Mark 1:40-42 - A man with
leprosy came to [Jesus] and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you
can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and
touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately the leprosy
left him and he was cured. (NIV)
On Sunday morning, a shabbily-dressed homeless person was found sitting on a
piece of cardboard at the front of our church entrance, as people filed into the
sanctuary. His head was down, and he almost seemed not to notice those entering
the church.
As one can imagine, the reaction to this individual was varied. Many people
walked by, ignoring him, pretending not to see, picking up the pace as they
passed. Others bent over and offered encouragement to enter the warmth of the
church, where coffee and food could be made available. One person actually bent
down to the level of the street person, putting his hand on him and asking how
he could meet his needs.
Just as the service started, the homeless person appeared at the back of the
sanctuary and took a seat there quietly for a while, before getting up and
wandering over to the food table, set up for after-church fellowship. There he
began to stuff his pockets with muffins.
Soon, the street person sauntered to the front of the church and took off his
hoody and balaclava, and the congregation immediately realised that it was ...
me, the pastor.
I then read today's passage from Mark, noting that it was not necessary for
Jesus actually to touch the leper in order to heal him. Remember how Jesus
healed the centurion's daughter from a day's journey away? But it was physical
touch that the leper (as one shunned and ignored by his community) needed, as
much as a spiritual touch or a healing touch.
God created us to need physical touch, so we must be much more liberal -- yet
sensitive -- with our physical touch. Much more, we need to reach out and touch
the hurting, the marginalized, the needy in our society with all the resources
that God has given us.
Walking by is not an appropriate response.
Prayer: Lord, we all stand in need of Your touch, a touch that goes beyond mere
healing. Help us to become the kind of people who are ready to reach out and
touch, meeting the needs of others, and in doing so, bringing Your kingdom a
touch closer. Amen.
Rick Potter rpotte@hotmail.com
Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca
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