Go fer it

Mark 14:1-11

        I have noted that that we humans have a penchant to go full tilt when we make a decision about something. Moderation is rarely something we engage in our hyper materialistic Madison avenue society. Of course some people are more afflicted than others but in general, we make a decision and go forward with whatever the plan is.  We are not likely to admit we are wrong. We are unlikely to change course lest it affect our self worth, which, for some reason we tie to always being right. This is a horrible thing unto itself and I suspect it's the reason we are so polarized as a society.

         But the basic tenet here is that we all search and when we do we go gang busters. We want to succeed. So if you want to be a millionaire, you go for it. You want to be spiritual? Read books, attend seminars, go to church, and well, you go for it. If we want sex, we know where to look and we, yep, we go for it. Not much stops us. We are a nation of go getters, we always succeed. Bravo. I think.

         The problem is, sometimes we are wrong. Sometimes we succeed at others expense. Sometimes we rationalize and romanticize and we go for the goal with a kind of tunnel vision that precludes rational thinking and any possibility of retreat even if we do realize we are wrong.

         I can't help but think that Judas, for whatever reason, made his decision and may have had a moment or two (or three) when he had a second thought about what he was doing. He may have actually  realized he was in too deep, maybe made a mistake but human nature what it is (and probably was then too),  he went ahead , pedal to the metal so to speak. Of course after it was all said and done, he really did have a horrific realization of what he'd done. He fell into a very worldly trap and took to a worldly centered, rash decision and took his own life.

         If there is a take home message it would be about moderation and our ability to admit we are wrong. We should not let ourselves get tunnel vision about anything and certainly not about worldly things. God gave us brains for a good reason - to think. We are charged to examine, think, reassess and perhaps change course.

          There are numerous examples out there of ways to examine your conscience, to re-evaluate what you are doing during your day, during your life. A very worthwhile endeavor. If only you would ask "What would Jesus do", that would be a fine start. Another good question might be to ask yourself if the action you are considering is based in love? 

          

         

          

The Plot to Kill Jesus

It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; for they said, ‘Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.’

The Anointing at Bethany

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.’

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.