‘Touched by the hands of Jesus’ Canon Graeme Winterton at Holy Trinity Kew 4th October 2015 For over fifty years I have observed the outstretched hands of people at the communion rail. They proclaim a unique story. Hands speak eloquently and convey more than words can ever be found to describe their journey. Working hands, healing hands, caring hands, loving hands. Hands are often smooth and gentle; rough and work stained, grimed, paint flecked or patched with sticking plaster. Sometimes they are gnarled, broken or scarred; and some carry the unmistakable evidence of pain and suffering. THE POWER OF TOUCH 1. We know from personal experience that touch communicates more effectively than words. The loving touch of hands that care hold great power. Power for evil as well as for good – power to harm and hurt as well as to encourage and to heal. We carry own unique images of the power of touch. The early memories of a mothers hands, caring and caressing – a finger kissed and planted on hurting bump. A punch on the arm between boys can mean friend or enemy – we know the difference. The clasped hands of lovers. The passing of the peace that speaks of belonging. The reassurance of a handshake at a time of crisis. A bear hug with hands pressed behind a friends back after a long absence. The simple prolonged joining of hands during illness and in times of fear and at the time of death. 2.
Hands express the internal spirit of a person.
When we speak of a musicians hands, the hands of an artist, or the hands of a surgeon we mean that the person is able to express something of their own inner force through the touch of their hands. I am a great fan of the late Sir Yehudi Menuhin. I can picture him with closed eyes; long delicate fingers gently caressing exquisite sound from the priceless Stradavarius tucked beneath his chin. Menuhin revealed so much of his own inner self when he played any wonder he was exhausted after each performance.
3. We all possess such power because, being made in the image of God, we have been given the ability to release the power of his love. It was a privilege to witness this special gift at work in the life of an older couple who were members of one of my earlier parishes. I sat quietly and prayerfully as the husband held his wife's hand as she slipped in and out of consciousness. They were both acutely aware of the other's presence and at the moment of passing the lady opened her eyes to look at him knowing that he was there with her as she passed over from life to life. The power of touch led them both through the crisis of parting and reassured them that ‘nothing in all creation can ever separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ THE HANDS OF JESUS 4. Jesus used his hands to communicate love, faith and healing power. The gospels are full of such accounts. We know that he had power to heal through the spoken word. He did so from time to time. However, I believe that Jesus deliberately chose to touch people as a sign of his love and as the means by which the Holy Spirit acted in the lives of others. 5.
Examples of the power of his touch
St. Matthew recorded that people brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed. Matt 14:34-36 Leprosy Jesus reached out his hand and touched the leprous man. he said.‘I am willing, Be clean!’ Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. Matt. 8:3-4 Fever Peter's mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever. Jesus touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. Matt. 8:14-15 Haemorrhage A woman who had been haemorrhaging for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, ‘If I can only but touch his cloak, I will be healed.’ Jesus said Who touched me? Matt 9:20-21