If the Archbishop of York said “the poor you will always have with you”, he would probably be slated by all the press, so why does Jesus say it here? Maybe because the tabloid press doesn’t represent God in the world. He says it in response to the people around criticising the woman for what she had done. They thought her action was an excessive waste of money, and yet Jesus rebukes them, pointing out that they can always give money to the poor. The woman was especially sensitive to what was needed then, acting out of love, with no regard to the humiliation that might come later.

The main way for us to be sensitive to what God wants to be done in our live is through a commitment to prayer, not immediately criticising people’s decisions to stick their neck out to serve God. We’re not here in York very long, and it is important for us to seize the opportunities God gives us to serve him, during our time here. Jesus said: “She did what she could”; we must also do what we can.

Mark Ford