Ministry to the sick

I am brought up short by the obvious, written by James F. White.

Healing is closely linked to forgiveness of sins. I person who wishes healing should also confess his sins and receive forgiveness. God is perhaps more interested in that than in the physical healing. We are often more interested in the physical because no one likes to be in discomfort.

He also speaks of anointing with oil. This is a Biblical rite. James says that the elders and ministers (presbyters) should go to the sick and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.

As an appointed healing prayer minister I need to avail myself of the oil for anointing more than I do, which is never.

Hippolytus, in the third century, speaks of oil being blessed by the minister and being drunk as well as used for external anointing. Sarapion says it was customary for people to bring oil from home to be used as an outward sign used in healing. The oil would be blessed and then people would drink it and anoint themselves for healing.