On Healing
We hold to the power of prayer for healing. It is a sacrament in our church. Implied in our liturgy is our belief, so in this case: God—the life of God—works healing of body, mind, and spirit among us. The following are suggested lessons for a liturgy, Ministration to the Sick, BCP, p. 453. Ponder all that is implied. Jesus, the healer, engages us in a continuing ministry of healing.
2 Corinthians 1 (NRSV) - 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all consolation, 4 who consoles us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to console those who are in any affliction with the consolation with which we ourselves are consoled by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are abundant for us, so also our consolation is abundant through Christ.
Psalm 91 (BCP, p. 719, 720) - 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, / abides under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 He shall say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my stronghold, / my God in whom I put my trust." 3 He shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter / and from the deadly pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with his pinions, and you shall find refuge under his wings; / his faithfulness shall be a shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, /nor of the arrow that flies by day; 6 of the plague that stalks in the darkness, / nor of the sickness that lays waste at mid-day. 7 A thousand shall fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, / but it shall not come near you. 8 Your eyes have only to behold / to see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, / and the Most High your habitation, 10 There shall no evil happen to you, / neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. 12 They shall bear you in their hands, / lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the adder; / you shall trample the young lion and the serpent under your feet. 14 Because he is bound to me in love, therefore will I deliver him; / I will protect him, because he knows my Name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; / I am with him in trouble; I will rescue him and bring him to honor. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, / and show him my salvation.
Luke 17 (NRSV) - 11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten men with a skin disease approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’s feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? So where are the other nine? 18 Did none of them return to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”
Notice the belief elements for Christians in the above scriptures. Here are some prayers and declarations which are also used in this service. Again, consider what is implied here.
Savior of the world, by your cross and precious blood you have redeemed us;
Save us and help us, we humbly beseech you, O Lord.
(Name), I lay my hands upon you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, beseeching our Lord Jesus Christ to sustain you with his presence, to drive away all sickness of body and spirit, and to give you that victory of life and peace which will enable you to serve him both now and evermore. Amen. or…
(Name), I lay my hands upon you in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, beseeching him to uphold you and fill you with his grace, that you may know the healing power of his love. Amen. (If the person is to be anointed, the Priest dips a thumb in the holy oil, and makes the sign of the cross on the sick person’s forehead, saying the following…
(Name), I anoint you with oil in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The priest may add…
As you are outwardly anointed with this holy oil, so may our heavenly Father grant you the inward anointing of the Holy Spirit. Of his great mercy, may he forgive you your sins, release you from suffering, and restore you to wholeness and strength. May He deliver you from all evil, preserve you in all goodness, and bring you to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. In cases of necessity, a deacon or lay person may perform the anointing, using oil blessed by a bishop or priest. Normally, the Priest concludes the ministration with…
The Almighty Lord, who is a strong tower to all who put their trust in him, to whom all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth bow and obey: Be now and evermore your defense, and make you know and feel that the only Name under heaven given for health and salvation is the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Based on Prov. 18:10; Phil. 2:9-11; Acts 4:8-12.
What a bold statement this is! We have a profound trust in God to heal and save, and we have a remarkable sense of God entrusting to us the ministry of healing.
