We gather as an Anointed People, anointed by God for the service of the Church in the world, anointed to be the Body of Christ in the world. We are sent out to live our faith in action with love and so proclaim Christ risen from the dead. There is an urgent need in our society to proclaim the fullness and hope of the message of Christ and his Church which respects the dignity of every human person, woman and man, irrespective of origin, colour, creed or stage of life. Too many people want to narrow down this rich message to suit their ideologies. Our faith is a message that the fullness of life is found in following Christ, being united with him and only fulfilled in eternal life because of Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

We are an anointed people who receive the anointing of the Spirit at baptism and confirmation to become ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the greatness (excellencies) of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.’ (1 Pet 2:9). This is our call gathered together tonight as a Church that serves others. We are the living stones being built upon the foundation stone who is Christ. Anointing by him we are all members of his Body. He makes us a kingdom of priests to love and serve God our Father and our neighbour.  We serve the Lord who is the Alpha and the Omega of all time, who is and who was and who is to come.

Anointed with the oil of catechumens before baptism, this oil will protect the catechumens from evil, help them overcome the temptations of the devil and strengthen them for their spiritual journey. Our anointing with this oil before our baptism strengthens us to resist the temptations that weaken our discipleship of Christ and helps us overcome the daily struggle against evil.

The prophet Isaiah points us towards the spirit of God anointing Christ who will bring forth God’s kingdom, bind up and comfort the broken-hearted, proclaim liberty to captives held in sin, free people from the oppressions which bind them, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s salvation. Isaiah looks forward to a new community who will be priests of the Lord and dwell in an everlasting covenant. Jesus fulfils this mission and identifies himself in the synagogue as the One sent by God to fulfil these promises. We as the baptised continue his mission in the Church and though our confirmation receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit to strengthen us and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit. As the anointed people of Christ, may we deepen our love for others during this Holy Week.

My dear brother priests, through your anointing with sacred Chrism and the Holy Spirit at your ordination, you are consecrated to conform yourselves to Christ the Head of the Church and to serve Christ’s Body and their needs. You are called to deepen your life as disciples of Christ. Through your holy anointing, you celebrate the sacraments of healing, reconciliation and Eucharist for God’s holy people.

I thank you for your dedication and service to God’s holy people. Your consecration is a journey of growth to love ever more deeply and to model yourself on the Lord. When you received the gifts at your ordination, you heard the words (in the new translation), ‘Receive the oblation of the holy people to be offered to God. Understand what you will do, imitate what you will celebrate, and conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s Cross.’

As you renew your priestly promises today, seek to model your life more fully on Christ who came to serve and not to be served. Be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God by witnessing to Christ in life and word. Be ministers of joy to those you meet and when joyless, seek renewal in prayer, faith, friendship and fraternity. Celebrate the Holy Eucharist with dedication and dignity. It is the source of your life. Seek to do so daily as the Lord Jesus is the one who will nourish and sustain you. Seek God’s mercy in confession so that you will minister that mercy freely to others. Be missionaries of mercy so that the people may know the mercies and love of God.

The oils which are blessed and the sacred chrism which is consecrated will be used to anoint God’s holy people. Christ is always close to the sick. He summons the Church to come and anoint those who are sick, to pray over them and absolve their sins. I thank our priests who minister in the hospitals, accompanying the lay chaplains, the nurses and healthcare professionals, but whose ministry is unique by celebrating the presence of Christ who heals through the anointing with the oil of the sick. Your presence with the sick is a powerful witness to the presence of Christ healing and forgiving the sick of their sins, so that they might give glory to God. I ask you to be generous in serving the sick and those close to death. We need catechesis to help families understand that the sacrament of the sick is for the living, and not just for the dying. It is a celebration of Christ among and close to those who are sick.

May these holy oils strength all who receive them. May they help them grow in faith, hope and love. As the anointed priests of the Lord, trust always in the power of the Holy Spirit who transforms us made of dust into the images of the glorified body of Christ. Always trust in the power of Christ’s anointing through the pouring of these oils as a sign of his resurrection and life-giving salvation.