Touch His Clothes
Listening to Sandee at our prayer meeting last evening, share on the significance of the woman with the hemorrhages touching the hem of Jesus’ garment, made me realize how much touching holy things means to people. Her words painted a vivid picture of faith in that simple act. It wasn't just a touch; it was a profound expression of hope and belief in divine power.
It made me reflect on the countless ways individuals seek physical connections to the sacred, whether through Rosary beads, relics, statues or the walls of a revered sanctuary. These touches are more than symbolic; they are tangible bridges to the spiritual, grounding faith in the material world.
We can see it in the reverence with which people approach the altar, the way they lightly touch the cross or dip their fingers in holy water. These acts, small yet significant, echo the same deep yearning for connection and healing. They are not just traditions, but profound expressions of faith.
This newfound awareness brought a deeper appreciation of the sacredness of physical objects. Often, after a prayer service, people would approach me to have a piece of jewelry, a holy picture, a prayer book, or a miraculous medal blessed. These requests, once seen as traditions, now reveal themselves as heartfelt expressions of faith, underscoring the profound significance these items hold in our spiritual lives.
It made me reflect on the importance of the Incarnation, Jesus being a physical human who lived on earth with a mother, foster father, family, and later his disciples. This week’s Gospel, Mark 5:43, underscores this when, after healing the girl, Jesus says, "she should be given something to eat." Our faith is grounded in physical reality.
Just as the girl needed food after her miraculous recovery, we too find spiritual nourishment through tangible, blessed objects that connect us to the divine. These physical manifestations of faith serve as constant reminders of God's presence in our everyday lives, bridging the gap between the spiritual and the material.
This reflection makes me appreciate the happiness holy objects bring to my own life: the Bibles I've highlighted and written in the margins, my rosaries, my homily notebooks, my numerous everyday notebooks, my fountain pens to write my homilies, my library of books, and my iPad and iPhone for reading and listening to liturgies. Additionally, the pictures of family moments that hang on the wall, the Sacred Heart statue, the statues of the Virgin Mary, and our marital bed are all imbued with sacred meaning.
These objects aren't just items; they are touchstones of my faith, memories, and personal journey. They connect me to the divine, to my family, and to my community, constantly enriching my spiritual life and grounding me in a deep sense of purpose and belonging.
I encourage you my readers to appreciate those holy items in your life.
NOTICE BOARD
Friends, I encourage you to pray for our brothers and sisters in the islands, so ravaged by the hurricane.
I also encourage you to visit my online pastoral website at the link below, where I offer many digital products and services to catalyze your spiritual growth. Also if you can afford to, please make a donation, they go a long way towards continuing my online ministry.