”Gifts of Healing” and Prayer for Healing in the Life of Mo­dern Church

Abstract

The present article takes up the issue of prayer for healing and the charismatic service that is connected with it. It discusses St Paul's phrase “gifts of healing” (1 Cor 12,9.28.30) suggesting that God gives free gifts that are to help the people He chooses to become channels for His healing grace. Healing of a disease is prophetic in its character. It is done by God's power owing to Christ's paschal event and thanks to the Holy Spirit's power. It is a forecast of God's final victory over death. It is a forecast of eternal salvation. Here, it is important to understand that those who despite praying remain ill, are invited to participate in Christ's suffering – which is also a great grace of God. In order to use the gifts connected with healings wisely, as well as to responsibly pray for healing, it is necessary to observe proper decisions made by the Church authorities. Everybody is called to constitute one community of faith, the community of the Church that one Spirit gives life to.