St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church

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The Healing Touch

Mark 1:29-31

February 5, 2006        (Click this link to see the bulletin)

1.  Mark is moving faster than we are, since we have to wait a whole week between readings.  Last Sunday we read about the time Jesus healed one of the men in the synagogue of Capernaum.  He had an unclean spirit that accused Jesus of trying to destroy them!  Jesus’ teaching were pretty radical, I must admit, but his intention was not destroy them; his intention was to heal them.  He wanted to make them whole because God wanted them whole and healthy and happy.  Jesus wanted them whole and healthy and happy, too, because Jesus came straight from God.  And because Jesus came straight from God, he had places to go and people to heal and a mission to accomplish.

2.  Read Mark 1:29-39.  There are many points to note in this story, but one stands out – one that ties all the others together. That one point is The Healing Touch. Simon’s mother-in-law is the first one Jesus touched and healed. Mothers-in-law were protected by law in those days, but rarely mentioned. One was Naomi, quite prominent in the Book of Ruth. The other is this mother-in-law, whose name we’ll never know. But she was sick, and that’s all that mattered to Jesus. This woman did not come to Jesus and ask to be healed. Jesus came to her because they told him she was sick. So he went to the place where she lay, and took her by the hand. Although Mark doesn’t go into much detail, I can imagine that he put his other hand around her back, because Mark says he lifted her up -- raised her up, helped her to stand again. The fever left her. His touch healed her.

3.  The very next verse tells us "they brought to him all who were sick."  You know there had to be touch involved in transporting that many sick people to Simon’s house. They could not have done it without picking up, lifting up, carrying one way or another. Each human touch became part of the healing process. Early the next morning, Jesus went out by himself to pray. Simon and the rest came looking for him. "Everyone is searching for you." Everyone wanted to experience his healing touch.

4.  In a few minutes we will celebrate healing of a different kind – the sacrament of Holy Communion:  Holy Closeness, Holy Association, Holy Sharing, Holy Harmony, Holy Sympathy.  In some churches, the people come forward and receive the elements directly from the priest or minister. We do it that way occasionally. And people often tell me how much they prefer this Communion by intinction [intinction means "to moisten by dipping" - it comes from Greek and Latin and even German words that all sound a bit like intinct]. I’ve though a lot about why it means so much to many of you. Surely it’s more than getting up from your comfortable pew and moving around – Presbyterians are generally averse to moving around during worship. It must have more to do with the personal touch involved. Yes, I think that’s it! I always look into your eyes as you take a piece of the bread, and you feel loved. It’s that one-on-one "healing eye-touch" that transforms the way we usually do Communion -- impersonally "passing the elements." That’s true, isn’t it? When we pass the trays of bread and cups, our eyes are glued to them because we’re scared to death we’ll be THE ONE to drop it, and everybody will stare at us and we’ll be so embarrassed!

5. So let’s put that worry aside. Let’s begin a new tradition. Today let’s truly serve one another, after the example of Simon’s mother-in-law. When you pass the tray on to the next person, take an extra moment to establish eye contact. For that brief moment when the two of you are holding the same tray, look at each other and smile. You don’t have to say anything – your eyes and your smile will say it all. And in your eyes and your smile, a little bit of healing will take place.

6. Now, before you tell me you don’t want to do that because it puts you outside your comfort zone, listen to this story. Once upon a time there was an abbot of a monastery who was very good friends with the rabbi of a local synagogue. Times were hard. The monastery community dwindled, and the faith of the monks was shallow and lifeless. Finally, the abbot realized the truth – life in the monastery was dying. With great sadness, he went to his friend, the rabbi, who said, "There is something I need to tell you. We in the Jewish community have long known that the Messiah is one of you." "What? The Messiah is one of us? How can that be?" The rabbi insisted it was true, and the abbot went back to the monastery wondering and praying, comforted and excited all at the same time. It wasn’t long before he passed one of the monks in the hall, and he wondered if this could be the one. And each time they were all together in worship, he would look at each and wonder. Then a strange thing happened. He began to treat all of them with a little more respect, with kindness and awe that bordered on reverence. Soon it became so noticeable that one of them came to him and asked what was happening. After a bit of coaxing, the abbot told him what the rabbi had said. Soon that other monk was looking at his brothers differently, and wondering. Word quickly spread throughout the monastery – "The Messiah is one of us." Soon that place was full of life, full of worship, and kindness, and grace. Their prayers became much richer and more passionate. The worship services were alive and vibrant. Word got around the village, and before long the surrounding villagers were coming to the services and listening and watching intently. Many wished to join them. Each new novitiate was told the mystery, the truth that their life was based upon, the source of their strength and life together: "The Messiah is one of us." The monastery grew and expanded, and all of the monks grew in wisdom, age, and grace before the others and in the eyes of God. And they say that, even today, if you stumble across this place, where there is life and hope and kindness and graciousness, that the secret is still the same: "The Messiah is one of us."

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