February 5, 2006

The Healing Touch

Isaiah 40:21-31
1 Corinthians 9:16-23
Mark 1:29-39

Do you remember the wicked stepmother in the children's classic, Snow White? She was the one who went to her mirror every day, and confidently asked it: "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?" And each time the mirror would dutifully reply that she indeed was the most beautiful in all the kingdom. Until one day, Snow White came along, and the mirror, truthful but tactless, conceded that she was the fairest, relegating the mean old lady to second place. Needless to say, this didn't sit very well, and you know the rest of the story.

We have a fascination with mirrors. Yes, I know, looking in the mirror first thing in the morning is not always a pleasant task - I'm always struck by how bad I look when I first get up! Yet, in spite of the fact that mirrors often show us in the worst, most unflattering light, few of us can walk by a mirror or reflective pane of glass without giving it at least a quick glance. Well, let me suggest that we also, like the stepmother in the story, have talking mirrors. And unfortunately, what most of us hear our mirrors say to us is a far cry from "You are the fairest of them all." Instead we hear a hundred judging voices from our past and present, saying to us the most uncomplimentary things.

The child in us hears the mirror say: "You can't do that! You're too small and scrawny," or "you're too overweight," or "you're too shy in class," or "you're not a leader" - or other such accusations from long, long ago. The teenager in us hears the mirror say: "You?! Forget you! Look at those zits and those braces. You're far from perfect. Who is going to look twice at you? Get a life!" - or other such insults from not as long ago. And the part of us that thinks we're grown up, the adult part, hears the mirror judgmentally say: "What a joke you are! Wait until they catch on to you. Then they'll know what a phony you are. You aren't worth a plug nickel;(i) you aren't worthy of a dime of respect" - or other such accusations we know only too well.

The sad part about these talking mirrors is that we believe them. It's kind of like some of the demons Jesus casts out of folks in today's lesson. Part of the healing that Jesus did was to literally "shut up" these destructive voices that were causing the people great harm. More on how we can shut up our talking mirrors in a few minutes.

Another difficulty that many of us have to cope with is that we are over-programmed and incredibly busy. This may not be as destructive as the talking mirrors or the demons within, but in some ways, it can be just as vexing. The tale of the gazelle and the lion is symbolic of this. Every morning when the sun comes up, a gazelle wakes. It knows that it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be eaten. When the sun comes up, a lion also wakes. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. In the end, it doesn't really matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle; when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.(ii) How true that is! Most of us lead such busy lives, have so many demands made on us each day, that at times it's overwhelming. We run from sun up to sun down, chasing and being chased by responsibilities, expectations, workplace demands, church and family activities, and so on. When the sun comes up we'd better be running, and running often continues well after the sun has gone down. Too infrequently, there is little left over just for us.

If you can identify with any of this, then you'll feel sympathy for Jesus and what he had to endure. Almost as soon as he begins his public ministry, he is mobbed by those who want something from him. There are hordes of needy people out there who know that he is the one to fix their needs. Mark states with some exaggeration, that "the whole city" gathered at his door. The more he heals, the more the needs multiply, until at last Jesus has to go apart to pray and get rejuvenated and reconnected with his power source, almighty God. But note the judging tone of the disciples after they track him down and discover his hiding place: "Everyone is searching for you!" - sort of like, you've got your nerve hiding out here.

I want to back up for a second, though, to take a closer look at the first healing today, Simon's mother-in-law and her fever, for this healing is an important model for us. What a tender scene it is. Jesus comes into the house, goes to the woman, takes her by the hand, and lifts her up. There's something very ordinary about the scene. In fact it's repeated in hospitals, rehab clinics, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities every day. At those times when anybody gets touched, reached out to in their pain, and lifted up, we're in the realm of the miraculous.(iii) Miraculous, for sure, but not spectacular; in many respects, very ordinary. And the woman's response? - she serves them dinner. This completes the picture, and it's an important completion. The one who has been served, in turn serves others. And it all starts because of Jesus' healing touch.

I've stressed the ordinariness of this episode because I want you to realize that you can do this also. Not all of God's miracles are spectacular, but all are important. God has called you and me to lend a helping, healing hand, to bestow a healing touch whenever we see a need. Think back over your own life to the times when you have been the beneficiary of such a healing touch, when you have been taken by the hand, lifted up, and restored to wholeness of life by someone who cared enough to be concerned about you, and who cared enough to do something about it. Probably this healing touch did not come directly from Jesus, but rather, from one of Jesus' people, folks like us.

