EXTRAVAGANCE

INTRODUCTION

Extravagance! The title of my homily is, “Extravagance!”

Sometimes extravagance is nice. Sometimes it’s too much. Sometimes simplicity seems better. Sometimes it’s hard to figure out what’s best.

Extravagance

TODAY’S GOSPEL

In today’s gospel Mary took some very expensive perfumed oil – 300 days wages expensive and anointed Jesus’ feet and  dried them with her hair. Now that’s extravagance – and the scent was sent all through the house.

And Judas – the Iscariot – got riot feelings over this gesture of love.

And Judas – who was about to betray Jesus – said, “Why wasn’t this oil sold and the money given to the poor.”

And Jesus – said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You’ll always have the poor with you – but you won’t always have me.”

TITLE AND THOUGHT

The title and thought of my homily is, “Extravagance.”

It’s good to take some time sometimes – and think about when others were extravagant to us and we were extravagant to others.

Extravagance – those special gifts we poured on kids at Christmas – and the joy filled the house.

Extravagance – those money tips the father of the bride or bridegroom handed out to everyone who served at a wedding for their kid.

Extravagance – the expensive card with extravagant words a husband gave to his wife – and it said, “Happy Anniversary – July 31^st.” and then the words, “See inside for the explanation.” And she opened it up – and her husband wrote, “I know you thought, ‘July 31^st isn’t our anniversary. But it was July 31^st – a week before I actually talked to you the first time – that I spotted you sitting there a few tables away and I said, “Woo! Look at her! Woo. Woo. Woo. Woof, woof, woof.”

Extravagance – bringing the family to Disneyworld – even though it would mean taking a second job for the Christmas season

Extravagance – it was raining – but her hair was just done – and her husband hailed a cab – even though they couldn’t afford it. It was during their public transportation days.

Extravagance – putting a 20 in the poor box – so the poor could have more.

Extravagance – holding in a story we’re dying to tell – but we’re all ears – allowing the others to tell their stories.

Extravagance – feeding the 5000 – feeding the 500 billion ever since with the Bread of Life – Holy Communion.

Extravagance – the kid next door shovels our snow and cuts our grass – knowing we’re getting older. Extravagance.

Extravagance – letting the other get in the elevator ahead of us – and saying to the wrinkled old lady we let in – “Wow that’s a great perfume – it’s gotta be super expensive.

CONCLUSION

Thank you God for being so extravagant - giving me all these extra days of life – these extra breaths of fresh air – and a chance to see Spring spring into life with all kinds of flowers and resurrection – and new life. Amen. Come Lord Jesus. Amen.