Mathew 26: 1-13
1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 ‘As you know, the Passover is two days away – and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’ 3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, 4 and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 5 ‘But not during the festival,’ they said, ‘or there may be a riot among the people.’ 6 While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, 7 a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. 8 When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. ‘Why this waste?’ they asked. 9 ‘This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.’ 10 Aware of this, Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11 The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.’
This Lenten journey begins with an unusual anointing. I go to church and exit with a cross on my forehead from ashes mixed with oil. This reminds me of the death of my Lord, and how much he loves me. It also reminds me of death of self. It is when I die to self that growth in Christ is possible. Jesus is preparing his disciples for his burial. He is being anointed prior to his death. Some of the disciples get it, others don’t. Like Christ’s anointing, so on Ash Wednesday, the cross on my forehead will not be understood by many around me. The cross is my acceptance and proclamation to others that I am beginning a death of self during Lent. It is an outward demonstration of my desire to die to self, which means relying on His strength to be filled with God’s will. Where do I start? There are so many things I need to die to. I can’t do it all at once. I need strength from above to give me the courage to put you first. Please guide me as I begin this death march to focus less on me and more on you. Let my prayer be the words of Christ, “Not my will, but thine be done.”