Great and Holy Wednesday
-
The last Presanctified Liturgy is marked by the administration of the Holy Mystery of Anointing. In the Christian East, there is no sharp division between the needs of the body and soul. The sacrament is given to all who are attending, as we all need healing of soul, body, mind, and spirit. This celebration emphasizes the healing of the whole person and strength for the spiritual encounter which is coming through the celebration of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Our Lord.
In so doing, the Byzantine Catholic Church is following the command in James 5:14-16. The priests bless the oil and give the Mystery to the people. We are also following the examples of the woman who anointed Jesus (Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9) at the house of Simon the Leper. The generosity and tears of repentance of this anonymous woman sharply contrast with the betrayal by Judas, which he finalized on Holy Wednesday night.
In the Gospel stories of that weeping woman, or of Mary of Bethany (John 12:1-8), the aromatic nard that is used was worth an entire year’s salary. The two accounts conflict a little, saying that the perfume was poured on Jesus’ head and his feet were wiped with the woman’s hair. What that is telling us is that his entire body was anointed, thus the words of the Lord: she has anointed my body in preparation for burial (Mark 14:8). This extravagance is an extravagance of love.
In our own anointing, we are receiving God’s extravagant love, as He desires to bring us the healing that we each need. It is meant to strengthen us in our resolve to walk with Christ in his Passion and be renewed through his Resurrection.