Judas loved the feel of cold coins
rubbing together
in the palm of his hand
but Mary preferred
the fragrance of pure perfume
lavished on the feet
of her Heavenly Master—
something special
for someone sacred.
Still, it was less
than he was worth.
Carve the name of this radiant one
upon your heart, he
who paints the world with light
and writes his love for us
in blood.
Who is this Root of David
who strikes the rock
and raises water
in the wilderness
causes rivers to run
in the desert?
And what does
he require of us?
Honor and devotion
obedience and praise
as lavish as Mary’s
expensive perfume.
It’s a matter of priority.
We owe him skin and bone
heart and breath
for deleting eternal death
from our stories.
Our talents, our tithes
our bodies
as living sacrifices—
is anything too much
to surrender?
Ask Judas
whose cold coins
failed to satisfy
his soul.
John 12:1–8, Isaiah 43:16–21