Quintessence of Religious Doctrines - Malankarasyriac Voice

41On the Anointing of the Sick 81holy oil. The anointing of the body of the sick with this oil whichsanctifies and so is hailed the oil of grace, is for not only givingstrength to attain victory over satanic temptations that may beset at the time of death but also for strengthening the sick toabandon worldly desires and to reinforce them that they arerubbed with the holy oil, representing the grace of our Lord.Further, it not only works out remission of sins but also bringsabout cure of illness, if the Lord so wills.Ref: (a) Jas. 5: 14, 15. If you are sick ask the church priest tocome and pray for you. Ask them to put olive oil onyou in the name of the Lord. If you have faith whenyou pray for sick people, they will get well. TheLord will heal them and if they have sinned he willforgive them. (L.B.)(b) Mk. 6:13. They forced out many demons and healeda lot of sick people by putting olive oil on them.(L.B.)CommentThe preliminaries of anointing, on the sick and effects ofdoing so are explained here. While anointing, the priestsshould try to fortify the sick, through their pieces of advice tofight against satanic temptations and worldly ties. In doingso, the priest shall tell the sick that through the oil that isbeing rubbed, they receive the grace of the spirit of God.The theology is that the holy oil is a symbol of divine grace.The oil is used not only for the remission of sins but also asa medicine for curing the illness. Therefore, anointing the oilon the sick can be performed as and when needed. In otherwords, unlike baptism, it is not a one time ritual.Theme No: 13On Burial1. In accordance with the good or bad actions performed by onethrough the mortal body while alive, every person will undergopain and pleasure in the different kind of body that everybodyputs on after resurrection. Therefore it is improper andunbehoving to bury the corpses of humans without performingrituals and saying prayers as in the case of animals.Ref: (a) 1Cor. 15:53. For, what is mortal must be changedinto what is immortal; what will die must be changedinto what cannot die. (G.N.B.)(b) 2Cor. 5:10. For all of us must appear before Christ, tobe judged by him. Each one will receive what hedeserves, according to everything he has done,good or bad in his bodily life. (G.N.B.)CommentThe logic of according a decent burial is brought out. As theretributions of the actions done while alive has to be suffered,as St. Paul says, in the new type of body to be formed out ofthe mortal body, the latter is to be preserved and honouredwithout blemish; also it must be buried without any sort ofmaiming.2. But as we do have the hope of resurrection,Ref: 1Thes. 4:13. Our brothers we want you to know thetruth about those who have died, so that you willnot be sad as are those who have no hope. (G.N.B.)CommentThe rationale for an honourable burial is further expatiated.According to Pauline theology, resurrection implies,resurrection in the new body formed out of the original mortalbody. Hence the dead body must be buried without inflictingwounds or any type of distortion on it, except those necessaryfor maintaining life.