the touch
" 'If I just touch His clothing,' she thought, 'I shall get well.' " —Mark 5:28
A woman who was hemorrhaging touched Jesus. According to Jewish law, this made Jesus unclean (cf Lv 15:25, 27). Instead, His touch made the woman healed and whole (Mk 5:29ff). Touching Jesus is unlike touching anyone else in the world.
Jesus reached out to touch and take the hand of a dead, twelve-year-old girl (Mk 5:41). According to Jewish law, this made Jesus unclean (see Nm 19:11). Instead, Jesus' touch raised the girl from the dead (Mk 5:42). No one else's touch can raise the dead.
Do you want to touch Jesus and be touched by Him? You can be touched by Jesus through the members of His body, the Church. You can touch Jesus in the Sacraments, especially in the Eucharist, the body and blood of Christ. Get in touch with Jesus by loving His Church (Eph 5:25) and receiving Him in Holy Communion. In touch with Him, you are in touch with life, love, hope, peace, freedom, joy, purity, and victory. In touch with Jesus, you are in touch with healing and resurrection. You are in touch with God.
Prayer: Jesus, touch me, and "O, what joy shall fill my soul."
Promise: "Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, Who inspires and perfects our faith." —Heb 12:2
Praise: Jesus gave Benny a special birthday present. Jesus delivered him from smoking three packs of cigarettes a day for thirty-five years.
Reference: (For related teaching, order our booklet, Healing: The Imitation of Christ.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, August 1, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 6, 1996