The Sixth Week in Lent
Devotion Guide for the Week of Thursday, April 10, 2025
Imagine Worship Theme: "Breathing in Love" (Smell)
Gospel — John 12:1-8
Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."
Meditation by Carlos Santiago
The scene of Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, anointing Jesus with an expensive perfume made of nard is powerful. For one, Mary and her family were poor. Her willingness to use such an expensive item for Jesus speaks volumes, as most people would hesitate to part with their valuable possessions, especially when they don’t have many to begin with. Judas’s reaction—suggesting the perfume should have been sold to help the poor—implies that Mary was being wasteful. However, Judas’s words were not genuine. His selfishness, driven by his desire for money, reveals his human flaws, contrasting with the godliness Jesus exemplifies. Judas’s actions remind us of the tendency in all of us to misunderstand and act out of self-interest.
Questions for Reflection
- What are some valuable things in your life (money, time, or possessions) that you’re willing to sacrifice in order to serve Jesus?
- In what ways have you noticed human tendencies, like those of Judas, that have led you away from fully embracing God’s call for you to be your best self for your community?
Practice
Lent is traditionally a season when Christians abstain from something we enjoy (the spiritual practice of fasting), or when we invest more deeply in another spiritual practice. Any spiritual practice, whether it be fasting from food or praying every hour for a few moments, involves an element of sacrifice. Maybe you have given up or added something during Lent. If so, try journaling about what your fast has taught you so far this season.
Prayer
Holy God,
Lover of all that has been created,
Holy and Mighty One,
We delight in Your extravagant love for us all, which saturates the atmosphere around us like precious perfume.
We thank You for Your everlasting mercy for us all, which shatters our illusions of perfection and hierarchy.
Help us to accept and rest in our beloved state of being.
Teach us to love others with the same affectionate, honoring, sacrificial love that Jesus taught us on Earth and gives freely now.
In the name of the One who created, loves, and keeps us all,
Amen.
Visio Divina Week 6
“The Anointing of Christ” by Julia Stankova, 2009.
