Love’s Price Tag

Picture it: Mary anointing Jesus’ feet with very costly perfumed oil. Truly this was an extravagance, one that likely involved financial sacrifice for Mary. “Who does that?” says Judas. “What a waste!” Judas’ comments stemmed from pure greed. Mary’s actions arose from pure love.

How can we show that kind of love to Jesus? By going around spritzing people with expensive perfume? Hardly. But, seeing Jesus’ face in their faces, we can respond in other ways. Instead of ducking into the next aisle in the grocery store to avoid that woman who always wants to talk, that kind of love says hello and stops to listen to her chatter. That kind of love reads, for the umpteenth time, the same storybook your toddler brings you when you really, really want time to yourself to read that new bestseller everyone is talking about. That kind of love takes note of the person sitting by himself in a front pew at church and chooses to sit with him so he won’t be alone. That kind of love is a child asking for donations to a charity instead of birthday presents.

That kind of love? Priceless.

Lord Jesus, may my response to your sacrificial love be a life returned in love that doesn't count the cost. Amen. — KBL