Welcome to Issue #63 of Biblia Luna, the weekly newsletter about the intersection of mental illness and faith, written by a pastor who lives with depression. I put the holy back in melancholy!
Hopefully Tomorrow: Anointed and Loved
In the 61st chapter of Isaiah, the prophet writes: The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to provide for those who mourn in Zion-- to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. (Isaiah 61:1-3, NRSV)
Isaiah is prophesying that an anointed one is coming, who will do all this. Who is this anointed one? Some have wondered if it is Isaiah himself, called to proclaim good news to the Israelites. Christians have often interpreted it as a prophecy pointing to Jesus. Whoever it is, it’s someone who has been given an important job to play, an important role in the great story of God’s love.
People need, I think, to feel that they are part of a story greater than themselves. They need to believe that they have a role to play, that they are important, that their existence makes a difference. I know that one way my depression likes to manifest is through a belief that my life is worthless, that I’ve accomplished nothing, that the bad things I’ve done far outweigh the good.
People need to hear that this isn’t true. We need to hear that we have been anointed. This is why I find it so powerful that in my tradition we anoint people with oil moments after they are baptized. The sign of the cross is inscribed on our foreheads in oil, a sign that will never wash away. A sign that says “the spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me.” My anointing doesn’t make me anyone’s savior. It doesn’t make me the Son of God. But it means that I am God’s child, and nothing can stand between me and God’s love for me, nothing. Not even my own inner turmoil. I have an important role to play, even if I can’t always see it, because God said so the moment I was baptized.
This is something I need to be reminded of over and over again. Those of you who have read my book Darkwater have noticed that this is one of the themes appearing regularly. Perhaps you need to be reminded of it too. You are God’s beloved child. You are anointed with God’s love. And through you God will change the world.
Over on the Blog…
Finally, finally, I’m back in the writing groove. I have been writing every day for the past week on Scholtes-Blog. In addition to my weekly sermons, I’ve also published a post every day in Advent, remarking on where I’d seen signs of God’s light that day. Check it out:
Mental Health in the News
Psychologists say they can't meet the growing demand for mental health care
Massive Study Finds a Link Between Commuting And Poor Mental Health
Eliminating the stigma surrounding suicide
Helpful Resources at VeryWell Mind
5 Things to Do If You Are Feeling Worthless
'I Hate Myself': 8 Ways to Combat Self-Hatred
The Toxic Effects of Negative Self-Talk
Biblia Blessing
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39, New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition)