they'll know we are christians?
"Do not harm him, for who can lay hands on the Lord's anointed?" —1 Samuel 26:9
"Though the Lord delivered you into my grasp, I would not harm the Lord's anointed." —1 Samuel 26:23
David was the subject of a manhunt. King Saul and three thousand men were hunting David as if he were a wild animal. David had a chance to kill his enemy Saul, but he refused to kill him because Saul was "the Lord's anointed" (1 Sm 26:9, 11, 23). In Greek, the phrase, "the anointed one," is translated "Christos." "Christos" is translated into English as "Christ" or "Christian." Therefore, David called Saul not "enemy," "pervert," or "murderer," but "Christian." In doing so, David unknowingly anticipated the awesome dignity of Christians.
When we were baptized, we were anointed as priests, prophets, and kings. The least born into the kingdom of Jesus is greater than Saul, David, Adam, Abraham, Moses, Miriam, Deborah, Judith, etc. (Mt 11:11) As anointed ones, as Christians, we have the most sublime dignity of all human beings. We should respect and reverence each other accordingly.
Because we have been anointed by the Anointed One, the Christ, we live in a different dimension. We love our enemies (Lk 6:27, 35), have the compassion of God the Father (Lk 6:36), and give and forgive as only Jesus can (Lk 6:37, 38). Because we are in Christ, we will even rise from the dead.
"Christian, recognize your dignity" (Pope St. Leo the Great, quoted in the Catechism, 1691).
Prayer: Father, make me realize that I am a royal priest in Christ (1 Pt 2:9).
Promise: "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He put our transgressions from us." —Ps 103:12
Praise: Praise Jesus the Christ, risen from the dead! "Death has no more power over Him" (Rm 6:9). Alleluia!
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, August 9, 2000
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 18, 2000