Without faith in the risen Christ, faith in the crucified Jesus lacks confirmation and authorization. Without faith in the cross, faith in the risen Christ lacks its distinctive character and decisiveness. The ultimate distinctive feature of Christianity is Jesus Christ as the Crucified.
-Hans Kung-

Healing is a sacrament because its purpose is the entrance into the Life of the Kingdom. Christ transforms everything in the world, including health, disease, joy, and suffering. Christ doesn’t remove suffering; he transforms it into a pathway to the Kingdom.
-Alexander Schmemann-