Watching Interactions on the Day of the Passover, Matthew chapter 21 and Mark chapter 14

There are three interactions in these chapters that caught my attention, this time through.

The first occurred when the disciples were sent to find an ass for Jesus's entry into the city of Jerusalem. Jesus told them that, if the unknown owner of the ass and her colt ask why they were taking her, they should simply explain that the Lord needed her. And, sure enough, that was enough of a reason for the owner to let her go.

How often are we that generous, giving or lending our resources freely to those on the Lord's errand and doing so with trust in Him, rather than asking for all the details and being concerned until what we have lent is returned?

The second that caught my attention occurred when the woman brought a box of ointment of spikenard and poured it on Jesus's head. It was the response of some of those sitting with him: disapproval of her having spent a lot of money to express her love and respect rather than spending that money on the poor.  Jesus comes to her defense and counsels compassion and appreciation rather than fault finding.  It was a that point that Judas, who felt responsible for keeping track of the funds and how they were used, chose to leave.

How easy it is for us to find fault when someone uses funds in good ways that, to us, seem "less good than it could have been by a long shot".  How easy it is to get our dander up and become unhappy and divisive when we judge another's use of sacred funds or similar resources?

The third I considered was the man who was drawing water from the well.  Christ knew that the "goodman of the house" where that man lived, would be willing to let Jesus and his disciples share the passover meal in his upper room. 

 In those days drawing water was woman's work.  So why was this man doing that?   We don't know, but it's likely that the woman who usually did that was unable, due to injury, absence, illness, or whatever, and he (brother, son, servant, whatever) had undertaken the task.

So perhaps we learn that this is a household where, at least in this case, individuals were more interested in providing what was needful for others than they were interested in the comfort or discomfort of firm boundaries of responsibilities.  Less focus who gets to do or not do what.  More focus on helping to get things done so that all have what they need (which in this case was water) in a home which, it turns out, is a place where Jesus and his imperfect disciples are welcome.