Activity:

Group the class into 6. Follow the instructions carefully and answer the following questions:
1. What are your basic needs when you get sick? Why? (Physical, psychological, spiritual) 2. How do you react to sickness? (What are your attitudes towards sickness?

Established Goals
To understand the holistic meaning of healing brought by the Sacrament of Anointing

To become aware of the Christian attitudes to sickness.

Jesus called his disciples...

He called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. Luke 9:1-2

James 5:13-15
Anyone of you who is in trouble should pray; anyone in good spirits should sing a psalm. Anyone of you who is ill should send for the elders of the church, and they must anoint the sick person with oil in the name of the Lord and pray over him. The prayer of faith will save the sick person and the Lord will raise him up again; and if he committed any sins, he will be forgiven.

John 5:1-9
Later, on the occasion of the Jewish feast, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Pool there is a place with a Hebrew name Bethesda. Its five porticoes were crowded with sick people lying there blind, lame and disabled (waiting for the movement of water). There was one man who knew he had been sick for a long time, said when He saw him lying there, Do you want to be healed? Sir, the sick man answered, I dont have anyone to plunge me into the pool once the water has been stirred up. By the time I get there, someone else has gone ahead of me, Jesus said to him, Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk! the man was immediately cured; he picked up his mat and began to walk.

Exegesis

v3 waiting for the movement of the water

- there was an occasional bubbling up of a spring in that pool

- people attribute curative value to this movement of the water.

v.6 Do you want to be healed?

v.7 The suffering of the paralytic was two-fold - He was afflicted with paralysis that made him unable to walk and to move about.

- He was kept from pursuing the cure which he was sure could make him walk.

v.7 I do not have anyone to plunge me into the pool once the water has been stirred up.

- The sick person had to depend on people to do things for him/her.

(How consoling, then, when someone could be around to help and support the sick, as he/she struggles to become well again.

v.8 Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk! - Jesus came to heal and restore a person to normal life. - Jesus did a proclamation of the love and compassion of the Father.

2 Important points
Sickness and pain have always been a heavy burden for man Jesus is a source of hope and healing to the sick

Church Teaching
The Introduction to the Rite of Anointing and Care of the Sick, 5 The sacrament of anointing prolongs the concern which the Lord himself showed for the bodily and spiritual welfare of the sick, as the gospels testify, and which he asked his followers to show also.

The Risen Christ promised the eleven that the sick upon whom they laid their hands would recover (Mk 16:18).

Is there anyone sick among you? He should ask for the presbyters of the Church. They in turn are to pray over him with oil in the name (of the Lord.) This prayer uttered in faith will reclaim the one who is ill, and the Lord will restore him health. If he has committed any sins, forgiveness will be his. James 5:14f

Based from the above scriptural Data and Church Teaching, the emphasized The ministry is intended to the sick members of the Christian community, not only to those who are at the point of death

the Extreme Unction was changed into Anointing of the Sick - Viaticum or the Eucharist with-youon-the-way

The healing
is more holistic care that touches the

- body
- mind and - spirit of the sick person

The sacrament primarily puts the sick person at peace by assurance of Gods love and mercy and the prayer and concern of the entire Christian community

The healing and restoration of strength is expressed in

Laying on of hands symbolizing empowerment by the special working of the Holy spirit.
Oil is associated with healing and strengthening in the light of both ancient and modern uses.

The anointing with oil is accompanied by a prayer asking for Gods love and mercy for the sick, Through his holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy spirit.

The sacrament of the anointing of the sick is administered by the priest whose authority assures the communitys solidarity and unity.

3. Proper Christian attitude to sickness a. A recognition of the

need

to struggle against all sickness and carefully seek the blessings of good health so that
we can fulfill our role in human society and in the Church

b. A realization

that sickness is not a sign of punishment but rather points to the presence of evil in our human situation. .

c. All those who are

seriously ill or who are near-death need

special help of Gods grace and the support through

the prayer and the presence of the other members of the community. .

d. Our sufferings and pain could have a

deeper and saving value when united with the sufferings and pain Jesus had borne for our salvation.