Just Two Women
While he was at Bethany in the house of Simo 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…And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Let her alone, who do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me…She has done what she could, she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the good news in proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
~ Mark 14:3, 5b-6, 8-9
Here we have one courageous woman! She took a deliberate, well-planned action that defied every tradition of her culture. She understood what Jesus was saying about his coming death. She was convinced that he was the Messiah. She gave Jesus a gift of love and compassion and a gift of proclamation and prophecy.
This unnamed woman made an unacceptable act a very appropriate way of declaring Jesus the Messiah. She took a fresh approach and did what she could to show her love and devotion. She knew she could not keep Jesus alive; she knew she was voiceless in her society, so she did what she could and succeeded.
This woman is not often remembered. But she can be a model of commitment, of faith, of willingness to risk, of living life of love in the midst of the pain and hurt of the world. We too are called to take appropriate actions in light of the Gospel in new and creative ways. Are we committed to doing so?
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb…Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew. “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them,’I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord;” and she told them that he had said these things to her.
~ John 20: 1, 15-20
Mary Magdalene was a leader of the women who had been healed by Jesus and who followed him. She was a woman of wealth and used her wealth to support Jesus’ ministry. She had followed Jesus to Jerusalem and been present at the crucifixion. She came to the tomb on that first Easter morning ready to assist in the preparation of Jesus’ body.
But when the man who she thought was the gardener called her by name, her entire life was once again changed. She immediately shared her good news; she stood firm and witnessed to the greatness of God; and she continued to tell her story within the early church.
The stories of these two women are part of our legacy as Christians. Celebrate the risen Christ as did they!
These reflections are for use during the week of April 4 – 10, 2021 and based on the lectionary for April 4.
This will be my last blog at Scarritt Bennett Center. I am retiring again and moving away from Nashville. May God continue to bless you; and may your life be centered in loving and seeking justice for all God’s children.
Joyce D. Sohl
Joyce D. Sohl has been Laywoman-in-Residence since 2009 as a full-time volunteer. She retired as CEO of United Methodist Women in 2004. She is the author of 4 books, a teacher, retreat leader, writer and non-professional musician. Here at the Center her work is in the area of Spirituality & the Arts with such programs as Tuesdays in the Chapel, Vespers & All That Jazz, Poet’s Corner, quarterly retreats, and art exhibits.