Why are we afraid?

     Yesterday morning at the conclusion of Mass, we celebrated the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.  We do so on the first Wednesday of each month, in addition to a larger communal setting in the Fall.  It affords those who are ill or aged or in need of the grace and strength of the Sacrament to share in the grace provided.  I picked up on the monthly celebration idea from Father Bob Washko, a priest of our diocese and a former neighbor.

     I mentioned our Anointing Service because just the day before I received a call from a family to visit a local hospital and Anoint one of their family members who was ill.  The individual, who was in his eighties and having some heart problems, had come to the conclusion that it might be good to call the priest and get things in order.  The family was very upset, the one child saying that their dad's stats were improving, why this phone call now?  The family member was near tears.

     So I went to visit.  Despite having some heart issues that are being addressed, I found the person in good spirits and ready to be blessed.  We talked, we prayed, we shared the Sacraments, and we had a great visit.  If only the rest of the family could have been there and seen the peace and contentment.

     This is the one Sacrament that is most misunderstood and most feared.  I have had calls in the middle of the night to go and anoint Mom, but don't let on that we called.  Tell her you were just making the rounds (at 2 am?).  Why do we live in fear ... of this Sacrament ... of death itself?

     The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of the living, a sacrament of healing.  We should expect strengthening, both physically as well as spiritually.  It is part of the continual process of healing that we constantly need as human beings.  There is also a prayerful preparation for the great healing embrace of death - the anointing of the body in preparation, the healing forgiveness of God's love in reconciliation, and the reception of the Lord Jesus in Holy Communion in Viaticum.  This "Extreme Unction" - this last anointing - is to be a wonderful celebration of the Family of God easing the transition from life in this world to the joy of life everlasting. We never know the will of God, but I would guess that this gentleman that I saw on Tuesday has a way to go before those "last anointing" prayers.  But he's ready for whatever the Lord has in store.  May we always be ready ... and not out of fear but rather out of joyful anticipation.