To touch the tassel of Jesus' cloak was to touch a sacramental, a sign of God's grace "to keep all the commandments of the Lord, without going wantonly astray after the desires of [one's] hearts and eyes" (Nm 15:39). As baptized Catholic Christians, we can not only touch a sacramental but can receive the sacrament of the Eucharist, the body and blood of God.

Consequently, it would seem that Catholic Christians would be healed in great numbers when receiving Holy Communion. In fact, the Church leads us to pray immediately before receiving Communion: "Only say the word and I shall be healed." As expected, many people are healed through Holy Communion, but it does not seem that the numbers of people healed in many parts of the world are as great as might be reasonably expected, considering the infinite healing power of the Lord. Are we obeying the Lord's word so that we shall be healed?

In our secular humanistic culture and lukewarm Christianity so prevalent today, the very concept of obedience may have been eroded. Do we mean by obedience what the Lord means by it? Like Jesus, have we "learned obedience" from what we have suffered? (see Heb 5:8) Are we even registered in the school of obedience? Ask the Lord that you may learn His obedience and thereby touch and receive the Lord and Healer.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Richard Walling, July 18, 2003

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 24, 2003