Isaiah 43:16-21                                  Psalm 126                            Philippians 3:4b-14                          John 12:1-8

            One year ago today, I was at the Cathedral in Little Rock along with a classmate, and a couple of other senior seminarians, a whole lot of friends and even some members of St. Andrew’s.  I was ordained a deacon, and then drove to Mountain Home to meet all of you. 

            I was entering into a world I had not experienced.  The three years of Seminary (which took me five years) was drawing to a close and I was both excited and frightened.  I came and preached that Sunday, still very wet behind my ears and quite nervous.  Not near as nervous, however, as I was to be once I had moved here and started work as your vicar.  Attending and planning services are worlds apart – as I am reminded every day now in my preparations for Holy Week. 

            I must say that words cannot express the stream of emotions and feelings I have experienced since my ordination to the deaconate, and then to the priesthood.  I can say that I know that being called to St. Andrew’s has been a gift – a gift I am extremely thankful for ALMOST every day.   Yes, priests do experience days like any other professional where sleeping in would be a blessing and coming to work is a chore – but overall I have felt loved and supported by you and by God in my ministry here.

            And what is that ministry?  There are the obvious answers, being a pastor to you in times of grief and struggle, leading us in worship, and celebrating the sacraments.  But after arriving here and getting to know St. Andrew’s and its history, I believe I have been called to be a part of the transformation of this mission into a parish.  St. Andrew’s have been a mission since 1950.  The transformation from mission to parish has already begun.  This church is self supporting, but just barely.  To grow into a parish will require us to collectively give more than “just enough” to get by.  Right now, we do not have enough pledged to cover our monthly expenses; we are relying on fund raising to make up the difference.  We do not have enough to cover the unexpected or unplanned maintenance.  These expenses, like the money we give for mission, are covered by special collections and individual gifts.

            At our vestry retreat we set goals for expanding our outreach and growth.  At this month’s vestry meeting, the vestry approved a special collection this Easter for a Second Mile Ministry Fund that we have established to provide the seed money for expanding our ministries and equipping our office and church for growth.  The money in this fund will make it possible to act when an opportunity presents itself, to address a need when it arises. 

One of our goals is to start a youth group this fall.  We’ll need money for pizzas, movies, and the like.  Our afternoon at the movies a few months ago was a huge success – but we had to borrow a projector and our sound system left a lot to be desired – as was also the case when Joan Baldridge spoke and nearly 100 people attended her lecture – many from outside our church.  One of the purchases planned with this fund is the purchase of our own projector which can be used for parish activities as well as showing movies for a youth group.  The fund will also be used to replace the computers and printers in the office. 

I am pleased to say that we already have in excess of $2,500 given or pledged to fund this account – even before the letter has been mailed.  We’re calling this the Second Mile Ministry Fund, Jesus said, “if anyone compels you to go with them a mile, go also the second mile.”  We asked you to pledge to support our budget – giving to this fund is like going the second mile.  It is going beyond what is expected of you.   

Now how, might you ask, will I tie this into today’s lesson?              It is really quite simple.  Judas accused Mary of wasting an expensive perfume on Jesus – only to have Jesus defend Mary who was giving love in abundance.  It is love given in abundance that transforms our lives – just as it did Paul’s life.  Paul writes to the Philippians about how he, a devout Jew, a Pharisee and defender of the Jewish faith has learned that what he thought was his source of his righteousness – the Law, was nothing when compared to Jesus Christ.  It was through faith in Christ, that he gained what he referred to as “the righteousness of God based on faith.”  All of this is to say that the love of Christ is transforming, it transformed Paul and it holds the promise of transforming St. Andrews from a center for worship, a chapel, into a center for mission and growth.  And by growth, I mean that St. Andrew will foster spiritual growth like we did with the Mary Magdalene lecture and the Bible Studies we have planned for this fall.  Together we will grow in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

            It was an outpouring of love to Jesus that prompted Judas to criticize Mary Magdalene.  We were reminded at the lecture on Mary Magdalene, sponsored by the Daughters of the King, that Mary was not only a woman healed by Jesus, she was the first to see the risen Christ – according to the Gospels of Mark and John.  In today’s reading from John she anoints his feet with perfume and dries it with her hair.  The perfume was imported and very expensive oil, so Judas pointed out that it could have been sold  for three hundred denarii (the annual income of many in that day) and the money could have been used for helping the poor.   Jesus defends Mary’s action saying, "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."

            People have used this verse as justification for spending money lavishly upon themselves by quoting only part of it: “there will always be poor with you.”  I won’t argue that Jesus didn’t say it or that it will not be true until the end of time. There are poor and there will always be poor.  And Judas made an excellent point – the perfume could have been sold and the money used to feed the poor and clothe the naked.  Effective non-profits manage their funds wisely.  Wasting money on unnecessary items takes away from the organization’s mission – and leaves it ineffective.

            However, Mary understood what was about to happen.  She knew the end was near and that Christ would be killed – and she anoint his feet (not his head as would have been customary), but his feet for she did not assume herself worthy enough to anointed his head.  She anointed his feet, and then wiped his feet with her hair – not a towel, but her hair.  She gave herself, her complete love, to Jesus, just before he gave himself for us. 

            Jesus said the oil had been keep for the day of his burial.  His time was fast approaching; Jesus was in Bethany in order to be in Jerusalem for Passover.  Jesus had made enemies in Jerusalem and it was not safe for him to be there – but he went none the less and Mary’s act was an outpouring of love.  Jesus was showered by her love, just as we have been showered with God’s love. 

            Was the perfume wasted?  Is any act of love every wasted?  Was Christ’s death on the cross wasted? 

Let us pray.

            Lord, you created us in your image and gave us life.  You have loved us beyond our understanding and asked simply for our love in return.  Help us to love as Mary did, with generosity and humility.  Transform us as you did your servant Paul – that we might go forth in mission, sharing your love with others.  Help us to go the second mile and extend our outreach to those who do not know you or who have been hurt by a church and fail to understand the acceptance we may offer in your name.  This we pray in the name of one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.