| One of the parables that Jesus told about healing | | | | when Jesus advised his listeners to be as generous |
| was with an aromatic essential oil. More than likely it | | | | and caring in their healing of one another as this |
| stunned his audience. It concerned how we are to | | | | Samaritan. I can just imagine the uproar this would |
| generously heal one another with healing | | | | have caused. It's one thing to use an expensive |
| substances-particularly essential oils. We all are familiar | | | | aromatic essential oil on yourself or a family |
| with the story of the Good Samaritan in which Jesus | | | | member-but for a stranger? And a Samaritan at |
| extols the Samaritan for his compassionate healing of | | | | that?! Jesus went too far in this parable for some to |
| a stranger. In this parable, the Samaritan poured wine | | | | listen to him. |
| and oil into the man's wounds. The wine we know | | | | The Good Samaritan Story is One for Our Day |
| would have acted as an antiseptic cleansing the | | | | How does this parable about healing relate to our |
| wounds because of its alcohol content. The oil was | | | | modern day? The Samaritan had compassion for a |
| probably not just any cooking or lamp oil but a | | | | fellow human being who was injured and in need of |
| healing aromatic essential oil that even in those days | | | | help. He did not hesitate to share what he had even |
| would have been extremely expensive. Think about | | | | though that meant he was then without. What can |
| it. Why would a traveler be going down a road | | | | we share with others who are in need of healing in |
| carrying his cooking oil? It does not make sense. But | | | | body/mind/spirit? First-we can share our knowledge |
| what traveler would set out on a long journey and | | | | on how to use essential oils for health and healing. |
| not have a first-aid kit with him-just in case he | | | | There are hundreds of different essential oils, each |
| needed it. Aromatic essential oils were their medicine | | | | with a different chemistry, different healing |
| chest. These oils were used for all kinds of medical | | | | properties, and different methods of |
| problems including injuries, traumas, fractures, skin | | | | administration-inhalation, rubbing them on the body, |
| problems as well as internal problems like digestive | | | | and some can even be taken internally. Second, we |
| upsets, breathing and kidney problems. | | | | can share the essential oils we do have with |
| Jesus' audience would have been very impressed | | | | others-either showing them how they may obtain |
| with these actions and with the Samaritan's | | | | these precious healing oils that come from nature and |
| generosity to use his own healing oil on a stranger. | | | | not a laboratory, or giving some of our essential oils |
| Unfortunately in our modern-day retelling of this | | | | to those in need. Sharing from the heart is what the |
| story, we only remember how significant it was that | | | | parable of the Samaritan is all about. And when we |
| the Samaritan was a hated second-class citizen | | | | share our knowledge and our oils, we are in turn |
| looked down upon by his Jewish counterpart. | | | | lifted up spiritually as part of the family of man. |
| As Jesus relates the story, the Samaritan left the | | | | How can we learn today the ancient art of healing |
| wounded man in the care of the innkeeper and | | | | with aromatic essential oils? Educational courses that |
| generously offered to pay for any additional care the | | | | are Christian-based can help us reclaim our rightful role |
| man might need. The use of the oil and the wine in | | | | in healing and anointing for health of body/mind/spirit. |
| this story was a mark of how great this man's | | | | the Institute of Spiritual Healing and Aromatherapy |
| compassion was towards a total stranger's | | | | does just that. |
| predicament. The clincher in this story, however, was | | | | |