While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. But some were there who said to one another in anger, ‘Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.’ And they scolded her. But Jesus said, ‘Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.’
As we learn of the sacrifice of ointment made by the woman (who will be remembered for her sacrifice wherever the gospel is preached), we thought about the sacrifices we make (such as waking up early to go to church or giving up time with my dad so he can spend time with my little brother). It is hard for us to think of sacrifices we make that begin to approach the sacrifice made by this kind and generous woman. Sacrifice is hard, and Jesus asks us to sacrifice. We need to sacrifice more as Jesus has done for us and asks us to do likewise. The 5th and 6th graders had the following ideas for ways we could sacrifice to show our love for God: (1) give money to church and to charities, (2) give food to those who need it, (3) deliver mulch for boy scouts, (4) help out with events at church or for other groups, or (5) donate to book and clothing drives.
Prayer: Dear God: Please help us to give more each day; to give food to the poor and those who are less fortunate. Please help out the people in
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