all out
"Mary brought a pound of costly perfume made from genuine aromatic nard, with which she anointed Jesus' feet. Then she dried His feet with her hair." —John 12:3
Mary of Bethany expressed her love for Jesus by pouring out on Jesus' feet several thousand dollars of perfume. Is this a picture of your relationship with Jesus? Have you thrown all caution to the wind and thrown yourself at Jesus' feet? Have you stopped worrying about what other people think and decided to be a fool for Christ? (1 Cor 4:10) Are you glad to pour out your life "as a libation over the sacrificial service" of the faith of others? (Phil 2:17) Are you totally surrendered to God, or are you still holding back?
Total surrender to Jesus is humanly impossible. However, nothing is impossible for God (Lk 1:37). His grace is always sufficient (2 Cor 12:9). Consequently, by grace, at the foot of Jesus' cross, we can surrender all to Him now. On Calvary, Jesus gave all for us. We can and must give all to Him.
Be like Mary, not like Judas. Be the crucified, not the crucifiers. Be surrendered, not selfish. Love Jesus "with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind" (Lk 10:27).
Prayer: Father, may my Holy Week be as You have planned.
Promise: "I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations." —Is 42:6
Praise: Jane fasted each day of Lent and experienced the love of Jesus as never before.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, August 1, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 6, 1996