THROUGH UNTRUE

Kind words and compassionate actions invariably touch us. “Touch” is a term derived from the Latin “to ccare,” meaning “to come in contact with.” It expresses human connection and our capacity to be deeply affected by the words and deeds of others. When we say, “I am touched” we acknowledge the impact of a person’s influence on us. We admit that he has made contact with our inner selves and has left an enduring impression that changes us.

Being touched and being in touch are crucial for our well-being. However, in today’s fast-paced world, it is easy to lose touch with others due to the many distractions that compete for our attention. Worse, unexpected sickness or tragedy can be so devastating that we allow grief to isolate us. When this happens, we risk more than just losing touch; we risk losing hope.

Today’s Gospel reading recounts the intertwined stories of two people facing such a situation: Jairus, whose daughter is gravely ill, and a woman suffering from chronic hemorrhaging for 12 years (Mark 5:22-26). Jairus desperately seeks Jesus to touch his daughter, hoping against all odds for her recovery. Similarly, the woman believes that merely touching Jesus’s clothes will heal her. 

Touch is important in religious worship and practice. It makes tangible the abstract aspects of our faith. For instance, the sacraments are concrete signs signifying the transmission of divine grace and power, which create a deep connection between God and us. The act of laying on of hands or blessing someone is believed to confer grace or spiritual power. Touching an image or statue of Jesus, the saints, the crucifix, the scapular, or the Rosary makes it easier for us to pray and be in touch with the sacred
Moreover, sacred rituals frequently involve physical contact, like holding hands during prayer, sharing the sign of peace, eating from the same table, and participating in liturgical ceremonies. These strengthen communal bonds, reinforcing the idea that faith is not only a personal journey but also a collective experience. Being in touch with fellow believers helps us realize that we are, as we say in Filipino, “may pinagdaraanan.” We all have felt reaching rock bottom.

Psychologists say that it is when we are down in the dumps that we discover our inherent strength of character. It was during moments of desperation that our ancestors had found ways to overcome the unpredictability of the natural world, the challenges posed by wild animals, as well as the continually mutating microorganisms that cause diseases. If they had not experienced how it was to be at their lowest, they would have remained stagnant, and they would have failed to push their limits in order to live a better life. 

It is when we reach rock bottom that we rediscover the meaning and value of hope and the need to rely on a higher power. This is the case of both Jairus and the hemorrhagic woman. Their situation seems hopeless. They are plagued by prolonged anxiety, a sense of abandonment and a painful certainty that things will not get any better. They feel that they have hit rock bottom. 

Despite this, they pin their hope on Jesus regardless of what they feel. They stubbornly believe that Jesus is their only way to deliverance, and He did not disappoint them. As Jesus tells the woman: “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be healed of your affliction” (Mark 15:34). Their stories affirm the enduring power of faith and hope, as well as the transformative potential of touching and being touched.