This is one of the roles of the church also, to be Jesus' healing hands in the world, both near and far. And getting back to the mirrors we talked about earlier, we are also called to heal people from the damage that their talking mirrors have inflicted upon them. We in the church must help others to polish their mirrors until they see themselves as God sees them, as God intends them to be, beloved children of God. "Warped by a child's insecurities, a teenager's sensitivities, and an adult's anxieties, dirty and distorted mirrors boss us around and ruin our self-images." But we who call ourselves Christians can do something about this. Part of our healing ministry is to re-silver, polish, and straighten up the mirrors of our brothers and sisters.(iv) We can also tell people that they are worthwhile, and that they should not listen to their bad-talking mirrors. By far and away the greatest damage talking mirrors do is convince us that we have nothing to offer to the world. But if we truly believe that each of us is made in the divine image, then having nothing to offer, not being worthy, just doesn't make any sense. Yet for too many people, this is just how they feel.

I remember someone from my previous church who believed her talking mirror so completely, that she had hardly any self-esteem at all. She had convinced herself that she had no talents, no gifts, and was a worthless human being. Part of the ministry of the church to her, though I don't think she was ever aware of it, was to make her feel that she did have worth. People would compliment her on her wit, on her good listening skills, on her loyalty, on her hard work ethic, and so on. Church folks in many ways gave to her healing touches - and they did it naturally, just because they cared.

I think back to the time I was a senior in college, and my father had died suddenly, and then I was in the middle of job interviews (that weren't going all that well), and I was far from home and far from my girl, and just feeling kind of lost and alone. It was a dark period in my life. But, I was blessed with friends who reached out to me in my need - fraternity brothers, fellow musicians in the concert band, classmates - all of whom were sensitive enough to me and motivated enough to do something. I was touched by their care and concern, and they helped heal me. And I still remember this over forty years later! The point is, any of us can do this. We just need to be aware of those around us and be willing to help. Someone has suggested that there are four categories of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, those who wonder what happened, and those who don't know that anything's happened at all.(v) Christians should be those who make things happen and who are aware of what is happening to others, so that they can reach out with a healing touch. Maybe it's as simple as speaking to someone as you leave church this morning. Maybe it's seeking out the person you know who's been having a hard time lately. Maybe it's just a smile, or a handshake, or a hug.

You may remember this "healing touch" story, the heartwarming tale of an Irish peasant woman, who has lost her only son, and who goes to a friend's cottage for consolation and comfort. In her grief, she feels herself beyond God's love and care. Her friend, Anna, talks quietly with her for a time. Then she leads her to seek God's help in prayer. "Kneel down by the bedside, Liza, and ask God to help you." "But I wouldn't know what to say." "Just repeat after me." So they pray for comfort. Then Anna concludes with the words, "Now, God, just reach down your hand and lay it upon my head." Even to Liza's dull intellect the thought is startling. "Oh, Anna, I couldn't say that. God wouldn't do that." But Anna persists, so Liza bows her head and prays, "O, God, just reach down your hand and lay it upon my head." As gently as a maple tree lays its leaf upon the earth on a clear autumn day, so Anna lays her hand upon Liza's bowed head. She keeps it there for only a moment, then takes it away. Liza is on her feet in an instant. "Oh glory be, he's done it, he's done it!" "Sit down, Liza, and tell me about it," urges Anna. "A queer, wonderful feeling went down through me. And the hand felt just like your hand, Anna." Anna wisely replies, "Aye, Liza, it was my hand. God is always looking for hands to do the Lord's work, and sometimes God takes the hand of a poor auld creature like me, to come and help a poor auld creature like you." (vi)

Some of the most eloquent, powerful sermons Jesus ever preached were those in which he hardly spoke a word. He saw people in need, reached out to them, and touched them. And taking some of their pain upon himself, he brought to them the healing and wholeness they needed. God in Christ also give us this power to bring a healing touch. Accept this power, accept this ministry, and go forth to serve, as you have been served. Amen.

The Pilgrim Church of Duxbury
Rev. Kenneth C. Landall

i Homiletics, January - March, 1994, 2/6/94.
ii Craig M. Watts, Biblical Preaching Journal, Winter 1994, 2/6/94.
iii Pulpit Resource, 2/6/94.
iv Homiletics, op. cit.
v David W. Richardson, Abingdon Preacher's Annual Manual, 1994, 2/6/94.
vi Henry David Gray, The Minister's Manual, 1977, p. 257.