Last Sunday as we shared in stories of Holy Week from Palm Sunday to Gethsemane, we used this paraphrase of the story of Jesus being anointed at Bethany by a woman who may or may not have been called Mary, and who may or may not have had a colourful past and a chaotic present:

Jesus and his friends went to a house in Bethany where they had been invited for a meal.  Whilst they were waiting for the food to be brought to them a woman tiptoed into the room carrying a huge jar of precious perfume.  She came to where Jesus was, opened up her jar of perfume and poured some onto his head and his feet.

As the lovely smell filled the room, people turned to see what was happening, and one of Jesus’ friends, called Judas Iscariot said in a loud voice, “What a waste!  That could have been sold for a lot of money… the money could have been given to help poor people.”

The woman looked sad, but Jesus smiled at her kindly. “Leave her alone,” he said, “she has done something very lovely for me.  There will always be poor people for you to help, but I won’t always be here.  People will forget lots of things but from now on, when people share my stories, they will be told about this woman and what she has done for me.”

Judas was so cross and disappointed, that he slipped off to the religious rulers and agreed to help them trap Jesus.

I wonder who are the people we perceive as 'sinful' - would we allow oursleves to accept their love lavished upon us, graciously and gratefully receiving what they offer?

I wonder who we could do something lovely for today - and who we could allow to bless us with unexpected generosity?

I wonder when and how, like Jesus, we become so cross and disappointed that we, too, walk away from Jesus?

I wonder whose stories we remember and tell, and why or why not?