Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve
years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to
herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.”
Matthew 9:20-21
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
As children in a back seat of a car you have one time or another heard or said the words, “Don’t touch me” or “stay in your own space.” “Mom/dad he or she keeps touching me.” This may make you smile, but sadly we live in a culture now that is losing out on the ability to touch or to be touched. Either we are told not to touch things or that we shouldn’t touch other people. Or we are so engrossed in some type of electronic device we miss opportunities to touch someone.
But as humans, better yet as children of God, we have the need to be touched or touch someone else. Sometimes as little children we don’t want to be touched, but how often do we end up wanting to be held, and we crawl up into someone’s arms. That feeling of comfort and that everything will be alright. There are passages throughout the whole Bible, both the Old and New Testament, that teaches us how important touch is. It all started in the beginning when God touched the world by creating everything in it. There are stories of Moses touching things along with many other stories. Then you have this
woman who has been suffering for years and no one would touch her because she was unclean. But she knew that if she could just touch Jesus’ cloak she would be made well. And guess what, that simple act of faith, that touch, made her well.
I think we forget how important touch can be both for ourselves and others. I am reminded of this every time I go to the nursing home or the home of a homebound person. They are starving to be touched, to know that they matter. I try to make it a practice when I am visiting someone that I either touch their hand, shoulder, or even give them a hug. One time I did this to a woman, and she opened her eyes and said, “God Bless You.” A lady sitting next to her said, “I have been coming here for two years to see my husband and I have never heard her speak a word.” Touch can change someone’s life and even our own.
Jesus showed us many examples of touch. The one that has the greatest impact on me was in that upper room the night before Jesus was to be crucified. They were going to celebrate the Passover Meal. Jesus takes off his outer cloak and kneels to wash the disciple’s feet. Jesus, the Son of God, is willing to touch the disciple’s feet. That simple act of touch changed the disciples forever. That they and we are called to go out and touch the lives around us in The Name of Jesus Christ. Touch changes the lives around us, and it changes us as well. How is Christ touching your life?
God’s Peace & Love,
Pastor Gary