"Anointed" from God, by God, for God.

Anointed. 

The word itself brings significance to an age-old practice of sealing secured documents with oil or a special wax, and sealed with a Signet ring or something similar indicating the contents are precious or held dear to the receiver of this indenture.

As in the tradition of sealing a precious document that is meant for a head of state either warning or supporting them of impending news, the art of sealing or anointing a prophet of God for rendering Good News in any form is also a sign of assurance from the sender.  Therefore, when we are once anointed  with God’s grace it becomes the very directive to perform through evangelizing and procuring souls for God.  For the baptized Christian it is the Sacrament of Confirmation that imprints this seal with chrism and mandates the requirement to share the Good News.  Although most young people are not into evangelizing the Catechism states this; “In treating the rite of Confirmation, it is fitting to consider the sign of anointing and what it signifies and imprints: a spiritual seal.   Anointing, in Biblical and other ancient symbolism, is rich in meaning; oil is a sign of abundance and joy; it cleanses and limbers; oil is a sign of healing, since it is soothing to bruises and wounds; and it makes radiant with beauty, health, and strength.”  CCC  1293.

“Christ himself declared that he was marked with his Father’s seal.  (Jn 6: 26).  From the bread of life discourse; “For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”  Christians are also marked with a seal:  It is God who establishes us with you in Christ and has commissioned us, he has put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.  This seal of the Holy Spirit marks our total belonging to Christ, our enrollment in his service in the great eschatological trial.” CCC 1296.

While Jesus was at the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary, Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair.”  After some admonition from Judas claiming this could have been sold and the money given to the poor, Jesus responded; “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial.  You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”   Jn. 12: 3, 7-8.

Writers, preachers, and teachers, those of us with any of these gifts are anointed to bring souls to God.  The very fact that we have been given the ability to proclaim by voice or pen it is our position to spread the Good News as best that we are able.  Being anointed fulfills a mandate to take this gift and reach out to the suffering.  Jesus’ anointing was the road to Calvary and our redemption.  Ours may be similar, but it is nevertheless needed.

What about those who are blessed without a physical anointing; are they also anointed?  Yes!  There are numerous examples of Spiritual Anointing without the use of oil or the words of grace spoken to them.  The Holy Spirit does not need organized activities to become present within one or more persons whom he is within their beings.  Its that old stipulation of not placing God in a box.  Throughout the bible, both Old Testament and New Testament, where the presence of God hears and intercedes in the lives of many.  However, it is the ultimate manner in which God uses those who are anointed to spread the grace of God in others who receive the anointing and pass it on.

All anointing comes from God, is created by God to spread Good News, and is ultimately for God’s kingdom of which each of us has a place when our mission is over.  

Ralph B. Hathaway, Anointing 2021