One of the parables that Jesus told about healing was with an aromatic essential oil. Most likely, he surprised the audience with him. He was referring to how we should generously heal one another with healing substances, particularly essential oils. We are all familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan in which Jesus extols the Samaritan for compassionately curing a stranger. In this parable, the Samaritan poured wine and oil on the man’s wounds. The wine that we know would have acted as an antiseptic cleaning the wounds due to its alcoholic content. The oil was probably not just any cooking or lamp oil, but a healing aromatic essential oil that even in those days would have been extremely expensive. Think about it. Why would a traveler go down a road carrying his cooking oil? Has no sense. But what traveler would go on a long journey and not carry a first aid kit with him, just in case he needed it? Aromatic essential oils were his medicine cabinet. These oils were used for all kinds of medical problems, including injuries, traumas, fractures, skin problems, and internal problems such as digestive disorders, respiratory and kidney problems.
Jesus’ audience would have been greatly impressed by these actions and by the Samaritan’s generosity in using his own healing oil on a stranger. Unfortunately, in our modern retelling of this story, we are only reminded of how significant it was that the Samaritan was a hated and despised second-class citizen by his Jewish counterpart.
As Jesus relates the story, the Samaritan left the injured man in the care of the innkeeper and generously offered to pay for any additional care the man might need. The use of oil and wine in this story was a sign of how great this man’s compassion was towards the plight of a complete stranger. The deciding factor in this story, however, was when Jesus counseled his listeners to be as generous and loving in healing one another as this Samaritan. I can imagine the ruckus this would have caused. It’s one thing to use an expensive aromatic essential oil on yourself or a family member, but for a stranger? And a Samaritan too? Jesus went too far in this parable for some to listen.
The story of the good samaritan is one for our days
How does this parable about healing relate to our modern day? The Samaritan had compassion for a neighbor who was injured and needed help. He didn’t hesitate to share what he had, even though it meant he had nothing then. What can we share with others who need healing in body/mind/spirit? First, we can share our knowledge of how to use essential oils for health and healing. There are hundreds of different essential oils, each with a different chemistry, different healing properties, and different delivery methods: inhalation, rubbing on the body, and some can even be taken internally. Second, we can share the essential oils we have with others, either by showing them how they can get these precious healing oils that come from nature and not from a lab, or by giving some of our essential oils to those who need them. Sharing from the heart is what the parable of the Samaritan is all about. And when we share our knowledge and our oils, we are in turn uplifted spiritually as part of the family of man.
How can we today learn the ancient art of healing with aromatic essential oils? Christian-based educational courses can help us reclaim our rightful role in healing and anointing for the health of the body/mind/spirit. the Institute of Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy does just that.