A Year’s Wages

How much could the split oil have bought
how many lives would it have touched
how wasteful it must have seemed
to those who didn’t truly understand
those misguided, unseeing disciples
Perfume, from far away lands, strong smelling
pungent balm, spilled on the Master’s feet
by Mary, in the house with Martha
and the risen Lazarus, how out of character
how surprising His answer, his affirming
of her rash action, in His knowing of this being his time
He was being prepared, readied, for his final journey,
to the garden, the courts, the skull, the cross, the grave
Before the Easter ‘morn, still to distant to comprehend
How much it could have bought,
how great a price He paid
after the oil was spilled,
wiped by her tears, her hair
What is the cost of a year’s wage
when compared to His gift


March 28, 2007, April 4, 2007 19:32
Based on the sermon,
“Extravagant Love” by
the Reverend Lori Eldredge,
Wesley United Methodist Church,
Concord, NH on March 25, 2007
John 12:1-8



All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 19,330+ of my poems at http://www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.