July 6, 2003

“She touched His cloak, and by trusting Jesus, she was healed.”
In nomine…

I’m sure you all remember being little, falling down, and having a mother, or another adult rub it and make whatever hurt “all better.” Or later, after being made fun of by the other kids, or after a pet died, seeking solace in the lap of a parent. Soon, when the world seemed uncomprehendable, dark, and much of the outside humanity seemed to attack, a boyfriend or girlfriend’s arms provided renewal and a reminder that someone understood. Or looking a newborn baby, gently touching its hand, and having it firmly grasp the hand, well finger, of whomever touched it, trusting it implicitly.

Touch, is, in many ways, a healer. It is a part of growing up, indeed, it is IMPOSSIBLE to grow up successfully if deprived of this simple but imperative gesture. This is clearly evident in children –for example: orphans raised in Romanian institutions. These children, deprived of touch, indeed, deprived of any attention and sensation whatsoever, left in cribs for years with nothing but the “physical essentials,” with no stimulation, often die at depressingly young ages. Those who live past babyhood may have been better off dead. They are often devoid of emotions and intelligent thought. Indeed, scientists have discovered that there is a very brief window of time for these to develop, so even if given a chance as young children, it is often too late for many of these necessary “skills” to develop. Their lives become vacant—are vacant, because no one – touched—them.

Many missionaries spend months traveling throughout Africa, using their precious time to travel from orphanage to orphanage, spending all their time doing nothing but holding babies and toddlers who have AIDS and other illnesses, to ensure that these children have some sort of chances.

Touch, when used sincerely and faithfully, is a significant comfort. Indeed, when someone is far away, the reminder of their touch can bring us comfort. Like when a relative signs a card “Hugs, Aunt Sylvia.” Or “Give yourself a pat on the back for me, Grand Pop.” These reminders bring us both a longing and a warmth. They make us feel special, and when we are sad, these reminders make us feel better, or at least, they try too.

But sometimes touch, real touch, truly can make you feel better, and at times, really make you better. Many parishes have services of healing, with the laying on of hands. As hands are laid upon the head, or shoulders of a person, and prayers are said, true healing, with God coming through the mediator or meadiators may take place, if they trust and pray faithfully.

This diocese, and many others, has an INCREDIBLE program for high school age youth called Happening. I have both attended this Youth Event and served on its staff. Over the course of the Happening weekend, numerous talks are given, and before and after every single talk, whether it be by a youth or a member of the clergy, the speaker is “prayed up” and “prayed down.”
By this, I mean a team of people stand around the speaker, with their hand gently upon the speakers head, arms, and back. They go around the circle, praying for numerous things, such as calm for the speaker, and for the listeners to take away a message from God. With everyone’s deep faith, it is a very powerful time. When I was “prayed up” before giving a talk at Happening, I could feel myself grow physically calmer, something that seldom happens before I have to speak before large groups. Through these friends, and fellow Christians, touching me, I could feel the Holy Spirit reaching and surrounding me.

Confirmations are a time when everyone gets touched. The Bishop lays his or her hands on the confirmand’s forehead, again, a person serving as an intermediary for God’s work.

Faith that the touch, when in the name of Jesus Christ, may heal, is almost as important as allowing the touch. You have to believe when you reach out to touch others, God’s belief is stronger than our unbelief.
In today’s gospel, a woman with a debilitating disease crawled through a crowd, hoping, knowing, that Jesus could cure her. Indeed, there was not a doubt in her mind that Jesus would cure her. No, that’s not entirely true, I’m sure she had plenty of doubts, hundreds of doubts, thousands of upon thousands of doubts. Why, she was sick woman, he, a man, surrounded by men, many “bad things” could have happened. But that didn’t matter to her, the doubts were irrelevant, all that was important, all that could be focused on, was that she knew that Jesus would heal her.
When this happened to her, there were not yet gospels written about Jesus’ miraculous deeds, in fact, many of the deeds we think of had yet to happen. He was not looked at as a hero, with Broadway musicals, fiction books, and movies made about His life. The woman had no way to know that Jesus truly was the Son of God. All she knew was that he had helped people, and that by reaching out and touching Jesus and, in turn, having Him touch her, and by not being afraid of His reaction, she would be healed.

Unlike this woman, we have books, musicals, movies, songs, even billboards telling us of Jesus’ wonderful deeds, of His sacrifice, and of His presence. If that woman, who had none of this to rely on could still hope to reach out to Jesus, why can’t we? PAUSE
Why can’t we reach out, and truly be ready to have our lives be touched by Jesus Christ.
Let us pray:
O God, the source of all health: So fill our hearts with faith in your love, that with calm expectancy we may make room for your power to possess us, and gracefully accept your healing; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen