Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Touch Me

Suggested Reading: Luke 5:1-13

“Lord, if you will, You can make me clean.”
Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him,saying, “I will; be clean.”


Luke 5:12b-13

We got to the hospital before it opened. Having scheduled surgery a week earlier I was eager to get the procedure over. Because my response to anesthesia is negative my prayer had been, “Lord, if you will, please help me get out of the anesthetic fog without getting nauseous.”

Touches filled the morning. My husband, the intake nurse, the anesthesiologist, the gynecologist, the recovery room nurse, someone always had their hand on me. A touch ended my day as well when a friend, trained in healing therapy, came with dinner and left me drowsy on the floor; the result of a pressure point foot massage. From the beginning to the end my healing involved touching.

Touching was an integral part of Jesus’ ministry. Children, lepers, women, generally those who made up the crowds were all recipients of his touch. What is amazing about many of these touching accounts is the faith of the individuals. Like the hemorrhaging woman, the leper in Luke starts from a belief that with a touch healing would flow.

Jesus stretches out his hand and touches. His healing doesn’t depend on the leper meeting him half way with his own hand. He touches freely. What was required was a belief that a touch would do.

Walking into the hospital I knew that touching would be a part of the healing process. The truth is that Jesus was there too, touching me, bringing healing to my anxious spirit but also to my body because upon awakening there wasn’t even a twinge of nausea.

Thought for the Day: In what ways has Jesus touched you recently?

Jesus, thank you for your touch.
Stretching out your hand you touch life into me
and I know that I am nothing without that touch.
Amen.

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