125^th Anniversary Retreat for Ordinary Time

 

The Encounter of Jesus with the people of his time.

 

Let’s look at some texts and then reflect on how Jesus encountered the people of his time.  In the following texts, listen for one special word which shows something about how Jesus related with the people brought to him.

 

Mark 1:29-31 (NAB)
²⁹ On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. ³⁰ Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. ³¹ He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

Mark 1:40-42 (NAB)
⁴⁰ A leper came to him (and kneeling down) begged him and said, "If you wish, you can make me clean." ⁴¹ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, "I do will it. Be made clean." ⁴² The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean.

Matthew 20:30-34 (NAB)
³⁰ Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "(Lord,) Son of David, have pity on us!" ³¹ The crowd warned them to be silent, but they called out all the more, "Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!" ³² Jesus stopped and called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" ³³ They answered him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." ³⁴ Moved with pity, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight, and followed him.

Matthew 14:35-36 (NAB)
³⁵ When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought to him all those who were sick ³⁶ and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak, and as many as touched it were healed.

Luke 18:15-16 (NAB)
¹⁵ People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them, and when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.
¹⁶ Jesus, however, called the children to himself and said, "Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

How many of you heard the word touch in each of these texts?  Jesus was not afraid to touch people.  Jesus could easily have said to them from a distance:  Be healed.  But no, he touched them or they touched him.  Once you touch someone, or someone touches you, a more intimate connection is established between you and the person you touch.  So Jesus touches the sick, touches children, touches his friends, as for example, when John rests on his breast at the last supper. 

The idea of touch has been passed on to the Church through the Sacraments.  Those who are baptized are touched both by the one baptizing and by their sponsors and parents.  Those who are confirmed are touched by the Bishop or his delegate and by the sponsor.  Those who marry, join hands to recite their marriage vows to each other.  The sick who are anointed with the oil of the sick, are touched by the priest in two ways:  by the laying on of hands and by the anointing itself.  In the ordination of priests and deacons, the bishop lays his hands on the heads of those being ordained and also anoints them.  The Eucharist is received physically on the tongue or in the hand.  The only sacrament which, because of the privacy concerns does not always enjoy the sense of touch, is Reconciliation, but touch should be used as part of the absolution where this is appropriate.

Since the Second Vatican Council, the Church invites participants in a Mass to shake hands or embrace each other in an appropriate way.  We often see husbands and wives kiss each other lightly at the Kiss of Peace at Mass.

Thus, we Catholics believe that we encounter Jesus the Lord in the sacraments and in this way Jesus touches us.  But there is another way in which we may want to get close to the Lord and let him touch our hearts.  The prayer of contemplation lends itself to this kind of encounter.  The prayer of contemplation is to use the imagination by which we can imagine ourselves in a Gospel scene.  For example, you might imagine yourself as a child who is brought by your mother to Jesus, who embraces you and tells you he loves you.  Or you could imagine yourself sitting next to Jesus at the last supper.  You are sad because he has said he is leaving and you lean against his shoulder and listen to his words as he speaks of his love for his friends, you being one of them. 

Let me ask you to do a bit of contemplation with me. 

First, let’s do a relaxation exercise.

Now, imagine yourself as a paralytic you cannot walk.  Friends are carrying you to Jesus’ house.  There is a big crowd in front of his house.  You can hear Jesus speaking to the crowd but you cannot see him.  “Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of God,” you hear him say.  Your friends push through the crowd until they lay you at the feet of Jesus.  Now you can see him.  He stops talking and turns his attention to you.  He says to you, “What would you have me do for you?”  “Lord, that I may walk again.”  Then Jesus says something unexpected.  “Your sins are forgiven you.”  This you did not expect, but you’re glad he said it.  For who but he can forgive sins?   He asks you again, “What would you have me do for you?”  And again you say, “Lord, help me walk again.” 

Now he reaches out and takes you by the hand.  You feel his power coursing through your body.  You know that you are healed.  You can feel the strength coming into your legs and your whole body. 

Wouldn’t you please say something to Jesus now?  Take a moment and thank him.

Now take a few deep breaths.  See yourself in this room. 

Share the experience of this contemplation with those nearby.