As Christians or “anointed ones,” we have been signed with the mark of the cross, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and delivered (commissioned, sent forth) to do the radical work of Kingdom building described in the Gospel today: Love your enemies, bless those that curse you, turn the other cheek, give to those who ask, stop judging, start forgiving.

When you and I send a package to someone, we expect it to arrive un-tampered with and containing everything we intended to send. God expects the same. This is why he anoints his messengers before he delivers them. He wants to be sure we don’t alter the message out of fear, water down the truth because it contradicts social norms, or do violence to the Gospel because our passions insist on revenge and our appetites on the latest pleasure.

God knows how great the temptation is for us to find a way to speak the Gospel without living it or even alter the message to avoid having to speak it. For this reason, he does something to shore us up with the confidence needed to be faithful disciples of his. He anoints us with the power and courage of the Holy Spirit, who alone makes it possible for us to live the faith rather than shrink from it.