1.
Anointed for a purpose
During the ordination of the priest, the bishop
anoints his hands with the oil of redemption that he becomes holy, set apart for
the mission of Christ. He is given the Holy Bible to read, reflect, understand
and break the word of God and give it to the people. He is given bread and wine
with the mandate to receive the gifts of the people and offer them to the
people on their behalf. Is breaking the word of God, preaching, consecrating,
interceding on behalf of people, and becoming a mediator, the work of a priest
only? What about the people? Is only a priest chosen among the people to do the
work of God?
Looking at certain religious functions, retreat
centres and the way of dealings of people of God, seems to be so. St. Paul
makes the missionary mandate very clear, “it is an obligation that has been imposed upon me. And woe to me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Cor 9:16). In fact,
these are the exact words St. Francis Xavier wrote to St. Ignatius of Loyola in
his first letter after seeing the condition of people in Goa. This obligation
binds to all the baptised. It is in
our baptism that we have received this mandate, “to be the king, the prophet
and the priest.” In Baptism we are all anointed for this sake, to be the
ambassadors of Christ. St. Paul again stresses this, “And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore
Christ’s ambassadors” (2 Cor 5:20).
2. Our mandate is the
mandate of Christ
In his mission mandate, Jesus says, “The Spirit of the
Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He
has sent Me to proclaim deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to
the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour”
(Lk 4: 18-19). And for the same mission Christ sends us, “As the Father has
sent Me, so also I am sending you” (Jn 20: 21). Therefore, the mandate is not
only for priests and religious but to the people of God. The basic anointment
is to continue the mission of Christ in the world.
3.
How do we practice this mandate?
Who actually makes the proclamation? The pulpit gives
only the instructions, but the actual proclamation comes from you. After giving
two greatest commandments, Jesus tells us, “By this everyone will know that you
are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 13:35). The way you live, the
way you behave, the way you interact with others, the way you speak, the way
you guide or instruct people understand that this family is different. This ‘different’ is actually more powerful
than preaching hours in the pulpit.
In the tribal belt, it is not priests who catechize
the people, but the people of god. The ordinary people whom we call catechists.
Walking miles and hours, spending their most valuable time, the time they
should be giving to their families is being spent in teaching the prayers,
creed, our father, hail Mary etc. It is to them, the Isaiah said centuries ago,
“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who
proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation (Is 52:7).
4.
Anointed to Proclaim in my Family
In the synod of bishops held in Rome under Pope
Benedict, on the topic “New Evangelization for the Transmission of the
Christian Faith” once again stressed the need for the evangelization of the
evangelized. Why it is a need today? Pope John Paul had already spoken about it
in the following words, “where entire groups of the baptized have lost a living sense of the faith, or
even no longer consider themselves members of the Church, and live a life far removed from Christ and
his Gospel. In this case, what is needed is a ‘new evangelisation’ or a
‘re-evangelization.’”
Our altars have become unseen things in the houses.
They have taken the place of showcases. Daily rosary and prayers have taken the
place of serials, movies, WhatsApp and social media. Parents see their child
growing laterally and not longitudinally. Social life and cultural practices
have taken the place of DJ culture. Cultural values have diminished. It is
here, we need the preaching. Spend time with your family. At least once in a while go out as a family to a park, hotel or the river side or for a picnic, if
you are busy in your schedule. Listen to your children. Speak to your children. Play
with them.
The
road to my neighbour’s house begins from my house and passes through my
courtyard.
Fr. Raju Felix Crasta
JDV, Pune
