Anoint us with your Holy Spirit
I have had difficulty writing my reflection for this Third Sunday of Epiphany. When I first started to look at the Collect, I thought it would be good to write on the phrase I’ve chosen, “anoint us with your Holy Spirit”. And I’ve been convinced since that it is what I should be writing on. But I’ve had no idea what to write.
Part of my problem, I think, stems from the Church tradition I come from; part has been a lack of concentration. In our tradition we don’t ignore the Holy Spirit, but we don’t actually talk much about the Spirit either. I know from what I’ve been reading, and listening to other people over the years, that other traditions dwell much more on the personage of the Holy Spirit than we do. Yet we are staunchly Trinitarian, and think of the Holy Spirit as equal to God the Father, and God the Son. Actions and words seem somewhat disjointed. But, given all of that, I was really surprised when I realized that, though I’ve been writing this blog for just over a year, I hadn’t tagged one post with “Holy Spirit” or “Holy Ghost”. Ouch!
The “anoint” part of the phrase I had less problem with. When we hold a healing service at Godmanchester, anointing with holy oil is always offered. It’s also offered at healing services in Walsingham. I find it quite a powerful experience. But not as powerful as when I was anointed when I was extremely ill in hospital; or when my mother was anointed a few days before her death. My Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church tells me that “anointing” means: “A ceremonial action performed on persons and things to separate them from profane use and obtain on their behalf the infusion of Divine grace”. And that would certainly fit with my experiences of anointing.
But what do we mean when we say, “Anoint us with your Holy Spirit”? And here, I have to hold my hands up and say, “I don’t know”. I did a search in Google, but all the results seemed so extreme, so alien to me, that I was put off; and yet I realize “extreme” and “alien” don’t mean the same as “wrong”, and perhaps I should go back to some of those web pages.
Before I do that, though, I would like to ask for your help. What do you understand the phrase, “anoint us with your Holy Spirit”, to mean? Please, I genuinely want to understand this, and would appreciate some help. Thank you.
Fortunately my lack of understanding won’t be a problem at Church on Sunday. We’ll be celebrating “The Conversion of Paul”. But, as there isn’t an Additional Collect for that I’m sticking with The Third Sunday of Epiphany on this blog. This post might have been easier to write had I chosen otherwise, or even chosen another phrase from the Collect I have used; but then I might have missed a learning opportunity.
God of all mercy,
your Son proclaimed good news to the poor,
release to the captives,
and freedom to the oppressed:
anoint us with your Holy Spirit
and set all your people free
to praise you in Christ our Lord. Amen.Additional Collect for The Third Sunday of Epiphany
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council
About Paul Sibley
Andrew Gosden (now 18) has been missing from his Doncaster home since 14 September 2007. The search continues.
Elizabeth Jackson on 
Some how I ventured to your website and i have enjoyed reading the commentary and information. Learning more about the Lord and the variety of ways his message is delivered I find inspiring and uplifting. I especially like your style.
Thanks.
Mike
A very warm welcome to the blog Michael.
And thank you for your very kind comments.
Paul, this is good stuff. I’m sure for many the anointing of the Holy Spirit draws up a variety of images and thoughts but for me the first image I had was from John 4 when Jesus and the Samaritan women conversed next to a well and he spoke to her these words,” Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give will never be thirsty. The water I give will become a spring of water gushing up inside that person, giving eternal life.”
So maybe the anointing isn’t just some church defined word, maybe its the finality of you getting it, you understand that the truth and the fulfillment of life is through the Holy Spirit, through the water God blesses us with daily.
I like your thinking on this Michael, thank you. I know I sometimes (often) get too tied up in the Church’s way of thinking, rather than my own. And I need a good nudge to get my own thoughts working again. You’ve given me food for thought, and prayer. I appreciate the nudge.
I like Michael’s interpretation. I know that doesn’t offer anything new, but I think that I’d have to do some research too.
The more I read, the more I like it. It just kinda makes sense.
Paul,
Maybe this is a topic your readers might have an opinion on. Going to church is good and taking your kids with you seems to be the right thing to do. Personally my boys don’t last in church and it always seems like a chore to them. So last weekend I took my 12 year old to a Chris Tomlin Concert . During the concert this artist stops and talks to the crowd, preaching uplifting messages and praising the Lord. His Music is awesome to; but my point is that my son says to me after the concert , Dad, I really felt the love of God tonight, why can’t church be more like that.” I was taken back. So what I’m asking do you think we should at times break the routine of Sunday mass and incorporate some other types of worship? I left you a link to a song Chris Tomlin sung.
That must have been quite a special moment Michael, when your son said that to you.
To your question: I would say, “yes”, It’s good to change the routine sometimes, and even to try things you wouldn’t usually be comfortable with.
I can remember, back in the early 90′s, taking our Church Youth Group to the first Rave-in-the-Nave at Ely Cathedral. They had several Christian groups singing, and the final act of worship was led by one. It was very special, and enjoyed immensely by all of the youngsters there. But we all agreed afterwards that, as good as it was, it would be too much all of the time. It would be a bit like having a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings for every meal.
I’ve just watched the Chris Tomlin video you linked. Coincidence, or what? I was looking at Chris Tomlin on YouTube earlier; and I’d never heard of him before. He’s quite a singer! I can imagine the concert was pretty remarkable.