James 5:14-15
Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven.
Unction
The anointing of the sick is an ancient practice of the Church, and it is a vital part of our ministry. Tangibly it expresses the connection with God as the source of our healing. It is not the oil itself that saves, but the prayer of faith. The notion of the nature of healing can often bee more complex than we as mere mortals can ever fully hope to grasp and understand. There is a time when we recognise that death itself comes as healing.
The idea of extreme unction, that is the anointing of the dying is a vital part of this ministry, however it is simply part of the ministry. If the priest appears and offers to anoint you, that does not mean you are dying. Holy Anointing is a reminder that even when we are off our game, the encounter with God is our source, our inspiration and our healing.