EXTRAVAGANT LOVE: Holy Monday Thoughts

She was a gracious friend, a thankful servant. She just broke an expensive alabaster jar to lather the Master's feet with a most costly ointment.

Very excessive, says the zealous Judas. Utterly extravagant.

Such wasteful splurge of hard-earned silver.

Could have been saved for the poor.

The Master retorted:

Judas my friend,

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW THE MEANING OF EXCESSIVE?

DO YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW THE MEANING OF EXTRAVAGANT?

COME, I WILL TELL YOU!

I need not come down from heaven to help you and save you, I chose to be born like you and the rest. That is excessive. That is extravagant.

I need not work for my keep for I am Lord. I submitted to a simple maiden and a righteous carpenter. That is excessive. That is extravagant.

I need not do anything in that wedding party once when they ran out of wine. I ordered huge jars of plain water and turned those into finest wine. That is excessive. that is extravagant.

I need not feed the multitude who followed me. They would have understood anyway. Still out of pity I handed bread and fish for everyone. All five thousand of them. There were even twelve baskets full of leftovers. That is excessive. That is extravagant.

Martha asked that I rid Lazarus of fever. I waited 'til he's dead and showed everyone what I got.That is excessive. That is extravagant.

That centurion who came to me for his ailing daughter, I healed his daughter even before he could finish saying 'amen.' That is excessive. That is extravagant.

Remember that night when you all caught nothing at sea. And I insisted that you go back and throw the net at the other side. Do you still recall how terrified you all were because there simply was way too many fish that was caught in the net, that it was already bursting at the seams and the boat nearly sank?

Or that time when I stood up at the stern and ordered the winds and the waves to be quiet after you roused me from my deep sleep one stormy evening?

Or that other night when you all saw me strolling on water and mistook me for a ghost?

That, my friend, is excessive. That is extravagant.

And I am not done yet my dear friend.

I am saving the best for last.

I will not only touch the face of the leprous, nor keep company with prostitutes and vagabonds,

I will even wash the feet of my disciples, including yours; that after I tender a banquet for everyone.

I will give my body as your bread.

I will give my blood as your wine.

I will allow my self to be hoisted high up on the cross of shame and infamy as a slaughtered holocaust for the sins of all,

This I will lovingly embrace to pay a debt that none of you could ever do.

I will die for offenses and sins that are not even mine.

I need not do it but I will.

NOW THAT IS EXCESSIVE.

THAT IS EXTRAVAGANT!