A Touch of Elegance
by Peggy Harris W.A.S.H. Board Chair

She very carefully counted out the money she had.  Would it be enough?  It seemed so, as she gathered the coins into a small piece of  cloth and tied it securely around her neck.  As she wended her way to the market place she remembered her past.

Mary had grown up a believer in God.  In her family were prominent religious leaders.   Her sister, Martha, had the gift of hospitality and served many wonderful meals to guests passing through their town.  One special guest that Mary had noticed in particular, was a tall young man with several followers.  This man was different from the other men she had known.  Oh yes, he was much different.  She was used to evil men and had been used by men to satisfy their sexual appetites.  It had all started with her uncle Simon, who was an upstanding member of the community.  Nobody would ever believe her if she had told them that he was the one who first violated her as a very young girl.  Now men came and went and she could hardly tell the difference.   What did it matter anyway?  The only man she respected and admired was her brother, Lazarus, but she could not talk to him either.  Both Martha and Lazarus assumed Mary  was happy with the desolate life she was living.

Then along came this young man so different from all the other men she had known.  When he looked at her it seemed as though he could look right through her but he was not repulsed by her lifestyle or did he ask for her sexual favors.  This man was definitely different.

Over the past couple of years or so he had visited their home many times and found peace from the crowds there.  As she listened to him talk she felt pulled away from her past and a desire to create a new life.  However she had no idea how to do it.   He talked to her many different times and actually started her in a new life not just a couple of times but a total of seven times.  He was the only one she had ever known who did not give up on her. 

Now that her life had changed inwardly and outwardly she wanted to do something for him.   He had been so kind and patient with her.  She had thought carefully about what to give him and finally decided on a very special elegant gift.  She had money saved over the past years and decided that now was the time to use it.  No matter that the money had come from the men she had known in a carnal way.  No matter that Martha and Lazarus would consider using "that money" as scandalous.  As far as she was concerned how the money had come to her was not important, it was all she had to give and she had determined to use it for this very special gift.

She came to the small shop in the market place.  The aroma of exotic perfumes wafted out the windows and the bell tinkled as she walked through the door.  It took awhile for her eyes to adjust from the bright sunlight outdoors to the cooler darkness in the shop.  The shop keeper, fortunately was not one of her former customers!  As she described the very special gift she wanted he looked at her and saw a worn woman that looked older than what her years must have actually been.  He wondered how this neatly dressed woman had acquired such wealth, but then that was none of his business.   As he showed her the many different perfumes in his shop nothing seemed to interest her.  Finally he pulled off a dust covered shelf from the back of the shop his rarest and costliest perfume.  It was in a small gold flask with a jeweled stopper set in an exquisite hand carved alabaster box.  When Mary saw this she knew it was what she was looking for.  She had never seen anything so elegant.  She had just exactly the amount the merchant asked for in his final price.  She hugged the small flask to her bosom and left the shop. 

The party at Simon's house was in full swing when Mary arrived, late as usual.  Martha had been helping with the food as was customary.  The many guests were surrounding the young man and his friends in the center of the room around the large table.    Musicians had been hired to play and talk and music filled the air. 

Mary thought this would be a good time to present her gift without others noticing.   She made her way silently to the couch where the young man was stretched out at the table.  As she knelt by his feet she began pouring the contents of the small vial over his feet.  Suddenly she realized she had brought no towel to wipe his feet.   How could she be so careless!  It was so typical of her to do something and not think it all through.  Well, it was too late now.  What should she do?   In a flash she undid her long thick hair and used it to wipe his feet! 

Suddenly the fragrance had filled the room and people began looking around for the source of this marvelous scent.  Their glances fell on Mary and she was discovered.   Mumbling and grumbling began to be heard.  Why, who did she think she was anyway to spend that kind of money so foolishly.  One couldn't expect much more of that kind of a woman!  If the Master knew who this woman was that was touching his feet he certainly wouldn't have anything to do with her if he truly was a prophet! 
       
Jesus knew what they were all saying and he lifted his hands to  stop the talk and said on her behalf, "Why are you bothering this woman?  It is a fine and beautiful thing that she has done for me.  You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me.  What she did was to pour this perfume on my body to get me ready for burial.  Now, I assure you that wherever this gospel (story) is preached all over the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her."   Matthew 26:10-13 Good News Bible.

As Jesus turned his eyes to Mary, she saw in them acceptance of her touch of elegance, acceptance of her changed life now renewed in God.  Her heart was filled and overflowing with the love of heaven.  This, she now knew was the kind of love she had been searching for all her life. 

Each of us has some of Mary in us.  We are torn and tattered by sin.  We can be changed only by the power of God and our acceptance of His perfect gift to us.  Then we can live our lives as a touch of elegance, the fragrance of heaven before the world.

This page last updated on Sunday January 29, 2006 11:13 AM

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