Bold Beauty - July 16
“…a woman came to (Jesus) with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment,
and she poured it on his head as he sat at the table.” (Matthew 26:7)
Today’s Readings: AM Psalm 37:1-18; PM Psalm 37:19-42; Joshua 3:14-4:7; Rom. 12:1-8; Matt. 26:1-16
What comes to mind when you hear the word “beauty?” How would you describe beauty?
I see an example of beauty in a broken shell. It reminds me of combing the beach with my daughter, Kat, when she was a little girl, and my mother. When Kat collected her bucket full of broken pieces of shells, Mama and I glanced at each other in confusion because we have only picked up (mostly) whole shells. Kat exclaims that they’re ALL beautiful, even the broken ones, and she shows us the colors, patterns, and textures she sees, even in their brokenness. There’s beauty in brokenness, beauty in this memory of loving and binding relationship, and beauty in God’s creation. Beauty is all around us.
Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes in every part of life. It can engage any of the five senses and be experienced through the full range of emotions. Beauty is shared and experienced through the mind, body, and soul, and it has a way of cracking our hearts open. When our hearts are open, Beauty ennobles us to think, to take action, and is often beyond words. I have come to recognize Beauty as sacred and transcendent. This morning’s gospel passage captures bold beauty.
Just outside the scene, there’s surging energy with people gathering from far and wide for the Passover festival at the Temple. Riots are not unusual during the time of the festival and emotions are raging more intensely from within the palace of the high priest as they conspire to arrest and crucify Jesus. Jesus knows he will soon be put to death and this woman who is not named and does not speak apparently knows also. As a woman, she takes a risk and approaches him boldly with her extravagant offering of ointment. While oil and water would have been acceptable, the woman chooses very costly ointment and she uses it lavishly by pouring it generously on his head. Though she doesn’t speak, she doesn’t need to in order to participate in his suffering and mission of love and service to others. I sense that her heart is broken. She is moved to give this gesture used for burial and fully present to this intimate and important moment with Jesus, amidst all the distractions beyond them. Her actions and presence speak for her. And Jesus receives her offering, even defends her offering by lifting her as an example of self-sacrificing love and service that they must continue after his death and resurrection. This is bold beauty.
Now… Consider 2020 which is not unlike the scene in Bethany Village outside Jerusalem with heightened emotions and tensions. We’re suffering the loss of human contact and the death of our dreams for graduations, birthday celebrations, weddings, vacations, concerts, and so many other hopes we’ve envisioned, not to mention devastating death tolls being caused from the social, environmental, economic, and physical ills of our communities and nation. And we’re reimagining life looking ahead.
It’s part of the human condition to experience suffering, loss, and death, and these experiences make us vulnerable and break our hearts. But through the cracks, our suffering opens our hearts to Beauty. Beauty is a reflection of God and Beauty heals. We all could use some bold Beauty in our lives right now!
-- Susan Oakes, Seminarian
Susan Oakes is a rising senior at the Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. This summer, she is serving as a seminarian intern at Saint Stephen's, her sponsoring parish for ordination.
Questions for Self Reflection: How do you define beauty?
Daily Challenge: Look for beauty today. Describe it in detail and notice how it makes you feel and how it reflects the nature of God to you.