Anointed

Homily for Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time

Early in his ministry, Jesus leads his disciples to climb a mountain with him. When they reach the top of the mountain, Jesus chooses 12 of his followers to be apostles, a word which means “to be sent.” The fact that this choice takes place on a mountaintop is significant. Jesus is inviting these men to go deeper into their relationship with God. These 12 men were not perfect. All of them would eventually abandon him in the garden, one will betray him, and one will deny him. However, imperfect as they are, they have been given a mission, a role, a vocation to embrace.

We, too, are imperfect, yet we have been given a mission and a vocation to embrace. In the very first reading this morning, we read of David and Saul and a relationship that has gone bad. David knows to Scriptures; he quotes them while his followers enticed him into killing Saul. In response, David says, “‘From the wicked comes forth wickedness.’ The Lord will judge; the Lord will enact justice;” you, Saul, are the Lord’s anointed. David has also been anointed as have we all. At our baptisms we were anointed twice, first with the Oil of Catechumens, signifying the strengthening and healing Christ brings in the sacrament. Then we are anointed with the Oil of Chrism, signifying that we as baptized people are set apart to the life of Christ.

The significance of being anointed cannot be overlooked. David’s example in this is not to be ignored. When God anoints, God also sets apart. It is the choice of the one who is anointed to either choose the path that God has set before one or two choose one’s own path. David obviously chooses the Lord’s path. He has great respect for Saul’s anointing.

Even as God’s anointed ones, the apostles, Saul, David, and we are not imperfect. We remain human with all of the imperfections that come with that state. Therefore, as we are sent out to be a Eucharistic people, may we remember to pray for all those who have been anointed, especially for one another. Pray that we may be an image of Christ to the world, striving for holiness and living as the Lord’s anointed ones.