ANOINTING OF THE SICK

Jesus healed the sick, and gave power to his apostles to do the same, anointing the sick with oil (Mark 6:13). St James tells us that if someone is ill, the leaders should anoint and pray over the person (James 5:14-15). These are the roots of the sacrament of anointing the sick. In the past we rather lost the idea of this as a sacrament of healing, calling it instead an 'Extreme Unction' for those near to death. Now we have restored its original understanding as a sacrament of healing for the whole person.

It is a sacrament of deep healing for someone who is really ill. Serious sickness often challenges our faith in a loving God, undermines our service of the Lord and weakens our bonds with the Christian community. This anointing is the Lord's sacramental way of touching the sick person to bring healing where it is most needed. It may well be the restoration of bodily health. It may be an inner healing, a deep peace within, or the strength to cope with suffering while still full of faith. Or it may be the final healing of death, when the Lord takes us to himself and heals in a way far more wonderful than anything which can happen on earth: we are made truly whole! Jesus brings healing by strengthening and renewing the sick person's bonds with his Body, the Church.

Jesus can and does heal today, and there is no wound or brokenness which is beyond his healing power. He will use each of us as instruments of his healing touch, while bestowing special gifts on some as a service to the many (I Corinthians 12:9).