Alienation of the Sick

From The Anointing of the Sick by Paul Meyendorff:

This healing ministry of Christ is a primary task of the Church, which is the presence of Christ in this sick and fallen world. We are Christ’s presence in the world, and we, as the Church, are charged with bringing healing to those around us. At the Last Judgment, we shall have to answer whether we “ fed the poor, welcomed the stranger, clothed the naked, visited the sick . . .” (Matt 25.31-46). Our contemporary church life is sorely lacking in this regard. Few parishes encourage their mem­ bers to engage in this ministry, which is often simply forgotten or left up to the priest alone. Few communities make full and appro­ priate use of the sacrament of healing, the anointing of the sick. We do not even make this ministry of healing available to our own parishioners, or to members of our own families, who are all too often left to suffer and die alone, in hospitals and nursing homes. For this we shall be held accountable.

The very purpose of the Church is to heal us, to restore the rift between God and humanity which is caused by our sin and leads to death.