The very first homily given by Jesus at Nazareth in a synagogue was read just now, taken from the Gospel of Luke. And it is addressed to the poor, to the captive, to the blind and to the downtrodden. The poor, captive, blind and downtrodden as understood by Saint Luke.

These oils are for us, for us who are poor, captive, blind and downtrodden. These oils are meant to anoint us, all of us, for mission and for communion. The Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of Chrism (Sacred Chrism) and the Oil of the Sick.

The first time this oil was applied on us, probably all of us received it, was at baptism, maybe as a child, maybe as an adult. When we were fresh and newly born and welcomed into this world by our loved ones. And this is what the priest said at the baptism when this Oil of Catechumens was applied on you. The priest said or the deacon or the bishop:

We anoint you with the Oil of Salvation. This Oil of Catechumens is the Oil of Salvation. In the name of Christ our Saviour, may He strengthen you with His power who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

And so from the time we were little babies, little children, we were already anointed with the oil of catechumens so that we will be strong and grow up strong.

At our baptism, whether as children or as adults, we also received the Sacred Oil of Chrism. And this is what the priest or the deacon or the bishop who anointed you said when the Chrism was applied on you at your baptism:

God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin and given you a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit and welcomed you into His holy people. He now anoints you with the Chrism of salvation.

As Christ was anointed priest, prophet and king — we are all priests, prophets and kings by virtue of our baptism — so may you live always as a member of His body, sharing everlasting life.

Then we grew up from being little babies, little children, we grew up and we became teenagers, young adults. And once again the Sacred Chrism was applied on us at our confirmation. And what did the bishop say at your confirmation? He said:

Be sealed. Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.

When we were young and energetic and vibrant like the 1,600 young people who gathered in Sabah for the Malaysian Youth Day.

Then some of us we received the Chrism again when we were ordained priests and when our hands were anointed by the bishop. And this is what the bishop said when he anointed our hands, those of us who are ordained priests:

The Lord Jesus Christ whom the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit and power guard and preserve you that you may sanctify the Christian people and offer sacrifice to God.

When your hands, dear Fathers, were anointed by the bishop.

Bishop Selva and myself, we had one more anointing — anointing with the same Oil of Sacred Chrism when we were ordained Bishops. And I remember Archbishop Murphy Pakiam who ordained me, he said these words: