He Has Anointed Me

A Reflection on the Psalm for Sunday August 21st, 2022:
​Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Psalm 117

R. Go into all the world and proclaim the good news.

Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples. 

R. Go into all the world and proclaim the good news.

For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. 

R. Go into all the world and proclaim the good news.

It can be easy to proclaim the good news when all is going well in my world. Recently, however, I became engulfed in a storm unlike any I have faced. Test results came back, and I received a call from my doctor with what should be dreaded words: “You have cancer.” For a moment, I clung to my husband and cried. This man – the one chosen by God to be my companion on this journey – hugged me and let me cry for a bit, and then he said, “Okay. We pray for two things. Peace and acceptance.” He reminded me that we have chosen to trust God as the ultimate guide for this part of our journey. 

In the days immediately after the diagnosis, my pastor reached out and said he felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to pray with me in person. We met in a quiet room at our parish, and he opened by reminding me that he was there in persona Christi. As he laid his hand on my head, I physically felt the love and peace of Christ wash through me. I could hear the words that were being spoken, but more than anything, I felt the words in my soul, and right then I knew without a doubt that His faithfulness would endure. I also knew that all would be well. The hand of this beautiful, holy priest felt like it grew until I was physically being cradled in the palm of God’s hand.

I left that room feeling more than peace. I felt joy. The joy that only God brings. He is so faithful. He has never promised that there wouldn’t be challenges in life. He has, however, promised that He will be there with me for every one of those challenges. How can I not proclaim this good news?

This storm is a powerful witness to the healing grace of God. The world would have the healing be physical, and of course I hope that is the case. But even without physical healing, my soul has already been healed. I can walk calmly and firmly through whatever comes next because He is right here with me. I feel Him physically every time I close my eyes and remember His hand on my head. He has anointed me to proclaim the good news!

Let us pray.
Father God, thank You for Your steadfast love and the healing You give so freely. Your love endures forever, and I will proclaim Your goodness all the days of my life. Through Your love I know that while tears may come in the evening, rejoicing comes in the morning. Let me always share the good news and invite others to receive Your healing peace. Amen.




Sandy Graves

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