This Easter, for example, youth grades 6–8 will study Mark 14:3–9, which tells the familiar story of the woman who, to the dismay of Judas and others, anoints Jesus with “very costly ointment of nard.” But how can we help children of the twenty-first century understand the kalos1 inherent in this act? At a time when the average American youth has more disposable income than ever before, it may be difficult for people who for the most part have not yet had to manage their own finances to understand the concepts underlying this story.
The leader’s guide provides one suggested exercise designed to help modern 12- to 14-year-olds Connect with the Story in a new way by asking them to list their five most valuable possessions on a piece of paper. Youth are then asked to rank those possessions in order of importance and pass the list to another member of the class. The class is then asked to decide which two items on the list in their hand are least important and how much money they could bring for support of the poor. After reclaiming their lists, the originators are asked to consider the differences in the value placed on their treasured items by someone else. Discussion centers around questions such as:
- How do you decide between spending money on yourself or a friend, as this woman considered Jesus, and giving it to a worthy cause?
- Should there be a balance?
- Can someone else decide what you should do with your money?
- Have you been criticized for your decisions about spending money?
In defending the woman’s choice to those who suggested she should have given the cost of the ointment (the equivalent of one year’s salary) to feed the poor, Jesus points out an act of love that moved beyond the limit of simply “doing good” into the realm of unconditional love.
The session ends with a prayer of thanks to God for people like the woman who will give their best and a request for guidance in helping each participant recognize his or her opportunities to serve.
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