Healing Touch

There is a theologian named Ronald Rolheiser, whom I’ve really enjoyed reading.  He writes about how in the gospels, many people find healing in Jesus’ touch.

In Mark, chapter 4, we read that when Jesus takes Jairus’ daughter by the hand, she stands up and begins to walk. In that same story, we read about a woman who simply touched Jesus’ cloak. And even though she never spoke a word to him, she too was healed.

It is interesting. We see this all throughout the Gospels, how so often Jesus physically touches those he heals, even the Lepers, even the unclean…

Rolheiser takes this a step further. He claims that not only was there healing in Jesus’ touch, but that because we as the church are the Body of Christ, here and now, there can be healing in our touch as well.

Now, I am always a little bit cautious about healing stories like this because I have known too many people over the years who have prayed fervently for healing, out of great desperation, and great faith and they turned to Jesus, and that healing still didn’t happen… at least not as they had hoped… Even the Apostle Paul didn’t receive the healing he wanted… He said I prayed to the Lord three times that this torn in my flesh might be removed. And Jesus answered, “My grace is sufficient for you…”

I don’t know why that is…why some seem to be healed and others aren’t.

But even still, I do believe that there is healing power in prayer. Even though healing may not always happen when we want or exactly how we would like, I do trust that there is healing power in Jesus’ touch. And I do believe that there can be healing power in the touch of the Body of Christ here and now as well.

Let us pray: Loving God, as your people, we don’t always get it right. But we thank you for the way in which you do indeed work through us. We thank you for moments when you have used our words, our actions, and our hands to bring healing to others. And we thank you for the times when you have worked through others to bring healing to us. I pray today for those who need you near; in Jesus’ name. Amen.