Monday of 5th Week in Ordinary Time

 

A God So Near We Can Touch

The first reading describes the dedication of the Temple built by King Solomon. God comes to take possession of his temple. It was so holy that the priests could not stay inside to perform their duties.

In the New Testament, God’s Son is close to the people. They recognize the face of Jesus, run after him, and touch his clothes. They can now see and feel the nearness and humanity of God in Jesus Christ.

                      

First Reading: 1 Kings 8:1-9 

Bringing all this to a climax, King Solomon called in the leaders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes and the family patriarchs, to bring up the Chest of the Covenant of God from Zion, the City of David. And they came, all Israel before King Solomon in the month of Ethanim, the seventh month, for the great autumn festival.

With all Israel’s leaders present, the priests took up the Chest of God and carried up the Chest and the Tent of Meeting and all the holy vessels that went with the Tent. King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel were there at the Chest worshiping and sacrificing huge numbers of sheep and cattle—so many that no one could keep track.

Then the priests brought the Chest of the Covenant of God to its place in the Inner Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, under the wings of the cherubim. The outspread wings of the cherubim stretched over the Chest and its poles. The poles were so long that their ends could be seen from the entrance to the Inner Sanctuary, but were not noticeable farther out. They’re still there today. There was nothing in the Chest but the two stone tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb where God made a covenant with Israel after bringing them up from Egypt.

Gospel: Mark 6:53-56 

They beached the boat at Gennesaret and tied up at the landing. As soon as they got out of the boat, word got around fast. People ran this way and that, bringing their sick on stretchers to where they heard he was. Wherever he went, village or town or country crossroads, they brought their sick to the marketplace and begged him to let them touch the edge of his coat—that’s all. And whoever touched him became well.

 

Prayer

All-loving and healing God,
in your Son, Jesus Christ, you have shown us
what it means to be fully human
and you let him bring to all who receive him
the healing of forgiveness and life.
Let him touch us with his saving hands
and let him speak to us his restoring word,
that he may make us whole and free
and that with him, we may fight all evil
and serve you, our living God,
and the people you have entrusted to us.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord. Amen.

 

Reflection:

To bring the healing touch of Jesus
Jesus’ response to the sick did not proceed from a detached commitment to needy humanity but from compassion towards each person. His action was in response to the hope expressed by the friends of the sick people through their practical readiness to put themselves out for their friends. Except for those with leprosy, the sick do not come to Jesus on their own. They are brought to Jesus by someone who believed that Jesus could make his friend or member of the family well again.
Things are different whenever people are prepared to think not simply about themselves but of each other, particularly of those whose need is greater. The people of Gennesaret demonstrate a great concern for their fellow brethren and this is already an expression of the Kingdom, which Jesus came to establish.
Jesus could restore health. The action of Jesus together with the concern of the people who cared could bring about an even deeper healing of the spirit of those who had been sick. Hope and compassion opened the way to miracles through the person of Jesus. Where the sick are healed – is a place of joy and happiness – the Kingdom of God.
Mark emphasises on an important message: “All those who touched him were cured.” Indeed, we stand in need of healing. We are living in a time when ‘touch’ is no more appreciated, for the fear of a contagion. The Gospel speaks of a touch that could heal – that is to touch the Lord.

The opportunities to touch the Lord are many. In the Eucharist, in the Word of God, in our prayer time and in the lives of all our brothers and sisters around us, Jesus makes himself present to us. But the Gospel reminds that bringing people to the healing touch of the Lord is as important as personally touching him. It is through acts of charity and mercy that we bring Jesus to the people around us. In his message for the Chinese New Year, Bishop Stephen Chow of Hong Kong encouraged the faithful to take one step further to be near to someone in need, especially the elderly, the sick and the poor. Later he took time to visit the elderly, who were living alone in a number of housing complexes in the City, bringing new year gifts and praying with them.
Would I care to spare a little of my time for someone in need, to visit him, to see if he or she needs my help, to bring God’s love, to help them feel the healing, consoling touch of Jesus?

 

Video available on Youtube: To bring the healing touch of Jesus