*Anointing of the Sick*

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In John 11:35-36 Jesus wept, demonstrating compassion and love upon learning about the death of his friend Lazarus. Is the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick symbolic of Jesus’ capacity to bring the dead back to life?
 
Welcome to the forums, @gjohnson.

The traditional scriptural basis for the Anointing of the Sick is James 5:14–15:
Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
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If Christ had came to Lazarus before he died this might be more closely linked to the Anointing of the Sick.

If anything, the raising of Lazarus is more closely related to the Sacrament of Baptism in which we are born to new life in Christ. We are washed clean of the deathly stench of original sin and leave the darkness of the tomb to be raised again in the light of Christ.
 
gjohnson said:
Is the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick symbolic of Jesus’ capacity to bring the dead back to life?
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Not really, if anything it’s actually preferable if people are anointed before it gets to that point! It’s more about Christ as the divine physician who shares our humanity and heals our infirmities and of the Holy Spirit as the consoler. The text of the Rite talks about easing sufferings and comforting the weaknesses of the one being anointed, as well as restoring them to health - there are separate prayers for commendation of the dying which is basically an add on to the Rite of Anointing (but can also stand alone).
 
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