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September 1, 2021
Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time—September 5, 2021 Isaiah 35:4-7a; Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10, (1b); James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37
Healing Intimacy of the touch of Christ
It is amazing what modern medicine can do to repair and heal the human body… even infants in the womb! Even though we may occasionally become blasé about it, the technology and skill can be truly mindboggling when we stop to think about it. We can be filled with great joy when we or one of our own are healed. Imagine then how the people of Jesus’ time had to be absolutely awestruck with how, by His mere touch, Jesus could restore the deaf, dumb, blind and crippled to health and new life. Jesus’ touch is a generous invitation to be open to hearing all He has to share with us and which ultimately will lead us to the fullness of life. Modern science confirms for us the healing power of physical touch. Any parent who has ever comforted a child with a warm embrace knows what a difference a loving touch can make. Jesus teaches us that if we allow Him to touch our heart and our soul we will be rewarded with the fullness of life, one characterized by an absence of fear and overflowing with joy (just as we find in the First Reading of Isaiah.)
As we look back over the teachings of the past few weeks, we can see that we have been encouraged to love as Jesus loved… not only with our words but to put our faith into action, touching the lives of others. The mission has been clearly laid out for us. Like the deaf mute, touched by the Word of God, we are to proclaim God’s love to the world with exuberance. As the letter of Saint James (2:1) reminds us, we are to do so with no partiality or discrimination. Our mission is that of the lay apostle, practicing our faith by walking with Christ, constantly seeking to experience the depth of His love and sharing that love with all we encounter. At this challenging time in our Church, it is more important than ever for us to remember that as Catholics our relationship with Christ is the foundation of everything. The Second Vatican Council reminded us in Gaudium et Spes that each and every one of us is called to be a lay apostle of Christ. It is a call to be generous with God’s love and we certainly cannot just delegate the responsibility to priests, bishops and religious. By our Baptism we are enrolled in Christ’s mission to return all souls to the Father. We walk with our priests and religious shoulder to shoulder as we seek the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit. As lay apostles in the world, we will encounter so many souls that are currently outside of the Church and in need of Christ’s healing touch. Let us together unite in our mission to bring Christ’s love into every home in every nation.
For further reflection on the real meaning of Christ’s miracles, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church 547-550; and paragraphs 1084, 1145-1150 on the signs and symbols of the Sacraments as well as paragraphs 1939-1942 on Unity through Charity.
1. Christ’s touch is truly healing. As a lay apostle, what might I do to invite Christ to touch my soul, heal me of wounds and fill me with zeal to spread the Gospel?
2. What can I do to confidently take on the role of lay apostle? What is the next step I might take so that I can fully accept my role in the Church’s mission?
3. Do I experience God’s love in a way that excites my soul and brings joy into my life? When was the last time I shared how Christ has touched my life with my family and friend? What holds me back from being more enthusiastic about sharing myself with others?
