This is an allegory, figuratively speaking, that is fairly historical. It’s about a Treasure!! A Treasure of priceless value– draped with sincerity, love, and devotion, and a Treasure of rite and ritual– that ordains when you are prepared to receive it.

I speak to you of “The Alabaster Box”.

There was a woman who received the gift of an Alabaster Box that was bought in a marketplace for her along a trade route. It was a precious thing worth more in its importance than could be applied; — it was a wedding gift uniting two souls becoming one in the presence of this token –that would eventually become a sacred Treasure. And when the woman’s daughter came of age the Alabaster Box was given to her with the instruction to fill it with only the most precious and the most costly things. For many years the daughter kept it secreted away in a safe place but eventually costly oils and perfumes were placed in the Alabaster Box. It was precious box carved out of one piece of Alabaster and Mary always carried it with her. For the time would come when she would need the Alabaster Box.

One evening Jesus gathered with several guests in the home of a very highly placed official, a Pharisee, who was also the voice of the temple. Mary came as an uninvited guest and pushed past the guards stationed at the entrance of the door. I am speaking symbolically and literally for her need was greater than etiquette would allow. She knew that a greater treasure was within that house, and to it she must go and there apply the treasure that she had kept for so long. And all were disturbed by her actions, for she was a woman with a reputation, not one of their kind, not one to be received. And in the Pharisee’s house, definitely, not one to be welcomed.

Out of struggle and out of vanity did she walk through that door, and with humility did she kneel at the feet of Sananda Jesu Jesus. The light in her tear-stained eyes reflected that readiness to receive his blessing as she carefully opened her Alabaster Box, and anointed him with her sweet perfumes and oils.  In loud rebuke, voices rose, tempers stirred. What does this mean? But Jesus answered, “She is preparing my body for burial”. She then bathed his feet with her tears and her treasure began to grow. This box– set aside– began to light the way –each angle– each corner– no longer darkened— for in the heart of this box– purpose was fulfilled- Not to be equal, but allowed to sit at the feet, not to be above any other, but equal with them: no longer being held without, but entrance within demanding, for she brought the oil of gladness in which joy is made. And she carefully wiped his feet with her hair.

This was not only a ritual , not only a sacrament , but an anointing, a tearing aside that veil that separates one level, one class, one identity from another. (She is not welcome.) And all becoming one even with a question upon the tongue (What does this mean?), performing a task and prophesying that the end would come in advance of its coming. (She is preparing my body for Burial!) As he would pay the price, she also was willing– for the box contained her riches and her treasure. And when it was gone and expended it returned again and again, as if that tiny vial could not be used up—odors from the east incense from the east, odors divine.

I will always remember the rather small Alabaster Box. For it held all the hope in the world, all the healing that was needed, all of the hopes of a young woman restored, renewed. And this she carried with her all the rest of her days, no longer secreting it away, but realizing this is my best. This is that that I gave. For Mary Magdalene, it was…. The Alabaster Box. Perhaps everyone has a container. Perhaps we are ourselves Alabaster Boxes. Perhaps we have allowed ourselves to be hidden away, and the time is right that we ourselves be revealed for the ritual, the sacrament, — service itself. – TaPa

Edited TaPa Session August 30, 2008