Hymn Such love by Graham Kendrick
Reading Mark 12:41-44 NIV
The Widow’s Offering
41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43 Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”
Mark 14:3-9 NIV
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wagesa] and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you,b] and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
Ponder: consider all the lotions, perfumes, cologne you have. Some of which are in fancy bottles. Consider these alongside our readings for today
Prayer read by Graham Ascroft
Prayer
Generous God, from ancient times you have urged people not to be afraid to risk being generous.
But we live in a world where the peoples of the industrialised world seem to have grabbed all the riches for themselves.
We’re sorry for our failure to recognise the injustice in the distribution of the world’s resources.
Forgive us for the times when we’ve been mean under the guise of ‘good housekeeping’ or ‘being sensible’.
As we journey with you through Holy Week, help us to be grateful for your bountiful gifts
and to follow you in giving generously without counting the cost.
Amen
