Messiah


I thank Tiffany Myers for her diligence in offering a daily reflection from #adventword, a ministry of Virginia Theological Seminary.  The practice is meant to be thought provoking as we continue on our Advent journey and prepare ourselves for the welcoming the Christ child. 

This got me thinking about some other words, like Messiah.  It is one of those “churchy” words that we use thinking everyone knows what we mean by it, but perhaps not. It is the transliterated English word for the Hebrew term meaning “anointed one.”  It is the term used in the Hebrew Scriptures to describe David after he was anointed by Samuel to replace Saul as King of Israel. Through God’s selection of David and directing Samuel to anoint him with oil, David became the Messiah.

The term “Christ” is the Greek translation of the Hebrew term for Messiah, and hence why we call Jesus the Christ, as Christians believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the anointed one of God to be the Savior of the world. The Gospel of Matthew starts by connecting Jesus’s lineage back to King David, proving that Jesus is the righteous heir of the throne of David (i.e. King of Israel), which fulfills a prophecy that a branch from David’s line will reign forever.

What I find interesting is that Jesus was not physically anointed with oil as the “Messiah,” but there are other times that motif appears.  For instance, we know that one of the gifts that the Magi brought was myrrh, a spiced-oil mixture used to embalm bodies for burial.  While this gift also foreshadows Jesus’s death, it offers the concept that people from outside Israel recognize Jesus as the Messiah. Similarly, when the woman (or Mary, depending on which Gospel you are reading) anoints Jesus’s feet with nard before his Passion, Jesus literally becomes the Christ even before he is raised from the dead. However, the moment that always strikes me is Jesus’s baptism, where there is no oil, but the presence of the Holy Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on Jesus as he emerges from the water.  At that time, Jesus is empowered to offer his earthly ministry and proclaim Good News to all Creation.

I’ll leave the argument about when Jesus becomes “the Christ” to the academics (although I am in the camp of, “He was born that way!”). It is probably more helpful for us to consider how our anointing empowers us for ministry.  Yes, our anointing – at least those who were baptized in the Episcopal Church (and other traditions that use Chrism during baptism).  “(Name), you are sealed by the Holy Spirt in Baptism and marked as Christ’s own for ever.”  Bam!

While I don’t encourage any of us to claim the title “Messiah” or “Christ,” we cannot deny that we are part of the lineage and tradition of being claimed and set apart by God, to use our gifts and talents to continue the work Jesus started in his ministry of sharing God’s message of redemption and love. In other words, we have no excuse not to offer ourselves for God’s purposes in whatever way we are called. Not sure what that looks like?  Do you see a need that is not being fulfilled?  It could be something like Coffee Hour Host or organizing a trip to see an art exhibit or offering a ride to someone who can’t get to church otherwise.  You are empowered to share God’s love, so do it boldly and widely!

And next time you hear the words “Messiah” or “Christ,” remember that you have been anointed as well.  Fortunately, Jesus is already the Savior of the world, so we don’t have to worry about fulfilling that role. We are called to do what we can through the power of the Holy Spirit, which is more than we can ask or imagine, but it is fun to try!

With Advent Blessings,
Rev. Valerie+

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