But to understand God’s heart toward the sick, we are better served looking to Scripture, rather than our own limited experience. These episodes can make us wonder if perhaps God isn’t in the healing business anymore. Or perhaps you’re remembering someone beloved in your church who lost their battle with cancer, despite all the faith-filled prayers spoken on their behalf. Maybe you’re thinking of someone well-known who was lifted up in prayer by tens of thousands of people during a time of serious illness, and yet the Lord saw fit to take them home. We all know of someone who was sick and wasn’t healed. For still others, it’s that they don’t have a lot of experience praying for the sick and aren’t quite sure what words they ought to pray.Įven with all the questions we may have surrounding Christians praying for healing, there’s one important question we can answer right now: What is God’s heart toward the sick? Should Christians pray for the sick? For others, it’s a question of whether God still heals in this way today. Yet even with this clear command, many Christians are uncomfortable praying for their brothers and sisters when they come down with an illness.įor some, it’s because they aren’t sure God will answer their prayer. Jesus’ half-brother James wrote, “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord” (James 5:14). The Bible tells us plainly to pray for the sick. In the life of any church, large or small, people get sick from time to time. Amen.Chances are, if you work in ministry, someone in your congregation has been sick with the coronavirus recently. Let the tears we shed upon their passing stand witness to our love for them and the depth of our thanksgiving for the gift of their lives and the grace of a good death. Lord Jesus Christ, as you stood by the bed of good Saint Joseph and gently led him home to heaven, so shepherd every soul about to die to a paradise of perfect peace. Mary, Mother of pilgrim humanity, pray for us “now and at the hour of our death.” Keep us ever close to Jesus, your beloved Son and our brother, the Lord of life and glory. For in meeting you, after having sought you for so long, we shall find once more every authentic good which we have known here on earth, in the company of all who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith and hope. And when the moment of our definitive “passage” comes, grant that we may face it with serenity, without regret for what we shall leave behind. Grant that we may lovingly accept your will, and place ourselves each day in your merciful hands. Grant, O Lord of life, That we may savor every season of our lives as a gift filled with promise for the future. Prayer of the Elderly, Saint Pope John Paul II Amen.Įxcerpts from the English translation of Pastoral Care of the Sick: Rites of Anointing and Viaticum © 1982, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. strength and courage to continue to follow Jesus your Son. Bless all who have grown old in your service, and give N. A Blessing Prayer for An Elderly Person Who is SickĪll praise and glory is yours, Lord our God, for you have called us to serve you in love. Restore him/her to health, and lead him/her to glory. Bless N., so that he/she may bear this illness in union with your Son's obedient suffering. A Blessing Prayer for Those Who Are SickĪll praise and glory is yours, Lord our God, for you have called us to serve you in love. Please bless me with good health, and inspire me to be a good example to others. Help me find joy in a renewed strength of spirit. I praise you for the gifts you have showered on me for so many years. O Lord, my God, Please give me the grace to maintain my hope in you through all of life’s changes and to taste and see your goodness.
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