Freedom. It is the
theme of our celebrations this week. It
is the theme of the readings today. Paul
says, “It is for freedom that you have been set free.”
But what kind of freedom is Paul talking about? What are the characteristics of Christian freedom?
One hint that the Church gives
us is in the first reading. Elijah the
prophet is commanded by God to anoint a new king for Israel, and a new prophet.
There were 3 kinds of people
anointed in the Old Testament. Prophets,
priests, and kings. People were anointed
to symbolize the fact that they were consecrated to God, used for his purpose,
it symbolized this fact and provided the power of God to assist the person in
accomplishing it.
Prophets were anointed for the
purpose of sharing the word of God. They
spoke the truth to those in power, even when unpopular. They resisted injustice and stood up for the
oppressed. They spoke comforting words
to the downtrodden and hopeless. They
were mouthpieces for God.
Priests were anointed for the
purpose of making sacrifices and prayers for the people of God. They offered sacrifice to take away sin, prayed
for people when they were sick or troubled, and blessed the people. (Bow your heads)
Kings were anointed for the
purpose of governing the people of God according to God’s law and promises.
Christ, whose name means
‘anointed’, was the fulfillment of these three anointed offices. Christ was the perfect prophet, priest, and
king.
And as we Christians, whose name
means “little anointed ones”, are baptized into the body of Christ, we are
anointed with this oil. The sacred
Chrism, it is olive oil mixed with balsam perfume, blessed by the bishop during
Holy Week, and distributed throughout the diocese for the sacramental needs of
the people.
It is used to anoint bishops and
priests when they are ordained. It
covers the hands with which they will bring Christ to people, forgive people, and
bless people.
It is used to consecrate things
permanently to the Lord. Including
altars like this one, which was at some point covered with the holy oil.
And…each one of you was
consecrated with this holy oil. At your
baptism. Right after you were baptized
the priest or deacon anointed you on the head with Sacred Chrism, making you a
Christian, a little anointed one. And by
that anointing you share in Christ’s triple dignity of prophet, priest, and
king.
You are a prophet in that your
baptism calls you to know the word of God, and to be able to share the good
news of our faith with others. To speak
truth. To oppose injustice. To comfort the downtrodden and hopeless.
You are a priest in that your
baptism calls you to be a source of forgiveness and reconciliation in the
world. Where you see division, or
gossip, or betrayal, you are supposed to bring healing and forgiveness. And you are called to bring Christ to
people. My priesthood, and Fr. Zipple's priesthood, the sacramental priesthood, is at
the service of yours. To nourish yours,
to call down Christ for you, so that you can carry him to the world. (Eucharistic minister. We need them. No one sick or alone should be
without)
You are, at your baptism,
anointed a king. (4th of July
= getting rid of kings) Your kingdom is
yourself. You rule yourself. Refuse to be controlled or manipulated by
someone or something else.
Self-possessed, confident, and free.
Free from the control of other people’s opinions of you. Free from addictions. Free from manipulations. Free from turning wants to need. Free from the absolute tyranny of
perfectionism.
And this freedom, the freedom of
the little anointed ones, is not just the absence of external control, or, as
Paul says, simply being able to do whatever you want. It is freedom for a mission. As Paul puts it: “Serve one another, rather,
in works of love.” Freedom w/o purpose is mere license. Our freedom is meant for the purpose of
service, and to be able to give and receive love.
And Jesus himself gives us some
characteristics of what that love looks like. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to
proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the
captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are
oppressed.”
So, today, my little anointed brothers and
sisters, we ask ourselves how we are using our threefold dignity. How are we exercising our priesthood,
prophecy, and self-rule? At the end of
Mass I will use the OT formula to bless you.
Bow your heads and pray for the grace to engage more deeply your call as
prophet priest and king.
