U - Unction

Norah Summers July 23, 2023 0 0

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1 John 2: 20 (GNT)

20 But you have had the Holy Spirit poured out on you by Christ, and so all of you know the truth.

Unction is defined as anointing for healing or consecration.

Brought up in the Kirk, I did not know this word from ritual or procedure, but with its synonym anointing it was familiar from Scripture, and from hymns, for example The king of love my shepherd is (CH4 462, but probably in most hymnbooks). A prime example of hymn-speak – but it does have a ring to it!

“Thou spread’st a table in my sight,

thy unction grace bestoweth.”

The metrical psalm version of Psalm 23 renders this –

“My head thou dost with oil anoint,

and my cup overflows.”

And a modern prose version (from the Good News Bible, GNB) – you treat me as an honoured guest. This is not a direct translation, but calls to mind the story of the woman who anointed Jesus with the precious perfume, (Matthew 26: 6-13) to do him honour and presage the anointing of his body after death.

At the time of the recent Coronation ceremony, it was explained that the anointing of the monarch would be the most sacred moment – so sacred that it must not to be seen by the congregation but must be screened from view.

My earworm for today is Handel’s great anthem Zadok the Priest and Nathan the Prophet anointed Solomon King.

The King James version of today’s verse is “…ye have an unction from the Holy One.”

The GNB says “You have had the Holy Spirit poured out on you by Christ.”

The Holy Spirit is God’s free gift, generously poured out for all.

In Psalm 133 we read “how pleasant it is for God’s people to live together in harmony! It is like the precious anointing oil running down from Aaron’s head and beard, down to the collar of his robes.”

If you would like a wee distraction, sit down with a coffee and look up Exodus 29 and 30 where you will find the instructions for the preparation of the ceremony to anoint Aaron as a priest. There is even the recipe for the oil. (Do not try this at home.)

PRAYER:

Loving God,

your generosity and mercy know no bounds.

You treat us as honoured guests,

anointing us not with a dab

but with an outpouring of your Holy Spirit.

May we return the honour

by treating all your people as honoured guests,

not setting any aside as worth less or more than others,

but praying for the power of your Holy Spirit

to heal and bless every one.