Saturated in Chrism

Chrism (Greek word literally meaning "an anointing"), also called "Myrrh" (Myron). Pure or scented olive oil, although typically not called chrism today, has been called chrism in the past, including oil used in some forms of Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick and foot washing.

I find it fascinating when I am suffering from some kind of broken relationship, a friend or lover I start to feel myself shriveling. I start to shrink and loose my elasticity. It is obviously a defense mechanism, but defense from what? In any relationship (I will be using the inclusive we pronoun as I don’t think I am the only person who finds this true of their self) we put ourselves out there. We spend time with our new interest- platonic or erotic and expend energy determining what aspects of our self we will share, how much and how often.

What happens though when the relationship ends?—When your friend moves away (to Benin for instance) or you decided your lover wasn’t just right? Do you find it hard to trust? Certainly there is an initial pain and frustration, promises to yourself to do things differently, self-talk to remind yourself that you are loveable, good and worth the best that God has in store. Once that is done and the weight of time is pressing on you, then what do you do?

I have noticed a trend in myself to become a bit brittle, sharp and hard to deal with. I don’t stay that way- but that is my initial reaction. My response though when I take the time to look further, is to want chrism oil. I want to be saturated, redeemed through my sacraments again. The Sacraments are some of my first loving welcome and embraces into my Christian community. I was saturated in a sign of the cross made on my head. It was of chrism-myrrh-perfumed oil when I was baptized and again at the confirmation of the seal. There is a sense of healing for me in remembering such moments (even the ones I don’t recall). The other time that oil is used in our church is for the welcoming of others into the church (again Baptism or Confirmation) or the anointing of the sick.

Are we not all sick at heart and in need of anointing when we see a relationship end? I suppose in that regard it is sensible to crave such a tangible expression of the reality of God’s grace. When all we should want and desire in life is right relationship with one another—to be a full, live, embodied expression of God’s love visible in the world, we can still fail. We choose to deny relationship to others, or they choose to deny us. Either way, relationship is broken.
So, I find solace in knowing that through the signs and expressions of my home community, my universal church that the prayers of the church are reaching beyond my grief, are opening their care and love to encourage me to heal, to saturate myself in the reality of God’s care and love of me. I have been created in the image and likeness, why not cherish the very full reality of God in me?