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Homily for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Oct 8, 2006)

5:30 PM: Jesus reached out to touch those whom others might push aside. In the gospel, we hear that while the disciples tried to keep the children away, Jesus cried out: Let the children come to me! ..then he blessed them and placed his hands on them. People would not go near a leper, but Jesus reached out to touch and heal the leper. Jesus called his disciples to lay hands on the sick, just as he had done so many times.

8, 10 & Noon SS: " People were bringing children to him that he might touch them. When the disciples tried to stop them Jesus said: Let the children come to me. Whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it. Then he embraced them, and blessed them and placed his hands on them."

**There is something wonderful about human touch, especially for those who have felt excluded –           
** Today I am talking about reaching out to touch and bless (the sick and) little children, but sometimes little children bless us:
Story: A woman tells how one day she got in an argument with her husband, that ended in heated yelling. She retreated to the porch step and sat with her head in her hands. Her 2 year old Saralyn who had overheard the argument came to sit beside her: I love you mom, as she  put her arms around her mother..  I love you too Sarlayn.  As she rested her head on her mothers shoulder and gave her mother a big hug, Saralyn said: “ I wish you could love my Daddy.  With a tug in her throat she responded: I do love your Daddy. We just had a fight. As her Saralyn stood to walk away, her mother asked, Where are you going? I am going to tell Daddy you love him.   What a blessing to be touched by a child. 

** Over  the past 50 years there have been a number of studies done which show the great benefit of human touch.  Babies that are held and caressed are healthier babies. I am fairly sure that patients who experience human contact from a nurse, a physical therapist, a massage or a two year old giving a hug, do heal quicker.
   **    It is true that God is invisible and God can speak directly to my spirit, but you have probably heard the story of the little child, whose parents are trying to get him or her accustomed to sleeping in their own room. Don’t worry, God will be with you.  And the child responds,  But I want God with skin on.  

** On the other side, I try to be sensitive to the fact that some people have a condition which does not allow them to shake hands or hug other people. Also because touch has become overly sexualized in our culture, and sexual abuse is so destructive,  we get confused about people’s motives and so people may become afraid to touch adults or children.   

** In this homily I have spent time focusing on human beings reaching out to touch little children, or the sick, or anyone in need of an embrace, but the image I want to leave in your minds is that of Jesus Christ reaching out to touch you, to embrace you as a little child and  bless you. Seeing myself as a little child, held in the arms of Jesus, or as a little lamb being carried by the Good Shepherd.  Only if I become childlike enough to need Jesus to hold me and carry me, will I be able to enter into heaven.

Story: From time to time I have seen a little child walking along until a certain point and then stopping and begging his father or mother: Carry me.  The parent may responds: You are old enough to walk on your own, I am not going to carry you.  Until the child insists long enough and the parent picks up the little boy or girl and carries them. Why does that child keep begging: “Carry me”?  It could be because the child is getting tired or maybe lazy, but I think much of it is because of the child’s desire to be embraced; their need  to be held and touched
Today, let’s beg Jesus: Carry me!  Touch me! Embrace me? Heal me! Bless me!