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: St. John Bosco was devoted to St. Francis de Sales and his teachings. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, St. John founded the Salesians, a religious order dedicated to caring for the young.
Reference: (For a related teaching on Healing: The Imitation of Christ, view, download or order our booklet on our website.)
Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from December 1, 2022, through January 31, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 12, 2022
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.