Home
>
Spirituality
>
Reach Out and Touch

Reach Out and Touch

The essence of the Christian faith is the good news about God. That God is love is the bedrock of our faith. All of the Christian teaching about who we are and about our relationships with God and each other is rooted in the good news that God is love and that He loves His creatures.

It is natural I suppose that when we are really hurting, we put up our defenses and perhaps, become a bit rebellious. We feel victimized in some way and want to know "why?" We try all sorts of escape mechanisms only to discover that we feel more and more isolated, lonely and lost.

In Mark 5 we read about a woman who must have been sad and hurt for a long time. She had been sick, not for a couple of weeks, not for a couple of months, not even for a couple of years. But she had been suffering with some type of blood disorder for 12 long agonizing years. For over a decade she had experienced physical anguish and emotional pain.

Scripture tells us that this woman had spent all her financial resources going to see many doctors. She had taken all the medicines prescribed but was no better. She had utilized her reserved energy, spent all of her emotions, and probably used all of her friends and all other helps to no avail. Her condition only worsens.

I can imagine how this woman must have felt. Perhaps you can too. When all the doors close on you; when you do the best you can and nothing seems to jell. This woman was tired. She was tired of being sick, tired of disappointment, tired of being a prisoner of disease, tired of hoping in lost causes, tired of taking one step forward and moving backwards two, sick and tired of being sick and tired.

This woman typifies human despair, not only physical but spiritual. For her, the world could offer no healing; she represents all of us who look everywhere for peace of mind and spirit; for hope and comfort, and find none.

But one day, probably while wondering what her next move would be; maybe contemplating suicide, maybe thinking about drowning her sorrows in alcohol, she began to think about some reports she had heard about a man named Jesus. She heard about a miracle worker from Galilee who healed the sick, unstopped deafen ears, gave sight to the blind and opened the mouths of the dumb. So she made up her mind to somehow get to Him.

I think what is interesting is that this woman did not broadcast her plan. Scripture does not say that she shared what she intended to do with anyone; she did not ask for anybody's opinion. Rather, she said within herself, "If I just touch the hem oh his garment ? I KNOW I will be made whole." She believed Jesus cured, she expected healing and she was healed. Immediately she was freed from 12 years of suffering.

Jesus has got the power. We know this because when she touched Him, He asked in essence, "Who touched me? I know somebody has touched me because I felt some of my power leave me."

What this says to me and what I share with you is that sometimes we have to push an audience with our Lord. We have to push our way through the problems and negativity and piles of petty trash that crowd around us. We have to push our way through and reach out and touch the hem of His garment in faith. Jesus knows when YOU make contact with Him? He knows when we tap into His healing, renewing, restoring power. And He looks around for us to tell us to go in peace, be satisfied, you're whole now, all is well, be healed of what troubles you.

Reach out and Touch?

Rev. Saundra L. Washington, D.D., is an ordained clergywoman, social worker, and Founder of AMEN Ministries. http://www.clergyservices4u.org. She is also the author of two coffee table books: Room Beneath the Snow: Poems that Preach and Negative Disturbances: Homilies that Teach. Her new book, Out of Deep Waters: My Grief Management Workbook, will be available soon.

bathroom cleaning service Northbrook ..

In The News:

ETA sharing on Apple Maps and Google Maps keeps contacts updated automatically while you drive safely. Learn step-by-step instructions for iPhone and Android.

Data removal from brokers protects against AI-powered scams and deepfake threats in 2026. Learn how data brokers sell your personal information to scammers.

Learn how to act against cybercriminals in 2026 with essential security steps like two-factor authentication, software updates and credit freezing.

Choose between OpenAI releasing Sora text-to-video model, the AI race heating up, or Waymo driverless cars launching in cities across the country

Learn how to set up Google Maps and Apple Maps on your phone to automatically remember where you parked. Step-by-step instructions for enabling location services and parking detection.

Phishing scammers use rnicrosoft.com domain to impersonate Microsoft by replacing "m" with "rn" in typosquatting attacks that steal login credentials.

OpenAI announces new teen safety rules for ChatGPT users under 18, blocking romantic roleplay and requiring extra caution on body image topics.

A 2025 data breach at fintech company 700Credit exposes personal information of more than 5.8 million people through compromised third-party integration partner.

Retailers lose $76.5 billion annually to return fraud as nearly 10% of U.S. retail returns involve fraudulent activity, with $850 billion in returns expected in 2025.

ShinyHunters claims responsibility for stealing 94GB of Pornhub user data affecting over 200 million records and demands Bitcoin ransom.

ChatGPT 2025 now connects to Apple Music, Canva, Expedia, TripAdvisor and OpenTable through built-in apps that help users create playlists, design graphics and more.

Apple releases emergency patches for two zero-day vulnerabilities actively exploited in attacks. iPhone and iPad users urged to update immediately.

DoorDash launches Zesty, an AI-powered social app that recommends restaurants through conversational search, now testing in San Francisco and New York.

Cybersecurity firm Infoblox reveals that over 90 percent of parked domains now redirect visitors to scams and malware, making simple typos extremely dangerous.

The Fox News AI Newsletter covers the latest artificial intelligence technology advancements, including the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

GPT-5.2 is now live for all ChatGPT users with improved coding, writing and image interpretation, with Kurt Knutsson offering his review.

New iPhone replacement scam uses pressure tactics and fake carrier calls to steal devices from buyers. Criminals claim shipping errors and demand urgent returns.

Amazon Ring's new facial recognition feature sparks privacy controversy as Electronic Frontier Foundation critics argue the AI upgrade expands surveillance risks.

New Android banking trojan Sturnus steals credentials, reads encrypted messages and controls devices.

Denmark's 3D-printed student village proves automation builds 36 apartments faster than traditional methods. Skovsporet project shows housing future.

Discover Android's new Sound Notifications feature that alerts you to smoke alarms, doorbells, and baby cries even when wearing headphones.

New SantaStealer malware reportedly threatens holiday shoppers with password theft. This Christmas-themed info-stealer targets browsers and crypto wallets.

The Christmas season brings a surge in Netflix phishing scams targeting shoppers with fake emails. Stacey P received convincing scam but verified account first.

San Francisco Giants invite Jamie Grohsong to throw ceremonial first pitch at Oracle Park after he learned to play baseball with a bionic hand following an injury.

FBI warns cybercriminals are stealing family photos from social media to create fake proof of life images in virtual kidnapping scams targeting victims.

Reach Out and Touch

Spirituality