Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem
When I had been recently widowed, and lived in Florida far away from all my relatives, a student's family invited me for Thanksgiving Dinner. Although they were hard-core liberals (they had even campaigned for Obama...eek), I accepted the invitation. Politics were not discussed, and I was enjoying my meal, when suddenly one of the guests began a diatribe against the eeevil Pilgrims and how they massacred the Native Americans. She went on and on. Suddenly, I quietly said, "Don't you realize that I'm from Massachusetts, and a member of the very Tribe you are describing, and that's NOT what happened?" The woman went silent. She had nothing to say, because she had not been speaking from knowledge, but from a "script". That was the end of the discussion, as I did not wish to further humiliate the other guest with the FACTS. Besides, everyone else realized she was just "virtue-signaling" anyway.
Today, we are revisiting a story that we covered just a few weeks ago, but now from a different angle. There are more than one instances of a woman anointing Jesus, and this is not the one in the home of the Pharisee, nor is it the one where a "sinful woman" washes Jesus' Feet with her tears. This Mary is the sister of Martha and Lazarus, NOT "Mary Magdeline" as my favorite Bible Illustrator, James Tissot, innocently labeled his fine picture of this event. This is a family-and-friends dinner in the home of the risen Lazarus with Jesus, Lazarus' family, and the Disciples.
That is what makes Judas' remark about "selling the perfume and giving the money to the poor" even more egregious. He was among friends. He didn't have to say anything!
People who are hiding something dark and evil often will attempt to elevate themselves with lofty, pious-sounding words, and often at the most unnecessary, inappropriate moments. We have a new term in our culture that describes this, called "Virtue-Signaling". It may be a new term, but it has always been around.
Come and Pray For the Peace of Jerusalem, For Our FRiends in Need, For Persecuted Believers, and For Our Beloved Nation.
"The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation. Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance..” Psalm 33 NASB
God Bless America!
Blessings To All Who Visit This Garden of Prayer.
This Symbol Represents Christians in The Middle East, who desperately need our Prayers.
Hallelujah and Amen
ML/LTOS