“You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” (John 12:8)
Did Jesus really say that?
Someone had just poured perfume all over Jesus’ feet, apparently valued at about a year’s wages! Surely, there were better ways of spending that sort of money?
I had a friend who had been involved in catering for a visit Mother Teresa made to Melbourne many years ago. He said that when the legendary nun saw the food that had been laid out for her, she said, “No, no”, and quickly organised her nuns to take it outside and offer it to homeless people on the street. That’s what we expect from a great saint like Mother Theresa. Wouldn’t we expect the same from Jesus?
“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (John 12:5)
That’s the spirit! It seems that the disciples were finally getting the message!
Well … No! The disciple who said that was Judas (who was about to betray Jesus), and Jesus responded by putting Judas in his place: “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” (John 12:8)
Was Mother Theresa a better Christian than Jesus?
Well … it’s worth recognising that Jesus was quoting the Torah: “There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be open-handed toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.” (Deuteronomy 15:11)
The fact that poverty isn’t going way isn’t a reason to just look after no.1. It’s a reason to knuckle-down and commit to sharing for the long-term. That is totally in line with Jesus’ teachings and lifestyle. Even so, Jesus also believed in partying!
Jesus partied a LOT! Jesus partied so much, in fact, that He gained a reputation as a glutton and a drunkard! (Matthew 11:19) Jesus was fully committed to sharing with the poor, but He was also committed to celebrating, and He taught us that a life of service has to be punctuated with regular moments of festivity.
In a sense, that’s what the Sabbath was all about. “Six days you shall work, but on the seventh …” (Exodus 34:21). The seventh day was established as a day of rest and celebration, and the ancient Hebrew laws about tithing had a similar rationale.
Religious leaders often speak of the tithe as the ten percent tax that God expects you to give to the church, but if you look at what the Israelites did with their ten percent, they brought it all into Jerusalem and they spent it on a great big party!
“And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household.” (Deuteronomy 14:26)
It’s a little confusing, isn’t it? We know we’re called to take up our cross and follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24). It’s a life of service and self-denial. Even so, Jesus says we mustn’t forget to laugh and dance and sing while we’re at it!
Judas evidently failed to grasp this paradox. Mary (who poured out the ointment) seemed to understand. I’m still trying to work it out. I’m sure Bonhoeffer was right when he said, “When Christ calls us, He bids us come and die.” Even so, when Jesus calls us, it seems He also invites us to join Him for a drink and a laugh!
Our Sunday Eucharist
We celebrated a very special Sunday Eucharist last weekend. I was privileged to have the unique combination of Diane Bates and Jakob Pyeatt with me on the panel, and it was great! I’ve pasted the week’s most popular shorts below and, as ever, you can see all our shorts on the Sunday Eucharist Instagram page and watch the entire replay of last Sunday via our YouTube channel.
This Sunday I’m looking forward to having my old friends, David Baldwin and Tom Toby back with me. I’m not sure yet whether we’ll have a pre-recorded contribution from Dr Sizer but I am hopeful. Join us from midday @ TheSundayEucharist.com, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Faithia or Streamyard.
Please note that this coming Sunday marks the end of Daylight Savings in my part of the world. If you live outside of Sydney, we may well be screening one hour later than you are used to. I do hope that won’t be an issue for anyone.
Let me work your corner
If you’d like to see my work continue, please click here to make a one-off donation. If you can afford a monthly contribution, sign up at Patreon.com and choose either:
Middleweight – $10/month (community mentoring)
- Enrol in the Fighting Fit training program
- Access member-only training videos
- Engage in the members-only forum
Super-Middleweight $50/month (remote mentoring)
- All of the above +
- One-on-one mentoring via email, phone, or Skype
Heavyweight – $100/month (in-person mentoring)
- All of the above +
- Training with Father Dave’s Old School Boxing Academy
Superheavyweight – $200/month (intensive in-person mentoring)
- All of the above +
- One weekend per month at Binacrombi Bush Camp.
Every dollar helps keep the wheels turning – the websites, the newsletters, the broadcasts, the boxing club and the bush camp. Sign up at Patreon.com.
What’s On?
- Saturday, April 4th – Boxing @Legends Gym in Kensington from 3.00 pm
- Sunday, April 5th – Our Eucharist from midday via thesundayeucharist.com, Facebook , YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Faithia or Streamyard
As you can see from the photos, above and below, we’ve had some great times this week in the ring, and a brilliant weekend at Binacrombi. As you can also see from calendar, I don’t have much scheduled for next week. That’s because I’m following my own advice and spending a week in rest and celebration with my children!
It’s my son, Soren’s, engagement party on Saturday night, and my daughter, Fran’s, birthday on Sunday, and, thanks to the generosity of my beloved, Joy, I’m heading to Japan on Monday for a week’s holiday with two of my darling daughters!
These are all special opportunities for me. I’m deeply grateful. I’ve been promising Fran for years that one day I’ll take her to Disneyland but, not only can’t I afford it, but I probably won’t be allowed into the USA for a while due to all my trips to Iran.
So … our tickets for Disneyland in Tokyo are booked, and we’ll also be travelling to Hiroshima where, in addition to visiting a peace museum, we plan to spend a day on Bunny Island – an island off the coast from Hiroshima totally inhabited by rabbits! I know that’s not everybody’s idea of Heaven, but it comes pretty close for us! 😉
Of course, I am conscious as I plan this holiday that the world as a whole is degenerating fast. 140,000 Palestinians have apparently been forcibly displaced from Rafah, only to be hunted down by Israeli quadcopters as they fled. And as the Gaza Genocide continues, death squads roam the Syrian coast, murdering civilians.
Is it possible to truly celebrate life while all this is going on? As a follower of Jesus, I believe this is essential. We must learn to find the light in the darkness and celebrate it. I’m intending to do exactly that next week – celebrating this gift of time with my children (and countless rabbits). 😉
I not sure if I’ll be publishing a newsletter next week. My good sense tells me to take a week off but I’m not sure if I’ll be able to bring myself to do that. I have sorted the Sunday Eucharist for April 12th. Father Mark has graciously offered to take the helm.
It’s tricky – trying to find a balance between service and celebration – but we need both, and indeed, our passion for enriching the lives of others must grow out of our experience that human life is worth celebrating.
Keep fighting the Good Fight till next we meet, and be sure to take time to celebrate!
Your brother in the Good Fight,
www.christianswithdepression.com
P.S. My TV appearance on Iranian TV show, Mahfel, was finally screened this week. I’ve included a clip below. Hopefully, some of you guys understand it. I don’t. 😕
P.P.S. You’ll also see below a notice about a Candlelight Vigil for Syria this Saturday evening. I’ll be at my son’s engagement party so can’t attend but I hope you can. You might also like to sign this petition, calling for an end to the evolving Syrian genocide.
Father Dave on Mahfel (Iranian TV)
About Father Dave Smith
Preacher, Pugilist, Activist, Father of four
