John 12:1-9 Mary was so embarrassing. And Judas speaks for us, for sensible, grown-up church. He doesnāt refer to her outrageous behaviour: wiping Jesusā feet with her hair. That speaks for itself. But he does question her complete irresponsibility in pouring a precious perfume that cost approximately Ā£22000 over Jesus feet. But Jesus challenges Judas, and perhaps he challenges sensible grown-up church. āLeave her aloneā. Four reasons why he should have left her alone 1. Mary was an adult. She could do with her money what she wanted to do. There is no reason to assume that Mary, Martha and Lazarus are poor. On the contrary, they were probably reasonably well off. And Mary had chosen to buy some special perfume which, she had told Jesus, was put aside for him at his funeral. Probably she had said, when you die, I want you to have an amazing funeral. I want there to be fragrance around your body in death, because you brought fragrance, beauty to all that you touched in life. ...
MOTHERING SUNDAY John 19.25-27 Today we give thanks to God for mothers and for those who were mothers to us. But mothering Sunday is not just a family affair. The idea was prompted from a bible reading ( Galatians 4.26 ) that is still read when the BCP lectionary is used. It speaks of the Jerusalem from above which is āour mother from aboveā. It became the day to celebrate the community of the Church, of our āmotherā, of all those people in space and time who have put their trust in the promise of God and in Jesus Christ. Apparently this was the Sunday when people would travel to their āmother churchā, and in time those in domestic service would be given a day pass to visit their mothers. So today we celebrate both human families, and in particular our mothers or those who were mothers to us, and also the community of the people of God. Our readings reflect that. Exodus 2:1-11 tells us about Moses and his two mothers. I have very little knowledge of the workings of the court of Phara...