Tactile - Reflection by Canon Mike

One of the biggest things I missed when the Coronavirus restrictions first came in, was not being able to shake hands with people.  Many of you will know that I love greeting people (friends and newcomers alike) with a smile and a handshake…..its the way I am and part of the good manners which was instilled in me from a young age by my dear mother and father.  But it is interesting that even in that short period between the first restrictions and our current lockdown, I was able to find other ways to greet – through smiles, through words, through gestures, through eyes.

I often imagine that Jesus too was a wonderfully tactile person – his gentleness of touch brought miraculous healing and comfort to many.  But even he could touch people in different ways – by his own looks and smiles, no doubt; the pure love that people would have seen just in his eyes and face, that made you trust; the words that brought such teaching and gentle understanding but with such authority too.  His voice which would bring miracles to bear – without the need for touch.  And as did his mere presence, even down to the fibre of his clothing, for those reaching out with such deep faith.

Yesterday was Palm Sunday – the joyous remembering of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem; no doubt himself touched by the people themselves also in different ways – from those who would have reached out to physically touch him, or his donkey, as he rode passed.  And who knows what miracles may have happened through their own faith when they did that – reaching out to the one they had heard so much about and what his touch, his words, his very presence brought to the lives of many. He would have been touched too by their own faces and smiles and shouts of triumph – the vision of the crowd waving palm branches and proclaiming ‘Hosanna, Hosanna!’; touched by what he saw, touched by what he heard.  Although we know, at the start of this Great Week, the joy some would have experienced would have felt short lived given what happens later in the week; but the joys brought turned to eternal ones through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, by overcoming death through the triumph of the resurrection.

And even in this strange period we are in now, we ourselves can touch the lives of many throughout this Great Week – without the need for physical contact.  By the wonderful expressions of appreciation and support for all ‘frontline’ workers; by the expressions of grief – in abeyance, as such, until we may grieve properly and in fulness; by the joy brought with contacts long since lost – new words and new conversations; by the hearts touched by the unexpected email, text, phone call or videocall.  We can still touch the lives of many this Holy Week and the weeks to come, so that the way that Jesus himself touched the lives of others, might be manifest in our own ways throughout this difficult time.

With my love and prayers for you all; stay safe….

Canon Mike 

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