What a Waste!

Matthew 26:8 – But seeing this, the disciples were indignant, “Why this waste?”

There are so many things going on here, I could talk for a week! Ugh. Men criticizing women’s disposal of their own property, the focus on money over humanity, the idea that an extravagant gesture of love is necessarily a waste of resources, and what do these men think of the beautiful expensive temple where they worship? Was that too a waste? Think of all the people that could have helped. In our own day we have these magnificent churches serving congregations that are not always good neighbors to “the least of these.” This all boils down to one idea though: what makes something ‘a waste’ depends on your point of view.

The disciples have been with Jesus a long time and they have yet to really take on the new way of seeing and being that Jesus is offering them. They have yet to let it change their hearts and their minds. As the theme song for the Wonder Woman TV series notes, “Change their mind and change the world.” But such an extravagant change takes time, more time for some than others. The disciples aren’t there yet. Their focus remains oriented on economic rather than human concerns. So they miss the love, the crowning, and the sedition inherent in her action. All they can see is the money. 

Of course, I don’t blame them. When one has little money and few prospects for getting money or security, well, that becomes a focus. It becomes a matter of survival. When we are sick, our focus is on getting well. If it is chronic, our focus becomes managing the disease. When we have a disability, a big focus is managing it. Of course, not everyone and not all the time. It’s not unusual. When I first became sick, that was my major focus. I read books, went to the doctor, noted my symptoms. It consumed me for a while. But over time, that becomes both boring and unnecessary. Now, I’m fortunate enough to be able to manage it easily, but navigating poverty is not so easy. It takes a lot of time and hard work. So, the disciples, who are poor, seeing a woman pour out an expensive jar of oil on Jesus and getting angry is understandable. I’m being super generous here, though, because they go on to give a different reason. 

On its face, though, it’s a good thing to think about. Was this a waste? Why or why not? This brings to mind some broader questions: are we obligated to use our resources with others in mind? Is this use a waste? The oil by itself could not solve the problem of poverty, but it could help. Is it okay in that circumstance? What if it could solve poverty? Would that change the answer? What about stewardship of our own resources? Do we think of the planet when we make decisions? Do we think of others? Do we, in other words, waste our own God-given resources? 

The answers to these questions are not universal. There will be different answers in differing contexts and with differing purposes. In the example Matthew gives, the context is anointing King/Christ and expressing love. It is also an act of resistance to empire. There was a purpose to her act. She knew what she was doing – she was not mindlessly using the oil. to me, these things lean toward her action not being wasteful. 

In the real world, it is not so easy. If I go to a movie for entertainment and I am in need of taking my mind off something, okay. If I go because I’m escaping from living itself, well, maybe not a good use of resources. I have been thinking lately about how my husband and I spend our money. We have tried to support restaurants, the USPS, organizations who are helping out in this time of covid-19, as well as ourselves. We didn’t often go to restaurants before the pandemic, but there are some we want to be there when it’s over. My husband and I have decided to spend money for good purposes, from a love of God and hopefully furthering God’s ends. Spending money intentionally, acting with purpose as this woman did, is not wasteful to my mind.

It’s easy to judge others without knowing their circumstances. Honestly, we probably do it more often than we’d like to admit. For today, let’s think about the resources at our disposal. I have discussed money, but time, property, other possessions are also resources. How are we using our resources? Do we express our love and gratitude to God? Do we act to increase the love in the world? Or do we satisfy our wants and desires instead?

B