Sacraments - "Today, 2 for 1"

First day of Christmas break and I was free to attend weekday Mass this morning.  Boy, did I pick the right day.  As soon as we began, Father shared that this was the monthly Mass in which he also offered the Anointing of the Sick.  Fantastic!  Like the Liturgy of the Eucharist, this goes right back Jesus and the Apostles:

"And [Jesus] called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two ... they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them." (Mk 6:7, 12-13)

"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters [called "priests" today] 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."  (James 5:14-15)

What a beautiful sacrament to see celebrated right in the middle of Mass!  I was struck by three prayers prior to the anointing when all of us prayed, "Blessed be God who heals us in Christ."  My mind went back to the Eighteen Benedictions prayed by Jesus and the Apostles.  

And then I was just in awe of the Mass again - the Sacrifice of Jesus made present right there in our parish church.  I am going to get myself to daily Mass every chance I get this break!