Mary loved Jesus deeply. In this passage, Mary expressed her love for Jesus by anointing his feet with expensive perfume and wiping it with her hair. Love compelled her to express herself in this way while Jesus was with her. Through her act of love, her relationship with Jesus grew deeper. While it may have seemed like a waste, Jesus graciously received her, saying it was meant for the day of his burial.

Jesus always welcomes and accepts us as we are, no matter what others think. The Word became flesh, not just to tell us the right way to think or act, but to have a relationship with us. Love is not a feeling but a vulnerable expression from the depth of our hearts and the tender embrace of it. Living a life of love is an expression of who we are to God and God’s embrace of us.
Application: Lord, in our vulnerability, you embrace us. May your love compel us to continue to open our hearts to you and grow in love.
One Word: Love while you can