you?

When we get right down to it, worship is about naming something as worthy of our time, our energy, our resources and our devotion. We do that every day and every week by the things we do, the places we go, the people we associate with and the things we spend our money on. The things we do “religiously” are probably central to our lives.

As Americans, we value our freedom to choose what is worthy of our time and devotion. While many activities, causes, ventures and products may compete for your love, loyalty and devotion, we are free to choose what we believe contributes to our happiness. As Christians (God’s baptized people) however, we have been chosen by God, redeemed by Jesus’ death and resurrection and given a new life in the power of the Holy Spirit. In telling the story of God and God’s people, the Bible gets very specific about what God expects of God’s redeemed people -- lives of worship as part of a gathered community of God’s people. God expects us to be together, and together, God expects us to put God’s kingdom and God’s righteous justice first.

At the beginning of this month (April), as a community gathered to worship, we will follow Jesus from the Last Supper out into the garden; from the garden where he is betrayed to the courtyard of his trial and sentencing; from the place where he is crucified to the tomb where they put his lifeless body; from a closed tomb to an empty tomb and proclamation, “He is risen!” In living these events, we learn Jesus’ worth. He is worthy of our blessing and honor, our praise and our glory, our love and our devotion.

Ultimately, I believe that is why we rise early on the first day of the week and gather with our sisters and brothers here at Holy Trinity. God is worth it. Jesus is worth it. Worth our time, our energy, our resources, our lives. If you think that Jesus is worthy of such adoration, please join us in worship this Holy Week and every week.