Based on the sermon for April 6, 2025 (Fifth Sunday in Lent) at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church – Buffalo, NY .
Sermon Video | 8:30am and 10:30am Worship Services
Scriptures | John 12:1-8
Are you familiar with the term “value engineering”? Value engineering is the process of optimizing a project to both (1) reduce costs while also (2) maintaining or improving quality and performance. This methodology was developed around the time of World War II as people asked, “Why should we over-pay for quality when a less expensive option exists?”
Value engineering has its place and its benefits; however, there are drawbacks. For example, an architect designs a building down to the last detail. Value engineering might analyze the architect’s plan that specifies a certain number of light fixtures in a large room and then determine that the same result could be obtained by fewer lights and, therefore, lower cost.
Value engineering might be fine if you’re building office space or a conference room. But what do you think might have happened if churches like Holy Trinity and the other amazing churches around Buffalo were value-engineered to be more efficient?
Is it efficient to have two large fully equipped worship spaces that must be heated, each with their own AMAZING organs and excellent pianos?
Was it efficient to have all of these beautiful stained-glass windows made?
Was it efficient to get the angels for the baptismal font or the lectern?
Is it efficient to have the gift of a harpsichord and the gift of an amazing choir?
How about the little touches here and there that each add a little … something?
Beauty is inefficient.
Vacations are inefficient.
Dinner parties are inefficient. Can you imagine what an efficient dinner party might look and feel like? What happens in those in-between moments? What happens when people linger inefficiently at the table to talk?
Sabbath is inefficient.
Grace is inefficient.
Forgiveness is inefficient.
Love is inefficient.
Extravagant generosity is inefficient.
Mary … the sister of Martha and Lazarus was inefficient.
You may recall that Mary frustrated her sister, Martha, when she didn’t help prepare a meal for Jesus because she was sitting at his feet listening.
Today, we heard as Mary bought very costly perfume that she poured out on Jesus’ FEET!
Not only was she inefficient …she was also wasteful!
Judas said that perfume could have been sold for 300 denarii. If so, in today’s dollars, that would be worth between $15,000 and $20,000!
You heard as Judas chastised Mary because that money could have been given to the poor rather than being poured out on Jesus’ feet rendering the perfume no longer useful or valuable.
What might our lives look like and what might be our experience of our faith if they were value-engineered to be efficient?
It is in these moments of inefficiency … these moments of extravagant generosity … where beauty happens … where joy, laughter, satisfaction, fulfillment, and rest happens … and where the Holy Spirit happens.
It is in these moments of inefficiency where we can become aware – as Isaiah writes – of the new things God is doing … of the way that God is making for us.
What might it look like in our lives and in our church to not only allow inefficiency, but to embrace it as a matter of faith?
In the week ahead, I invite you to simply notice those moments of inefficiency. Seek out experiences of beauty … you have some of those during worship today. Seek out those moments of extravagant generosity as we heard of Mary today for us to express our love for God and our love for our neighbor.
How will God and God’s ways be revealed to you in news ways in these times?
In the name of Jesus. Amen!
Epicurious Lutheran 