The Miracle of a Touch

13^th Sunday in the Ordinary Time

June 28, 2015

Mark 5:21-43

“Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live (Mrk 5:23).”

Optimus Prime, the leader of Autobots from the movie Transformers, once said that human are beings capable of great destruction and also of great compassion. We become this being of great compassion/destruction through our bodily touch. Our body is powerful language. The science of communication has proved that while the words we utter may be critical, they only occupy less than 10% of human relationship. A lion share of it is actually our bodily expressions or language. We do not have to say any word when we are angry, the mere fact that we refuse to talk and distance ourselves can signal the message. A little yet gentle smile can communicate a warm approval and happiness.

Unfortunately, our body can be a source of unimaginable destructions and sufferings. Domestic violence and sexual harassment may simply begin with a gentle touch induced with malice. While the perpetrators might go unpunished, the victims will definitely bring this extremely traumatic experiences with them for the rest of their lives. Wrathful words of parents, coupled with matching physical gesture like finger-pointing may inflict a deep psychological damage to their children. Following some psychological schools, these emotional wounds can manifest in various undesirable attitudes even as the kids grow old. Many relationships do not work just because we fail to recognize the other’s needs expressed through their bodily gestures. We are insensitive to our friends’ desire to be alone or our spouses’ longing to be listened to.

However, the opposite also works. Our human touch can turn to be the source of great goodness. Jesus knew this very well. He allowed the woman with hemorrhage to make a bodily encounter with Him so she may get well. Jairus, the synagogue official, believed that Jesus’ touch on his dying daughter could save her. His faith indeed was justified when Jesus took the girl by hands and raised her from the dead. In fact, many of His miracles were performed through bodily contacts. This corporeal engagement, eventually, prepares us for Jesus’ supreme final act that He radically shared His own Body and Blood to the disciples.

This is actually the basis of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church: Jesus’ touch. Through His own body that encounters our own, God’s grace flows and is made efficacious. That is why the sacraments use tangible realities like water, oil, consecrated bread and wine, and human body to signify the fruitfulness of divine grace. We do not create sacraments for our own convenience, but we are faithfully following Christ.

We may not have the power to heal or to raise the dead, but we have a marvelous gift of touch. This is enough to create a better world. We give a big hug to our children. We come and listen to the stories of our troubled friends. We tap brothers’ shoulders and encourage them to move forward. John Maxwell, the leadership guru, says “All of the certificates of recognition we receive in life will fade. The monuments we build will crumble. The trophies will corrode. But what we do for others will make a lasting impact on our world.” And our greatest and lasting contribution for this world is our powerful yet compassionate touch for others.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP