Is there ever a time when extravagance, to quote Martha Stewart, is a "good thing?"
All four gospel narratives tell the story of the anointing of Jesus at Bethany days before his death. NOTE: When any story is re-told in multiple gospels....pay attention, for this one you may want to remember, this one most likely will be on the final exam.
The telling I like is the first telling, the one from Mark's gospel. Mark, the earliest of the written four gospels was placed down on papyrus during a time of great persecution, quickly scribed because there was not time for colorful, detailed stories and profound teachings ---- just time to tell it and tell it quickly, make your point and then proceed. Therefore, I find it interesting that Mark's telling of the anointing at Bethany includes the identity of the host, Simon the Leper, and adds an ever more important element as the indignation and criticisms rise toward the woman who burst in, broke a jar of expensive ointment and poured it on the head of Jesus, anointing him for his burial.
Jesus, always on the side of those on the outside of things, the wrongly and easily labeled, speaks and says, "Leave her alone, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her."
Do we?
There are times when our love for Jesus and our acts of discipleship must be extravagant, done in ways that have heads shaking, gossips talking and love lessons being lived.
I think the community of faith needs to stop always playing it safely which also sadly hints at playing it stagnantly.
It was a Children's Sabbath Sunday. We made it a point to invite ALL the children, those we knew for they were a part of us and the ones in our urban neighborhood that we needed to know. We decorated the sanctuary with balloons, stuffed animals and baby blankets and children's "blankies" as the paraments. The sermon was a drama based on Sandy Sasso's children's book, IN GOD'S NAME, where different aspects of creation, the animals and the waters and the trees, offer names of God's identity based on their experience of God.
As we readied and rehearsed for the service, at each practice I asked the parents and grandparents to provide snacks for the kids. We had a lot of milk and cookies...it was glorious! During one post-rehearsal connection over cookies and milk a couple of kids suggested we should have milk and cookies in church more often. DING!! A GREAT IDEA!
Foundational to the church is table. I hope that all have had the opportunity to sit at table with a child and share in milk and cookies.
We went for it.
Parents made chocolate-chip cookies, we bought gallons of whole milk (gave no thought for waistlines nor lactose intolerance), members of the children's ministry team poured milk into Disney characters decorated cups and carefully placed cookies on plates.
At the appropriate time, I expressed that we were going to celebrate being at table in the way kids do best....milk and cookies. I stated this wasn't communion, no cookie would be consecrated. This was just sharing and celebrating in the way kids enjoy. As the organist played up-beat songs from a children's level play list, adults accompanied children around the sanctuary assisting them in passing out milk and cookies.
Who would not receive a homemade chocolate chip cookie and glass of milk from a smiling, giggling child??!!?! In that congregation, more than I thought. Certain members were furious, they glared and stared. I am certain the District Superintendent's (my boss) phone rang frequently that week.
Extravagance? Perhaps not, yet, a definite action to re-mind us of the belovedness of every child; a moment that I hope each child who participated in that service still remember for the time we "stirred it up a bit" in worship.
A wise elder in one of the first congregations I served gave me that advice: "Honey, stir 'em up!" I have and I plan to continue so to do.
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