I will turn in the draft for my book Poverty, Wealthy, and Christian Life: A Lenten Study today, hopefully by 5 pm. It is for Upper Room Books, coming out for Lent 2026. The idea to spend Lent considering material poverty, and wealth, is not typical and yet the Lenten readings are so easily adaptable to the topic.
So I've been writing for months on this idea that the poor will always be with you. And yet today, when thinking about the resistance, this entirely different take on the text came to mind.
Scripture is like that for me, so full of the Holy Spirit that it can mean one thing when read at 10 this morning, and something completely different at 4 this afternoon. What is it saying to you this week?
Dinner first, Suffering later
In John's version of the anointing of Jesus, Mary, Martha, and the very alive Lazarus are present at dinner. Mary does the anointing, Judas, the complaining. Martha is, as usual, doing all the work. Matthew and Mark have the anointing on his head, while Luke and John his feet.
There is much to say about the difference between hands and feet, and about the importance of preparing Jesus for the upcoming trials and death, and about anointing a body for burial, and about women at the dinner table. Other sermons can wrestle with the idea of the poor being with us always, and whether that gives us a pass for caring about them. (The answer is no.)
If you are thinking about resistance to Rome, or resistance in general, this text may take on new meanings. What does it mean even to go to the home of some friends just before you head into the riskiest part of your work? Was this a relaxing dinner, a strategy planning session, or both?
In our present circumstance our government leadership and their unelected and unconfirmed side-kicks throw new emergencies at us every minute. It feels like the siren is on all the time, calling us to run to the fire station. It is overwhelming. The idea of a dinner with friends seems impossible.
Indeed the risk to many is very high. I wish that I could take all of those at risk and bring them to safety. Just a few weeks ago Jesus was lamenting the harm being done and wishing he could bring his children under him "as a hen gathers her brood under her wings" (Lk 13:34). I wish someone would do that today.
But it is not possible to protect everyone and it is not a one-house fire alarm blowing in our ears. We have a tsunami and an earthquake and a flood, along with many, many fires. We cannot save everyone and we cannot give up. It is too much. And as much as I am eager to run around to protest and explore and write letters about every possible situation, that is not going to happen. We have a long haul problem that requires long haul strategies.
One of those strategies is to have dinner with friends. To sit and share stories and to vent and to notice that the bread is especially good tonight, and the olives are marinated in a way that highlights their best flavors. This is a time to ignore what is going on, and also a time to strategize for what best to do next. What will be our focus, and how will we explain it to the others.
Sometimes, as we figure our long haul strategies someone should provide extravagant luxuries. A fine salmon, an aged wine, a ointment wastefully poured out to make the space feel special. The nard is special because Jesus is special, but now we, the body of Christ, must pour extravagance on our siblings in the same way. We must treat one another as royalty, as deserving of the finest. We are used to saving by avoiding luxuries, but now, when the future is not promised, is time to to treat one another as the angels they are.
This cannot be all that we do. The strategizing for tomorrow is critically important. But tonight, we must eat and laugh and celebrate together with friends. Tomorrow or next week or next month will bring tragedy, but it cannot take away the moments we create where Christ is present among us, anointed for the trials ahead.
How do you take breaks in this journey? Who are you eating with and strategizing with? What are your techniques to keep from doom scrolling? Just reply to this email to let me know what's happening.
The Bengsons are singer-songwriter duo that had one of my favorite songs during the pandemic. They seem to have hit it just right with this song of hope as well.
Join the marches on April 5, in D. C. and in towns near you. Register here with the Women's March. In collaboration with 50501 (50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement).
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