For the last few days, we've focused on the actions that we take as a result of loving deeply. As followers of Jesus who love deeply we take action in the following ways. We love deeply when we  1) do the unexpected 2) do the unaffordable, and 3) do it now. As we've studied this three-fold progression, we've looked closely at the story where Mary anoints Jesus' feet with oil. As we consider what it means to love deeply and to do it now, it's helpful to look at the end of this story in Mark 14:9.  After Jesus has been anointed with the expensive oil by Mary, Jesus says to those who are gathered, "She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial."

She has done what she could and she did it now. Mary used what she had on hand and she used it now! Mary anoints Jesus in the hours before he celebrated his last Passover meal. Mary and the crowd with him could probably sense that Jesus did not have much time with them - she saw an opportunity to love deeply and she did it when she had the chance. She used what she had; she broke that bottle open and let her love for Jesus spill out!

How many of us are given opportunities to love deeply, but we think, "I'll do that later, I'll have more time then." Or perhaps we think we can't reveal our love because we'd become vulnerable and be seen as weak. Or maybe we are waiting for someone to love us first, because that's how life is supposed to work, right?

When I interviewed at Sheridan, the congregational profile (a document that explained the missional story and future ministry dreams of Sheridan) stated something like this... 'we are a large congregation.  We don't want to become like the Platte River, a mile wide and an inch deep.' That sentence caught my attention.  This congregation desires to be the face of Jesus in the world and not just play church on the weekends.  Loving deeply is one of the surest signs of being a follower of Jesus.  So how are we doing?

It's high time we took Jesus' words and Mary's actions seriously and loved deeply now. What are you waiting for? Find a simple way to love deeply today.

Weekly Faith Talk Starters

• How often do you verbally express your love to those closest to you?
• How do you make space in your life to experience God's love?
• How can you find ways to do an unexpected act of love to someone who cannot pay you back?

Prayer of the Week
Gracious and loving Lord, through the death and resurrection of Jesus we are recipients of the ultimate demonstration of love.  We thank you for demonstrating this love to us in our time of greatest need.  We thank you for loving us just as we are, while loving us too much to let us remain how we are.  Help us to bear witness to your love to those around us and to share your love with those closest to us.  In the name of our loving Lord Jesus we pray, Amen.