April 6

Isaiah 42:1-9
Hebrews 11:39-12:3
John 12:1-11
or Mark 14:3-9
Psalm 36:5-10  

Your love, oh Lord
Reaches to the heavens
Your faithfulness stretches to the sky
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains
Your justice flows like the ocean's tide
I will lift my voice
To worship You, my King
I will find my strength
In the shadow of your wings ~ Third Day 

I just received an e-mail from a friend advising me that three months ago, a former colleague of ours collapsed to the ground and stopped breathing during a four-mile run.  He was found by a doctor who had been running along the same trail; the doctor revived him and called 911.  No one knows how long he was brain dead, and he has been in a coma ever since.  His 7-year-old son has not seen him since he first went in the hospital; his wife never left his side for months.  As I reflect on this terrible news, the gospel reading for today comes to the forefront of my mind: "You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me" (John 12:8).  Jesus clearly meant these words to praise Mary, the sister of Lazarus, for taking action to worship Him while she could.  I imagine my friend’s wife and son have thought of all kinds of things they wish they had said to or done for him before his tragic accident.  I imagine the words "if only…" come to mind unbidden more times than they can count.  Meanwhile, I am filled with guilt over the fact that all this happened months ago and I had no clue about it.  How much more so might we have wondered what might have been if we had known Jesus personally before his crucifixion and been taken by surprise by news of his death?

"You do not always have me," Jesus said.  Mary knew this.  She did not put off for tomorrow or next week anointing Jesus' feet, a loving action in a day when people spent most of their time on their feet.  She did what she could, when she could.  I find myself deeply convicted by Mary’s actions.  All too often I find myself putting off spending time in intimate contact with God.  All too often I allow my days to be filled with accomplishing a to-do list that seems to forever get longer instead of shorter.  I tend to act as if I will live forever and will therefore have unlimited time with those I love and unlimited opportunities to do what is most important.

Today’s readings are an invitation to reevaluate our priorities and find more time to spend in adoration of the triune God. How can you act now, this day, to do what you have been postponing?  How can you today find a way to express your love and service to Jesus?  We are invited to live in relationship with Him who saves NOW.  Let us not put it off another second.