Holy Feat

H2odevos p4p Lent 2013 “Holy Feat”

Dirty Hands Dirty Feet

I'm over my head it's made a mess of me

But it keeps a coming back to the

Holy road means crashing you and me

You've gotta walk through the muddy water to come clean

Dirty Hands Dirty Feet by Peter Mayer

Tomorrow's Gospel lesson is from John 12 where we hear that Mary anoints the feet of Jesus with a very expensive perfume. At other places in Scripture, Matthew 26, Mark 14 and Luke 7, the text tells us a "woman" and in Luke 7 it states, a "woman who was a sinner" anointed Jesus. Often this woman has been identified as Mary Magdalene. Biblical Scholars aren't sure if this is the same event repeated and reported in different ways or if it happened twice. There is also the possibility of "conflation" of rolling all of it into one story.

But, here's what is striking. A woman, and in John she is named as Mary, anoints Jesus' feet. Anointing was the job of prophets, remember Samuel who anointed Saul and David as king. The substance used to anoint is expensive stuff. The woman's actions bring about anger and criticism from the onlookers. In John, we hear that Judas objects, by saying that the ointment should have been sold to feed the poor. The editorial comment in John is that Judas was a thief!

But, this woman performs a sacred and holy feat in preparing Jesus for Kingship and Burial. This King is going to be different than all other kings. His death and burial is going to have a surprise twist and ending as well.

Peter is so correct, You've gotta walk through the muddy water to come clean.

Peace,

rtg