No More Excuses
By Daryle Brown
CRS Board of Directors
Executive Director of Multi-Media Communications at Trinity United Church of Christ
“For you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.”
- Matthew 26:11 NRSV
This scripture is found within the story of the alabaster jar. A woman came to see Jesus as he was a guest at Simon the Leper’s home, with an expensive and very valuable jar of ointment or perfume. She anointed Jesus with it, and upon seeing this, the disciples grew angry with her, “this could have been sold for a large sum, and the money given to the poor.” Let me pause on this statement for a moment . . .
One of my pet peeves is how people always want to tell others what to do with their money and resources. It seems that everyone knows how to better spend another person’s money. This woman was inspired to anoint Jesus – teacher, God among us, healer, exerciser of demons, miracle worker – and all the disciples could think of is what else could be done with this gift. As Jesus sets them straight, reminding them that he would be dead soon and in fact the woman was anointing Him and preparing him for burial, He closes with, “you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.”
Jesus, when he said this, was speaking of the urgency of the moment. Focusing on Jesus during these last days was appropriate. There would not be many more opportunities. Perhaps the disciples simply could not believe the warnings that Jesus had been giving them of his impending death? (1) Jesus, however, knew time was short.
Unfortunately, this admonition to the disciples has been distorted in our modern context and used as an excuse to abandon the fight to end poverty. When the reality is that Jesus was repeating a phrase from Deuteronomy (15:11), as Moses instructed his people, “There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So, I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors.”
As we move toward our Easter Celebration of the Risen Christ, and beyond, and we end our Lenten fasting, consider the command given to the people and seek out opportunities to address poverty in our community and world.
Yes, there will always be poor among us, but there doesn’t have to be.
God’s blessings to you all.
Daryle Brown
CRS Board of Directors
Executive Director of Multi-Media Communications at Trinity United Church of Christ
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(1) Mark 8:31, Matt. 17:22-23, Mark 9:30-32, Luke 18:31-34, are some examples - three times in each of the Synoptic Gospels