The title of today's sermon comes from a song on the "Graceland" album by Paul Simon. It refers to someone who is so extravagant that the things she does seem crazy to the people around her.
Judas was right.
When Jesus and the disciples stopped in Bethany that last time, just before they went into Jerusalem, and stopped at the home of his friends Lazarus, and Martha, and Mary, they all knew that something was up. Martha, of course, immediately did what any good hostess would do – she started fixing supper. It was only right that when guests comes into your home, you provide whatever they need. Martha knew how important it was to be hospitable. And this was JESUS, their oldest and dearest friend, the one who people were now calling "Messiah". Ever since he did that thing with Lazarus, the crowds were unbelievable. Everywhere he went, hundreds, sometimes thousands of people all wanting something from him. All he wanted was a little peace and quiet – maybe a home-cooked meal with some friends. So Martha got right to work.
Lazarus wasn't going help. He was NEVER much help around the house anyway – house work was for the women, after all. But over the last couple of weeks, ever since Jesus raised him from the dead, he seemed different some how. He was quieter, that's for sure. And maybe a little unsure of himself. So now he sat at the table next to Jesus, not really knowing how to act around his old friend. What should he say? What would YOU say to the man who brought you back from the dead after four days.
And then there was Mary. Martha had given up long ago trying to get Mary to help whenever Jesus stopped by. Mary loved Jesus – they all did – but with Mary it was different. That girl didn't have the sense to come in out of the rain, when it came to Jesus. She would rather sit, listening to him talk, than eat or sleep or do anything else. Starry-eyed Mary. Dreamy Mary. Gentle Mary.
When supper was ready, Martha began serving. Jesus was at the table with Lazarus and the Twelve. Everyone was making small talk – talking about the weather, talking about their travels, talking about what they hoped would happen in Jerusalem. But nobody really wanted to talk much about what was really bothering them. The problem was Lazarus. He was the "elephant in the room", so to speak. Nobody really wanted to say anything about the fact that since Jesus raised up Lazarus, the crowds had just become too big, too crazy. And there was no way that the authorities could let them pass unnoticed. It would have been one thing, if Jesus had stayed in the countryside, healing a few lonely lepers. It was another to raise a dead man, right under the nose of the authorities. Now, there were just too many people following him, calling him "Messiah", a king.
Nobody noticed that Mary had left the table. But now she was coming back carrying a jar. Starry-eyed Mary. Dreamy Mary. What's she up to now? She kneels down in front of Jesus, and opens the jar. The whole house is filled with the fragrance of nard, a scent so sweet, so powerful, that just a drop or two is all anyone really needs to perfume themselves. She must have a pound of it in that jar. And she's pouring it... on Jesus' feet??? Look at how she anoints him, rubbing his feet, and now taking down her hair, she wipes it off. It is an act of total love and devotion. It is an act of total extravagance and wastefulness. It is an act that is totally unnecessary, like wearing diamonds on the soles of your shoes.
It was Judas who called her out on it. A jar of perfume...for his feet? That much nard must have cost a year's wage. Why waste it on his feet? The only time you anoint someone's feet was when they die. Why not sell it, and give the money to the poor?
Judas was right, of course. It was an incredibly wasteful thing to do. It was a crazy thing to do. And it seemed to fly in the face of everything Jesus stood for – feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, setting the captives free. Judas was only saying what everyone else was thinking. Couldn't they have done something better with that money?
But Jesus defended her. "Leave her alone," he said. "She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. Leave her alone, this starry-eyed one. Leave her alone, this dreamy girl. Leave us both alone, if just for a little while. Can't we stop pushing? Can't we stop running? Can't we just stay here for a bit, and rest?"
"Yes, yes, of course we should help the poor. Of course we could have used this money for them. But you'll have lots of time to help the poor, after I'm gone. They will be with us forever. You'll have lots of time to help them, plenty of time. Have at it. Except the only reason anyone will ever care for them is because of me. The only reason anyone will ever feed the hungry, or clothe the naked, or heal the sick, or set free the imprisoned, is because of the love, the compassion, that I reveal. It is your devotion to me, your extravagant, abundant, wasteful selfless devotion to me, that is source of your concern for the poor."
All the while, Mary continued sitting at his feet, rubbing them, anointing them, wiping them with her hair. Starry-eyed Mary. Dreamy Mary. Gentle, loving, devoted, disciple Mary. When she saw Jesus raise her brother from the dead, she knew. She knew that if she waited until he was in the tomb to anoint Jesus, she might never get the chance, because he wouldn't be there.
Thanks be to God.
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