Pastor's Page
The term Messiah means "anointed one."
Oil is extremely important in religious life. It lights candles, it's necessary for preparing feasts, it can be used to prepare one's body for the transition to death, it's used in the spiritual practices of healing and it can be used to mark a person in their relationship to the divine. Colloquially, to be anointed can mean one has been chosen or set aside as different in a spiritual sense. As Protestants we don't do a whole lot of anointing in our regular practice (there is a place for anointing in our baptism liturgy).
In our Hebrew scripture reading for today we'll read about the prophet Samuel and his quest to find the next King to rule after Saul. Once identified, he is anointed by the prophet and begins is service to the monarchy, and God. This king-to-be, David, is a part of this royal line that we trace all the way to Jesus. It is within the long, familial connection that Jesus is God's chosen child to save the people and rule in a way that no earthly monarch ever can. In John's gospel reading for the week, Jesus shows up in community and does some healing (performs an anointing of sorts) and challenging and it takes everyone by surprise.
If you're keen on a modern(ish) take on anointing, I implore you to watch season 1, episode 5 of Netflix's The Crown. In the coronation of a British monarch is an ancient ritual that draws from scripture and biblical practices around anointing, being chosen by God etc. While many of us don't really have a connection or any positive associations with earthly monarchies, the thing I appreciate in this depiction of this ritual. It's all the pomp and circumstance and kind of magic that comes with thinking about what could be happening when one is set apart as different.
In our public imagination, we are hearing lots of talk and seeing images around some of our elected officials being 'chosen', anointed even, to wage wars, and usher in the end times/hasten Jesus' return. This line of theological inquiry is bad and extremely dangerous. As people of deep faith, we should endeavor to push back against these harmful narratives of destruction and American exceptionalism.
During the service on Sunday, we'll set aside time and renew own personal meanings to what being chosen by God is. In this time in this place, we are all saints on a path and in community. Let's remember that and make it real. Who has God chosen you to be?
See you Sunday,
Ekama
| 
