21 January 2016 - the touch

[ Today's Readings ]

Saul discussed his intention of killing David 
with his son Jonathan and with all his servants.

Relationships can be so broken that we are tempted to give up. If we use human analysis we probably end up giving up on Saul and suggesting that David run for the hills. But the LORD is able to work through his people to restore broken relationships.

I, however, will go out and stand beside my father 
in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you.
If I learn anything, I will let you know.

Jonathan talks Saul down from the ledge. He helps him realize that the LORD blesses Saul while he blesses David. He helps him realize that he doesn't need to be jealous of God's work in David because it is a blessing to him as well.

Jonathan is a type of Jesus who re-establishes our relationship with the Father. He goes even further than Jonathan. We are actually guilty, unlike David, so Jesus suffers for us in order to make us clean. Then he presents us to his Father. He gives us his own relationship to the Father to share.

We serve a God who is all about healing broken relationships. He wants to heal our relationships and he wants to use us to help others to heal, just as he uses Jonathan. This can be scary. Sometimes one or both of the parties are breathing out murderous threats like Saul. We are tempted to give up. But our Father is not like Saul. He is full of mercy and we can rely on his help.

Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?

The power to heal is not within us. It is within Jesus. Our role is to bring his presence to everyone who longs for it.

He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.

This is what the touch of Jesus does. It has healing power. It restores sick bodies and renews sinful souls. We must first avail ourselves of his touch. We must come as close to him as we can in order to feel it. Scriptures, the Sacraments, and prayer are the places we should go. Once it transforms us we become his presence to the world. Our touch brings his healing power to the lives of others.

If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him (cf. John 14:23).

Let's ask Jesus to touch us today. Let's come to a new and closer relationship to the Father so that he can work through us to restore a broken world.