A Healing Touch

(they) “begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.” ~ Mark 6:56

This is a very powerful image that St. Mark depicts for us in today’s very short version of the Good News. When I think of healing through touch I often think of Mother Teresa who not only touched but nurtured and bathed the filthy and sick beggars who were lying in the gutters of Calcutta. She touched the people that no one else dared to touch much like St. Francis of Assisi kissing and embracing the leper.

Mother Teresa said, “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work. “

There is nothing more comforting than the touch of a mother’s hand given to a young child who has some hurt or pain or the smothering bear hug from a caring person. A simple touch opens the door to healing.

“We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth. “ ~Virginia Satir

“I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. “ ~ Maya Angelou

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. “ Leo Buscaglia

"When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives means the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand.”  ~ Henri Nouwen 

In 1981, AT&T came up with the slogan, “Reach out and touch someone,” which is something that we can incorporate into our daily lives. Imagine if each one of us would reach out and touch someone, maybe, just maybe, we could start a world-wide healing process.