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Collect

Creator God, you prepare a new way in the wilderness
and your grace waters the desert.
Help us to recognize your hand working miracles beyond our imagining.
Open our hearts to be transformed by the new thing you are doing,
so that our lives may proclaim the extravagance of your love for all,
and its presence in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Readings

Isaiah 43:16-21

Psalm 126

Philippians 3:4b-14

John 12:1-8

Mary Anoints Jesus

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, ‘Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?’ (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, ‘Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.’