"Doing the Best We Can" - Mark 14:1-9 - April 13, 2003

Normally on Palm Sunday we would read the story of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey. In the gospel of Mark that story is found in chapter 11. As Jesus entered "they spread their garments and palm branches and cried out, Hosannah! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord."

Following that event Jesus returned to Bethany for a few more days, continuing to instruct his disciples and confronting those in authority about their lack of faith and understanding of what God expected of them. It was also in that period of time (according to Mark) that Jesus cleansed the temple, advocated forgiveness, spoke about eternal life and proclaimed the golden rule. He also lifted up the widow who gave her last coin to the offering and encouraged his followers to endure in anxious times. As you can see, many significant teachings happened between the parade of palms and the last supper but those stories tend to be untold.

Everyone loves a parade. On Palm Sunday, the followers of Jesus celebrated as he entered Jerusalem. In Iraq this week, the people were celebrating the fall of the regime of Hussein. A parade or celebration is a joyous occasion. People are upbeat, happy and there is a true air of excitement. But, do you realize what happens after a parade? Someone has to come along and pick up all the trash. Someone has to put the community back in order. Life returns to normal where the masses have to be fed, watered and treated with medicine and supplies. The world may be celebrating over the liberation of the people in Iraq, but now the real work begins. A nation has to be totally reconstructed, people have to have food. They need an infrastructure, emergency services, etc. The war was easy, now comes the real challenge.

Today is confirmation, an exciting time in the life of the church. Everyone shares the moment with these young adults who have become new members of the church. The real work, however begins once the celebration has ended. The work of the church requires commitment and dedication. It means one must assume the life as a servant.

The story of the woman, pouring costly oil over his head is Jesus’ last teaching prior to the last supper. It is an excellent example of what needs to follow the parade. The story illustrates that followers must dedicate themselves to the faith and accept the role as servants. "It was just two days before the Passover." He was at Simon’s home when the woman came and poured the expensive oil upon him. But, his disciples were critical of the woman’s act of kindness. They thought it to be wasteful. "Why was this ointment wasted? It could have been sold for 300 denarii or given to the poor," they said.

Jesus responded to their complaints by telling them to leave her alone. "She has done a beautiful thing to me," he said. "She has done the best she could." What a teachable moment that was. Here was a woman who was powerless but realized the prominence of Jesus. She most likely used all of her life’s savings to purchase the expensive oil. Although the disciples complained about her actions, Jesus affirmed her and told his followers to back off.

The woman wanted Jesus, who would be crucified in just a few days, to receive a blessing. In other words, she wanted to give her Lord a special gift because of all he meant to her. Here was a man who was about to die and she felt he deserved the very best.

When I counsel folks who are going through a struggle, such as divorce, or some personal loss, I tell them to spoil themselves a little. When life presents folks with painful problems they need some "good stuff" to ease their pain. This I believe, is what the woman was doing for Jesus. She wanted him to be anointed with the "good stuff" before his death.

When it comes to matters of faith, God deserves our very best. Why then did the disciples complain? For me they are basically no different than the rank and file members of the church who want to cut corners and do things as cheaply as possible. Let’s be honest, we are willing to save our money for a cruise to the Caribbean, but when it comes to spending money for the church we complain when someone has an idea to make the church more accessible or user friendly.

For some lavishness is the same thing as sinfulness. For me this story implies that Jesus believes that "quality" is essential to our faith. It amazes me that few people are complaining about the billions of dollars we have spent on missiles but if we were to suggest a capital improvement program there would be many groans and gripes.

The reason we are being successful with the war in Iraq is because of the hi-tech, extremely expensive hardware that we have used. Doesn’t God deserve quality too? When folks give quality gifts to the church we should celebrate their passion for the faith, not complain.

Those who complain, like the disciples did, are too worried about what things cost or they use the rationalization that we should give to the poor. "The poor you will always have," Jesus said, "but you will not always have me."

When a person goes out of their way to do something special for someone else, it is because they want to. They have made a decision and they are responding from a deep conviction. They are doing the best they can, and like the woman who poured the expensive oil on Jesus’ head, their actions are valid.

In counseling we have a theory that goes something like this. When a person is upset at the action of another person it is because they see a behavior which is much like their own. When we see ourselves we don’t like what we see and therefore we criticize the other person.

I remember as a young man, talking with my friends in church instead of listening to the minister’s sermon. Now, I get frustrated when I observe people who don’t seem to be listening or pay attention. On the other hand, I have learned that there will always be people who will be critical of my messages no matter what. Over the years I have learned not to get upset about those who complain. Why? Because I know I am doing the best I can.

The woman was doing the best she could. Perhaps the disciples were actually jealous of her behavior. Wishing they could be more like her, they complained instead of doing what she did. Sometimes we complain about others because we are jealous.

A wealthy man died, apparently without leaving a will. According to law, his estate was divided among surviving relatives through a public auction. During the auction three distant cousins who had fought for years began to bid, often competing with each other. This only drove up the price.

Toward the end, the auctioneer held up a dusty framed photograph, but no one bid on it. Finally, a woman approached the auctioneer and asked if she could buy it for a dollar, which is all she had. She said she had been a servant of the wealthy man, and recognized the picture - it was of the deceased man’s only son, who had died trying to rescue a drowning child.

The auctioneer accepted the dollar and the woman went home and started to place the photograph on a table beside her bed. It was at that point that she noticed a bulge in the back of the frame. She undid the backing and there, to her amazement, was the rich man’s will. His instructions were simple: "I bequeath all my possessions to whomever cares enough for my son to cherish this photograph."

The woman, who was a servant, cherished and respected her employer enough to want his son’s picture. No doubt, the entire family and all those present at the auction will remember her for a long time.

Notice that Jesus also says that the woman in our story will be "remembered." Her story will be repeated for generations because of her individual sacrifice. Jesus lifts up the woman as a role model. Those who do the best they can will not be forgotten. Our confirmands will not be remembered because they went through confirmation. They will be remembered for their contribution to the mission and ministry of the church. This is all God expects of us. As long as we are doing the best we can, God will remember us, just as the woman in our story was remembered.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio