One of the parables that Jesus told about healing was with an aromatic essential oil. Most likely, he shocked the audience from him. He was referring to how we should generously heal each other with healing substances, particularly essential oils. We are all familiar with the story of the Good Samaritan in which Jesus praises the Samaritan for compassionately healing a stranger. In this parable, the Samaritan poured wine and oil on the man’s wounds. The wine we know would have acted as an antiseptic, cleaning 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 was a traveler on a road carrying his cooking oil? Has no sense. But what traveler would undertake 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 like 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 only remember how significant it was that the Samaritan was a second-class citizen hated and despised 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 further 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 for the situation of a complete stranger. The clincher in this story, however, was when Jesus counseled his hearers to be as generous and loving in healing one another as this Samaritan. I can imagine the uproar this would have caused. It’s one thing to use an expensive aromatic essential oil on yourself or a family member, but on a stranger? And a Samaritan besides? 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 hurt and needed help. He didn’t hesitate to share what he had, even though that meant he had nothing then. What can we share with others who need healing in body/mind/spirit? First, we can share our knowledge on 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 methods of delivery: 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 laboratory, 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 elevated spiritually as part of the family of man.
How can we learn today 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 body/mind/spirit health. the Institute for Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy does just that.