Text: "'Leave her alone,' said Jesus. 'Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.'" (Mark 14:3–11).

Purpose: To demonstrate impractical, irrevocable extravagance.

Objects: An aromatic, gummy liquid. [I concocted a mixture of lotion, oil, and perfume.] A long-necked glass bottle.

Any fragile container can work. In Jesus' time, perfume was used by snapping off the neck of the bottle, then corking it after use.

Experience: Mark's gospel says that Mary crushed the bottle, broke it in pieces. I hit my bottle with a hammer. The odor didn't fill the large room, but the first several rows were able to smell the gift. I said, "It is easy for us to justify pampering ourselves. When was the last time you were extravagant with God? Sometimes we should give him a gift that breaks the budget, do something lavishly excessive because he is worthy."