By Lisa Greey –
What’s your love language? I’m sure you’ve heard of the book and the concept that everyone has a love language that is the way one expresses love to others. The fives types are words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service and physical touch. In today’s gospel we see an amazing example of what happens through the touch of Jesus.
A crowd of people surrounds Jesus. A woman with a hemorrhage approaches him, and touches his cloak. This is a woman of great faith, for she thinks, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” She is immediately healed of her hemorrhage. In the meantime, Jesus, still surrounded by a crowd asks the disciples who touched him: “Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” In classic disciple form, they think he’s nuts to be asking “Who touched me?” when clearly many people have touched him in the crowd. But Jesus knows power went out from him. He knew whoever touched him experienced such immense love that he or she was healed. We may be inclined to think it was the touch that healed her, but when she comes before Jesus and admits she touched him we learn it was actually her faith: “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.”
It’s a beautiful story of the power of touch. We all can think of a time when a hug meant more than words, or a kiss meant more than a gift, or even a simple pat on the back meant more than hearing congratulations. Physical touch is a powerful way we experience love. So how can we experience the touch of Christ today? Through the Eucharist we actually consume Christ in our bodies. We become one with him. This is even greater than the woman touching Christ’s clothes! Another way we can experience the touch of Christ is through Eucharistic Adoration, when we sit before the Lord’s true presence and open our hearts, minds and thoughts to him. Christ is also present to us through the people in our lives. We are his hands and feet. That meaningful hug or heartfelt high five are also ways we experience Christ’s love and encouragement to us. Today think of one way you’ve experience Christ’s touch in your life and offer a prayer of gratitude for his presence in your life.
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