Those closest to Jesus were confused during this final week of his life (not able or wanting to come to terms with the finality of Jesus’ language during this week) and even one would be used by evil to deliver him to death; but one disciple would bring him a moment of joy during this extremely difficult week. It was not one of the usual suspects - Peter, James or John - or any of the other “Twelve.” It was Mary of Bethany (according to John) that brought a years worth of quality perfume and anointed Jesus in the midst of his time at an evening dinner. She just lavished him; anointed him with sweet smelling perfume as an act of devotion and an act of surrender to cast her lot with Jesus’ mission (not to be overlooked she also probably just spent a good deal of her inheritance on Jesus). This act a moment of beauty and extravagance, a moment of clarity and a moment of confirmation in the midst of Jesus’ week was one that seemed to be profound in the Messiah’s estimation - as he declared, “wherever the Gospel is preached in the world, this woman’s deed will be remembered.” (Mt. 26.13)

Epistle: Hebrews 9.16-28

Gospel: Matthew 26.14-25

Psalm: 22 and 26

Prayer: from Psalm 22:

I will proclaim your name to my brethren: in the midst of the assembly I will praise you; “You who fear the Lord, praise him; all you descendants of Jacob, give glory to him; revere him, all you descendants of Israel! For he has not spurned nor disdained the wretched man in his misery Nor did he turn his face away from him, but when he cried out to him, he heard him.” So by your gift will I utter praise in the vast assembly; I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him. The lowly shall eat their fill; they who seek the Lord shall praise him: “May your hearts be ever merry!” All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord; All the families of the nations shall bow down before him. For dominion is the Lord’s and he rules the nations. To him alone shall bow down all who sleep in the earth; Before him shall bend all who go down into the dust. And to him my soul shall live; my descendants shall serve him. Let the coming generation be told of the Lord that they may proclaim to a people yet to be born the justice he has shown.