Touch
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Dancing—following Christ’s lead—moves our lives according to his rhythm, instead of our own.
The first glimpses of the Presence that we saw in Attention now become more evident and personal.During his earthly life, Christ often used touch to heal the body with his Father’s transforming love. In the same way now, he touches parts of us that only he can reach, heal and strengthen, through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus reveals himself in deeper, more significant ways as the relationship grows closer. As we experience his healing TOUCH, we begin to recognize the same need in others. We begin to recognize his suffering Face in the wounded people who surround us.
Now, with the power of his grace, we can become his instruments of healing, consolation and sustenance, according to the Father’s will. We are not afraid to allow him to touch any aspect of human life—through us.
These experiences of care and healing draw us closer to family members, friends and strangers, deepening relationships often at an unexpected, yet most propitious moment, just when a healing touch is needed.
When this happens, we experience a growing peace and great consolation in every situation and circumstance… knowing that something beautiful beyond what we could do on our own has happened because we chose to touch Jesus.
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- Scriptural Links
- Catechism Links
- Discussion Starter Resources
- Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
- Catechetical Steps Through Touch
- Related External Links
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There are many! Have small group members/students find some of their own.
OLD TESTAMENT- Touching Daniel: When I heard the sound of his voice, I fell face forward in a faint. But then a hand touched me, raising me to my hands and knees. “Daniel, beloved,” he said to me, “understand the words which I am speaking to you; stand up, for my mission now is to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up trembling. “Fear not, Daniel,” he continued; “from the first day you made up your mind to acquire understanding and humble yourself before God, your prayer was heard.” (Daniel 10:9-12)
- Touch of the Bride: “When I found him whom my heart loves, I took hold of him and would not let him go.” (Song 3:4)
- Touch of the woman with the Hemorrhage: “Falling down before him, she explained the presence of all the people why she had touched him and how she had been healed immediately.” (Lk 8:47)
- Touching Peter: “Jesus answered him, ‘Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.’ Simon Peter said to him, ‘Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.’” (Jn 13:8-9)
- Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.” (Lk 10:30-32)
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There are many! Following are a few for your consideration:
- The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead. Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God: (CCC #2447)
- To fulfill their exalted mission, “the apostles were endowed by Christ with a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit coming upon them, and by the imposition of hands they passed on to their auxiliaries the gift of the Spirit, which is transmitted down to our day through episcopal consecration.” (CCC #1556)
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- Why is touch a part of nearly every sacrament of the Church?
- How does Jesus’ touch, heal and redeem men and women today through the corporal and spiritual works of mercy?
- How have you been personally touched by the healing presence of Christ in the Church?
- Have you ever had the experience of being instrument of Christ’s touch?
- Why is the Father’s will and law always essential in an experience of touch?
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- Recognizing the Lord’s presence in specific persons
- Recognizing how he has touched and healed your wounds
- Recognizing his longing to touch and heal the wounds of others through you
- Understanding of the Church’s social teachings as the witness and action of the Body of Christ, according to the Father’s will and law
- Understanding the union of body and soul in touch