Story of Bible School

This summer, The Vacation Bible School organized by the Bluffton Area churches, featured an ancient middle eastern marketplace. The kids were given tokens to go to different tents that each had a different activity that pointed to a bible story, or maybe a snack, and even an ancient Jewish Ritual. I got to run around with the kids to different stations and try to help the kids through the activities.

At one of the stations, kids took olive oil and mixed spices and fragrances into the oil, for the purpose of reflecting on how olive oil was used in anointing and cleansing. I remember making my container of oil thinking it would be nice to leave out the lavender and some of the other really fragrant scents, so that I could take it home and dip bread in it.

The kids were unsure of what to do with the oil. And when the parents came and picked up the kids, they were equally confused as to what they should do with it. I remember watching one parent with multiple kids walk out of the BFR with arm filled with oil containers, giving me a look of befuddlement.

That is Anointing – marks calling and longing for healing

Fragrant oil, or really olive oil in general, is a recurring commodity in the Bible – whether someone is running out of it, or has an abundance of it, or pouring it over their beard or used for lamps. But oftentimes it is utilized for the ritual of anointing.

Anointing is the pouring or smearing, or sprinkling of a liquid as a form of blessing. Oftentimes in the bible its olive oil, or some sort of perfume.

In the old testament, there are two ways that I would like to highlight in how anointing is used.

Anointing is used to ritually mark when someone is “called” to something

And Anointing is used to ritually mark those who are sick and long for healing.

Anointing of Saul – a calling to kingship

We see “calling” happening in In 1 Samuel 10 where anointing is used to call Saul as the king of Israel. From 1 Samuel 10:

“Samuel took a vial of oil and poured it on Saul’s head and kissed him; he said, “The Lord has anointed you ruler over his people Israel. You shall reign over the people of the Lord, and you will save them from the hand of their enemies all around.”

In this instance, Saul’s anointing marked the beginning of his reign, as King Saul was called to lead and tend to the people of Israel.

Leviticus Anointing of Lepers who long for healing

We see anointing being used for “healing of the sick” in the book of Leviticus. There, anointing was used for tending to those with leprosy. Leviticus 14 describes an intricate process of the priest cleansing the skin of one with leprosy through taking two birds and dipping the one into the blood of the other, releasing the one and sprinkling the blood with hyssop onto the skin of the leper. And then cleansing them with oil

I am not sure how they came up with the process, but I am happy for modern medicine.

In these two old testament examples, we see anointing for calling, and anointing for healing.

Anointing of Isaiah – not like powerful Saul

And then we have our passage today in the book of Isaiah.

First, Isaiah’s anointing seems to be a type of calling – Not unlike Saul.

He writes, “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me, he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted.”

When I read this, I sense that Isaiah is having a revelation about the good news that is coming alive within him. Isaiah feels called to bring this good news to the world.

But it is not just any calling, his anointing is towards a specific type of work. It’s not the work of violence in the world, like Saul’s reign . It’s not the work of greed or oppression like the later anointed King David.

The prophetic anointing of Isaiah is pointing in a different direction. Instead of anointing upward towards wealth and power, it is an anointing pointing downward, towards those who have been marginalized. Isaiah is called to the work of healing the world – of binding up the broken hearted, of mourning with those who are grieving, of freeing the captives.

For Isaiah, healing and calling come together. His anointing marks the calling, and names the work of healing. Calling and healing tied together.

Jesus reflects Isaiah’s Anointing

When we move to the New testament, we see Jesus’ anointing having a similar orientation as Isaiahs.

Jesus’ anointing in the New Testament is a powerful one and it’s not done by some priest or holy person. But a woman who is often accused by some to be a sex worker. The woman at Bethany pours expensive perfume on Jesus’ head or feet at Bethany – depending on which gospel you read.

The writers of the new testament say that this anointing was done in preparation for Jesus burial. Jesus isn’t anointed by some powerful priest to rule the world, but is anointed by a marginalized woman whom he loved and cared for in preparation for his death. The anointing makes clear who Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is for – not the powerful in the world, but for the healing and care of those whose lives are the whims of people who have power, for people who are crucified by those with power.

Anointing today

The practice of anointing has been happening in the millenia since the bible. We anoint today as well as a way of ritualy marking the start of something new. Maybe its work that is important to you in the world. Maybe it’s work that you have been doing, but you are needing new energy. Anointing can ritually commission you to this work.

We also anoint those who long for healing. Catholic priests will do the
“anointing of the sick,” which is a sacrament that is often given near the end of one’s life. We can anoint to ritually bless one in their time of sickness.

Naming what is coming alive in you

When we ritualize someone’s healing or calling through anointing, we name what has been coming alive in them. Through ritual, we mark the importance of that work in their life, and invite the holy into it.

I think Christian Mystic Howard Thurman ties this healing and calling together in a brilliant way and I bet I have said this quote from Howard Thurman 4 times in sermons so far, but I never get tired of it, so I will repeat it here again.

Thurman says, “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive”

It doesn’t need burned out people being martyrs. It doesn’t need abused people sticking things out for a cause. Exhausted people who have nothing else to give.

What the world needs is people who have come alive. Who are doing something that gives them passion and energy and then are connecting their passion to a need in the world. If passion and energy is connect with a need in the world, you then have people who are alive, thriving, and are healing the world around them.

I sense this energy from Isaiah in our passage today. He seems stoked to bring about healing in the world. His anointing marked this calling and invited God along for the journey.

God is already at work in the world

You don’t need to have a special job to bring about this healing. You don’t need to be a saint or a prophet. You are called to come alive right where you are – Wherever you are. God is already in the world wherever you go: In the people you meet, work with, and live with. When we connect with one another, we are opening ourselves to God, who is in your neighbor, your classmate, and even your enemy. You can be called and participate in the healing of the world, and come alive right where you are.

God working in the world through humans, is what we are celebrating when we celebrate Christmas. Christmas is the celebration of God’s incarnation. We are celebrating that God is here in our community, the body of Christ. God is in each of us. God’s breath, the holy spirit is in our lungs. God is in you and through you is reaching into the world, calling you to your own healing, and the healing of the world around you. God is in this world – flesh and bone – emmanuel.

God can work towards your healing through your friends, fellow members of your church, therapists, physicians, teachers, mentors, maybe even pastors. God is in the people all around you.

God can work toward the healing of the world when we reach out to others. In simple things like when you stop and listen to someone, vent about their day. When you take time to care for a patient, or a student, or a customer, or a family member. But also in the systemic things, when you stand in solidarity with those around us who are experiencing poverty, sexism, racism, or threats of deportation.

In school, work, at the grocery store, at home, God can bring about your healing through others, and through you, be part of the healing of others.

This is the work that Isaiah, and later on Jesus, is calling us to. Towards our own healing, and the healing of the world around us. They calling us to come alive, right here.

Anointing Service

Today we are going to offer an invitation for anointing. Myself and the deacons will be spread out around the sanctuary, you are inviting to come to one of us and we will offer a bit of olive oil that can be placed on your forehead or on your hand – you can choose. You are welcome to name something that is coming alive in you.

Maybe it is a call to do the work of healing in the world, like Isaiah declared in today’s passage.

Or maybe you are feeling like the brokenhearted or sick, or marginalized, and you are needing anointing for healing.

You are welcome to name these things when you approach one of the deacons or pastors, or you can simply receive the anointing without saying anything at all. The deacons and pastors will then anoint you and offer a short blessing. If you wish to have anointing come to you, simply raise your hand, and I will be around with the anointing oil.

We will sing the hymn of response as the deacons and pastors find their places, and then you are welcome to either listen to the special music, or receive anointing.