Reflecting on the Gospel for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time and World Day of the Sick
Have you ever watched a blind person approach Pope Francis at his audiences…they will often reach out to touch his face with their hands so that they can “see” him. The touching of his face speaks to them in their language.
Each of us needs to touch and be touched by another…we yearn for the touch of those we love…it is a deep human need that communicates love and affection, care and nurturing of one another.
In today’s Gospel Jesus reaches out to touch the one who in the law is untouchable because of an infectious disease. When he approaches Jesus for healing, he is cured by the Lord at his touch. Today we celebrate the World Day of the Sick – the Feast Day of Our Lady of Lourdes – Lourdes a place known for its healing of all kinds of ills.
As we gaze at the statue in the grotto of Lourdes today let us remember the mother who held her wounded, dying son, Jesus, in her arms and let us follow her example as we reach out to all who are sick among us.Those who are sick are always more important than their diseases, and even when healing is not possible, care can always be given. It is always possible to console, it is always possible to make people sense a closeness through our presence and our touch – the holding of a hand, the caress of their face, a warm embrace. In this we speak of our love and our care for them.
Karen OSU