"Proper" Worship

Mt 26:6-12, 13
"While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on His head as He was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. 'Why this waste?' they asked. 'This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.' Aware of this, Jesus said to them, 'Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me... I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

Recently I posted about this story as told in the book of Luke. After reading it again in the book of Mark, something different stood out to me. What struck me was Jesus' tenderness towards this woman and His ability to see her heart. It was in stark contrast to His disciples' harsh treatment of her. They were quick to criticize her extravagant show of devotion. Pouring her costly perfume over Jesus' head, she offered up her very best to Him. They rebuked her for being so cavalier with something so valuable. Couldn't she have shown Jesus her love some other way? After all, wasn't she being totally irresponsible and politically incorrect? Wouldn't providing for the poor be a more socially acceptable choice? There's always a critic whenever love is displayed with such wild abandonment. Something tells me that Jesus could care less about "proper" worship and is far more concerned with wholehearted worship, whatever that may look like. Jesus celebrated her unbridled affection. I hope I can shower Him with that same enthusiasm.