Healing touch...

When I studied M.A. at Maryhill School of Theology in Quezon City, Philippines under the ‘Adult Theological Education Program’ for Christian Education teachers, I was assigned by my Professor in the course “Philosophy of Being Human,” to write a paper that would require me to conduct a four-week visit to patients of East Avenue Medical Center.

The hospital director gave me permission to attend to a 75-year old woman. She was blind as the effect of diabetes. At first when I started talking to her, I kept a respectful distance. But in time, we became at ease with each other. In time, we became very familiar with each other. We became friends.

It was my last week to visit the old woman in the hospital. While we were talking, she suddenly wept, and so my initial reaction was to comfort and pacify her by touching her hand. This made her cry even more.

She said, “Brother Alberto, it’s been a long time that we’ve known each other, but it is only now that you’ve touched me.” (“Brother Alberto, ang tagal na nating magkakilala, ngayon mo lang hinawakan ang kamay ko”). In her weak and shrill voice, trembling with emotions, she continued, “Maybe, that hand of yours is like the hand of God. It’s been so long a time that no one touched my hand. Nobody wants to touch my hand. Thank you. I am glad there is still someone who likes to touch my hand.” (Siguro, iyang kamay mo ay katulad ng kamay ng Diyos. Ang tagal-tagal ng walang humahawak ng kamay ko. Walang gusto ng humawak ng kamay ko. Salamat saiyo, at mayroon pa palang taong gustong humawak ng kamay ko.”)

I will never forget that incident with the old woman at the hospital because it deeply touched something within me. To hear someone say “Thank you for touching me, perhaps your hands are like the hands of God,” was the best compliment I have ever received from anybody.

This story that I recalled to you now is to primarily point to the power of our hands. Jesus touched people and they were healed. Jesus touched people and they recovered from their illnesses. Jesus touched people and they regained the meaning of life.

Perhaps our hands are not as powerful as the hands of Jesus. Perhaps when we touch a sick person, that sick person will not be healed. But I am sure that if you will only touch, and dare to touch a sick person whom you do not like to touch, the broken heart of that person will be healed. The wonder of the human touch has mended so many broken hearts.

Unfortunately, we are not willing to dare.

Stories were told to me by my friends about spouses that when they are not in good terms with each other, they rebuff each other by saying, “Don’t touch me.” This further speaks of the power of the human touch. This is the stark reality: We touch only the people we love, and we allow ourselves to be touched only by the people whom we also love.

So many people are deprived of God’s hand because we refuse to use our hands to touch their lives. The human hands are so powerful. The human hands have power within themselves to bring joy, to bring consolation, to bring cure to people. Jesus knew the power that lay in the human hands.

Let us learn to appreciate the power within our hands. Let us reach out to one another in prayer and in love.

Today, being the fourth Sunday of Lent, let us pray that God may touch our hands so we can use them to touch and bring healing to the brokenness of people’s lives around us.

You are all in my prayers as I continue to observe the Disciplines of the holy season of Lent.
Bless you.