This coming weekend at Mass we will hear the story of young David being anointed (marked and chosen) with oil by Samuel, the prophet, signifying David’s designation by God as the person to be the next king of Israel.  David becomes one of the major figures of the Old Testament and an ancestor of Jesus.  In fact, the Bible is filled with stories of people being anointed and going on to do great things.

What about you and I?  We, too, have been anointed with the “oil of gladness.”  We are anointed at Baptism and again at our Confirmation.  Those of us in Orders were also anointed during those sacraments as well.  The prayer used to consecrate the Chrism Oil used in these sacraments says:

“And so Father, we ask You to bless ✟ this oil You have created. Fill it with the power of Your Holy Spirit through Christ Your Son. It is from Him that chrism takes its name, and with chrism You have anointed for Yourself priests and kings, prophets and martyrs.”

Through our sacramental anointings each of us is called to share in these roles of Christ  – the roles of priest, king, prophet, and martyr.

As priests, we have the duty to pray on behalf of others and to bring others to God.  As kings, we must be leaders on behalf of goodness and righteousness.  As prophets, we have the responsibility to listen to, and then speak out, the promptings of the Holy Spirit.  And, as martyrs, through Christ’s example, we are taught to spend ourselves in service to others.  These are awesome responsibilities, but Lent is here to remind us that we are up to the task.

Through the anointings at Baptism and Confirmation, we are reminded that we are given the Holy Spirit to inspire and lead us in the roles given to us.  We are not only marked with the oil of Christ, we are incorporated into the very life of Christ – we are part of the Body of Christ.  Each has been marked with the “oil of gladness” and as a result:

“… my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.”        Psalm 23