Anointed
Pittman, Lauren Wright. Anointed, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=57085 [retrieved April 1, 2022]. Original source: http://www.lewpstudio.com - copyright by Lauren Wright Pittman.
Jesus speaks about forgiveness
JESUS MAFA. Jesus speaks about forgiveness, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=48384 [retrieved April 1, 2022]. Original source: http://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr (contact page: https://www.librairie-emmanuel.fr/contact).
A Prayer
Gracious God, we come before you a people too nearly conformed to this world and its values. We fail to develop our God-given abilities, then envy those who do. Too busy for the care of our bodies or the development of our minds and spirits, we neglect the nurture of our own best selves. We serve, but sometimes with resentment, because we say “Yes” to the most insistent caller more than to you. Expecting too much of ourselves, we resent others who seem not to do their share. We waffle between weakness which allows others to walk all over us, and defensiveness which ignores the rights of others. We spend our money on that which is not bread and turn our eyes away from images of those who have no bread. Yet we ignore our own hunger and thirst for you and your righteousness. Transform us by your Spirit and renew our minds. May we find the joy and peace that come from seeking your will, through Jesus, your faithful servant. Amen
Rugh C. Duck, Touch Holiness, adapted
Gracious God, we come before you a people too nearly conformed to this world and its values. We fail to develop our God-given abilities, then envy those who do. Too busy for the care of our bodies or the development of our minds and spirits, we neglect the nurture of our own best selves. We serve, but sometimes with resentment, because we say “Yes” to the most insistent caller more than to you. Expecting too much of ourselves, we resent others who seem not to do their share. We waffle between weakness which allows others to walk all over us, and defensiveness which ignores the rights of others. We spend our money on that which is not bread and turn our eyes away from images of those who have no bread. Yet we ignore our own hunger and thirst for you and your righteousness. Transform us by your Spirit and renew our minds. May we find the joy and peace that come from seeking your will, through Jesus, your faithful servant. Amen
Rugh C. Duck, Touch Holiness, adapted
Imaging the Word An Arts and Lectionary Resource, Volume 1
Exploring the Text: Jesus and Judas
In this story we see several different people interacting with Jesus. Martha serves Jesus and his disciples. Lazarus reclines at the table with Jesus in a posture of friendship. Mary makes an expensive, extravagant gesture of love for Jesus. Everyone else in the room being caught up with Mary's offering, and finally Judas complaining about it.
Consider what John says about Judas. He identifies him as the one who was about to betray Jesus (verse 4), as someone who didn't care about the poor (verse 6), and as someone who was greedy and a thief (verse 6). Judas was also a liar and a manipulator. John's revelation of what he knew about Judas shows us the truth behind Judas' pious sounding argument.
Jesus stands of up for Mary, the one who was lavishly loving and worshipping him. This makes sense to us. Perhaps more challenging though, is Jesus' response to Judas. Jesus knew all of the things about Judas that John did and probably more. Yet despite knowing that Jesus was greedy, a thief, uncaring, a liar, a manipulator, and the one who would ultimately betray him, Jesus didn't cast him out from the disciples. Instead, Jesus kept him close. This is much harder for us to understand. We get why Jesus would stand with Mary, but why would he stand with Judas? Jesus loves even those with ulterior motives. He loves even those who are just seeking to use him. He loves us despite our worst characteristics, despite our worst failings.
Both Mary and Judas had weaknesses and failings. Jesus stood with both of them. Mary recognized it and responded with love and repentance. Judas didn't. Jesus is going to be on our side no matter what, but we have to decide how we will respond. Will we be like Mary or will we be like Judas?
David Dalton
In this story we see several different people interacting with Jesus. Martha serves Jesus and his disciples. Lazarus reclines at the table with Jesus in a posture of friendship. Mary makes an expensive, extravagant gesture of love for Jesus. Everyone else in the room being caught up with Mary's offering, and finally Judas complaining about it.
Consider what John says about Judas. He identifies him as the one who was about to betray Jesus (verse 4), as someone who didn't care about the poor (verse 6), and as someone who was greedy and a thief (verse 6). Judas was also a liar and a manipulator. John's revelation of what he knew about Judas shows us the truth behind Judas' pious sounding argument.
Jesus stands of up for Mary, the one who was lavishly loving and worshipping him. This makes sense to us. Perhaps more challenging though, is Jesus' response to Judas. Jesus knew all of the things about Judas that John did and probably more. Yet despite knowing that Jesus was greedy, a thief, uncaring, a liar, a manipulator, and the one who would ultimately betray him, Jesus didn't cast him out from the disciples. Instead, Jesus kept him close. This is much harder for us to understand. We get why Jesus would stand with Mary, but why would he stand with Judas? Jesus loves even those with ulterior motives. He loves even those who are just seeking to use him. He loves us despite our worst characteristics, despite our worst failings.
Both Mary and Judas had weaknesses and failings. Jesus stood with both of them. Mary recognized it and responded with love and repentance. Judas didn't. Jesus is going to be on our side no matter what, but we have to decide how we will respond. Will we be like Mary or will we be like Judas?
David Dalton