St. Francis of Assisi was a holy man because he was open to God's Touch ... He immersed himself totally in the suffering of Jesus Christ; he opened his soul to God. He let God into his innermost thoughts. He had no secrets from God, and the Love Francis had for Our Lord was immense. Such people try not to displease God and when they do, they feel awful about it ... and so should we. The image, above, shows a man, Jesus, bear-hugging another human being. There is something heavenly about the image, but God's Touch can heal us even while we're still here, on earth. This is not a physical touch, but a spiritual one - if we are open to His Touch, we will know when we are in His Presence. Doesn't have to be in Church - can be everywhere. We become aware of God's Touch more easily in special circumstances. About a dozen years ago, I was in a large Church, in a healing session. I had prayed for healing for a persistent problem that had bothered me over the years. God touched me, and the problem went away. These things happen, and when they do, thank God for that special moment of Grace. His Touch is a special moment of His Grace. It is as if the Lord is hugging you, and whispers into your heart, "I love you so much!" Yes, God loves us so much... how much, we will find out if we get to Heaven, but for now just take my word for it. We hear, these days so often of young people who commit suicide ... could it be that in their pain and suffering they have forgotten that God will Touch us with his Grace if only we turn to Him? We'll never know unless we are open to His Touch - maybe a life could have been spared. The suicide of a young person, teenager, and even older, is a terrible thing. It is a waste of potential greatness. Similarly, the abortion of a fetus is a terrible thing, for it is an act of defiance against God, in effect telling Him that His goodness isn't wanted. The intentional death of the unborn is taking God's love and turning it against Him. It is the ultimate insult and it will not go unnoticed. When God asks, what have you done with my Gift to you, you will know the depth of your pain in His disappointment and sorrow. We so eagerly extend our hands to receive the Body of Christ, but we think nothing of it, to use these same hands to hold another human being, in an illicit embrace, an act of passion with another person when you are already married, or when you use your hands to steal something which does not belong to you. Many a time, when we fail God, particularly if it is something avoidable, we have the unmitigated gall to tell Him in our thoughts ... well we all sin, everyone does it. There is no request for foregiveness, not even a single smidge of remorse. But deep down we will come to know that we have offended God. Don't repel God's Touch, work with Him, not against Him - He is trying to help us! For thousands of years God has been telling us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, and promising eternal life to those who will do so out of their love for Him. Many have taken God at his word, and have experienced His healing touch in their own innermost self as they helped the other person. Helping others in God's Name brings great happiness now and forever. [Mat 25:40] ... 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' God rewards us for random acts of kindness, if not now, then in Heaven. Maybe we aren't particularly concerned if God likes us. But God cares. He has a big stake in us. As members of the Mystical Body of Christ, His Son, God has empowered us by Baptism and Confirmation to be His ambassadors to the people around us. God wants us to be liked so that we will become more effective in spreading His good News. To be attentive to God's Touch, we need to be open to Him - to listen to Him, and even to share with Him. When have you last told God you love Him? And, when you do, have you made sure these weren't just words by using a little self-control next time there is a near-occasion of sin...? When have you last asked Mary, the Mother of God, and through Jesus Christ, our Mother, to intercede for a special intention? Mary is closest to Jesus, but also close to us. Here we have an intercessor extraordinaire, a true friend ... if we honor her, she will do anything for us, just as her Son will. Pray that Rosary you've neglected for months... or years. A Rosary is a path of Roses, remembering that Roses have thorns - which means suffering. The Rosary is the story of happened to holy Mary, in her life with her crucified Son, Jesus. No one has ever suffered so much as Mary had, seeing her beautiful and innocent son murdered in such an awful way. In a few days, we will be remembering the death of St. Maximilian Kolbe, that great and holy Franciscan priest who gave his life for another at a Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz, during World War II. (See http://www.franciscan-sfo.org/sts/S0814maxi.htm , and http://www.sfo-reflections.org/dedica.htm ). St. Maximilian wrote, "The most deadly poison of our times is indifference.... And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits.... Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him to the greatest extent of our powers." Giving your life for another is the ultimate sacrifice. When you get to the doorway to Heaven, Jesus will probably ask us: "What have you done for the least of my brothers and sisters?" If we cannot answer Him, that would be pretty awful, right? So let's make sure that throughout our lives, we do something for others, the more the better. God's healing touch often comes to other people through our hands too, in our embrace, and in our prayer. Let us always be open to God's healing Touch! May God bless all of you! Fred Schaeffer, SFO
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