Making Service Personal Reflection
April, 2011 “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” - John 12:8 - We read in this story in John chapter 12, a beautiful account of Mary, Lazarus’ sister, using costly perfumed oil to anoint the feet of Jesus. The story escalates when Judas becomes angry that this expensive oil was “wasted” and attempts to justify his anger by claiming the oil could have been sold and the money given to the poor. How beautifully does Jesus respond, “You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” Jesus hardly says this in defeat that we should not worry about the poor, since they will always be among us. Jesus was constantly surrounding himself with the poor, needy, and outcast. Jesus is directing us as Christians to our identity - we are to live close to those who suffer. The poor will always be among us, because the world will always produce poor people, and they will find a home in the church.
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