Denise Gallichio

REFLECTION:

“If only I touch his cloak” . . . can you hear that desperate cry? Maybe you know that desperate cry? Maybe you’ve said it, maybe you’ve grown weary from saying it.

On crowded streets, bumping of shoulders, voices loud, there is the silence of a woman, a woman who is unclean, unwanted, and desperate. Desperate for a touch of the cloak, desperate for a healing touch.

I wonder if the cry of the heart in this scene is “I’m unclean . . . I’m unwanted . . . everyone stay away . . . don’t come near me.” I wonder if she thinks, “What could I do to go unnoticed, to be out of the way in this crowd, and yet to be healed? If it means crawling where feet stomp on me, where I’m kicked and pushed further to the ground, I’ll go. I’ll do whatever it takes to just touch Him, even the hem of His garment – that’s all I need.”

She inches closer and closer to the robe, now in sight, until finally, her hand touches

the hem. Suddenly, she feels eyes on her. Movement slows and stops, and her heart seizes.

“Am I seen? Am I noticed? I certainly will be ridiculed. I will cause a scatter as they all run from me. My heart hushes as I stare at the eyes gazing back at me.”

“Take heart, daughter . . . your faith has healed you.” He speaks words that fill my heart and soul.

“I have been seen. Without speaking a word, I have been heard. I have been healed. Who would give the time to see me, the time to heal me? Who would call me their own? Yet, He called me Daughter. He has healed me!”

There is stillness in these moments, while crowds move on, and the noise continues as they follow Him. The woman remains. Stunned. Watching Him as He moves on, His gaze finds a way to her heart. The imprint of Jesus is burned into her soul. His tenderness, His willingness. She has been healed. He called her His own. He’s healed her sickness and He has made her clean.

The eyes of Jesus, who sees this woman, sees you today. Right as you are, His tender voice is calling you, His heart reaching towards you, His hand making a way. Turn, see the one who sees you. Live in the healing He has brought you. He has made you clean!

RESPOND:

1. How have you been met with the tenderness of Jesus?
2. To the woman He speaks, “Take heart daughter, your faith has healed you”? What does He speak to you?
3. What does it look like for you to live out the tenderness of Christ?

PRAYER:

Lord, have mercy on me. Ensure my eyes meet your gaze, and ensure my ears hear your call. Ensure my heart receives your healing. Form yourself in me, Jesus. Ensure I know of your ways in my inner being and that you are made known through me. Praise and glory to your name. Amen

Sanctuary Lent 2023 Spotify Playlist

“I am willing, be clean”

RESPOND:

1. How does this image evoke the tenderness of Jesus?
2. Rest in the beauty of His tenderness.

Sanctuary Lent 2023 Spotify Playlist

REFLECT AND PRAY:
PSALM 34

¹ I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
² I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
³ Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
⁴ I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
⁶ This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
⁹ Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
¹⁰ The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
¹¹ Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
¹² Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,
¹³ keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from telling lies.
¹⁴ Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.
¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
¹⁶ but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth.
¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
¹⁹ The righteous person may have many troubles,
but the Lord delivers him from them all;
²⁰ he protects all his bones,
not one of them will be broken.
²¹ Evil will slay the wicked;
the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
²² The Lord will rescue his servants;
no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Sanctuary Lent 2023 Spotify Playlist

TENDER:

¹ When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. ² A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Matthew 8:1-3

REFLECTION:

No one touches a leper.
A leper touches no one.

My ancestors were exiled from their homeland.
I know what that feels like.
Exiled by my family from my own home.

It’s been so long,
since.

I’ve never held my daughter’s daughter.
She’s never held me.

“Unclean, unclean,” I shout wherever I go.

Everyone moves aside with looks of disdain, and contempt.
Words follow me, the same ones – sinner, outcast, shamed.
All true.

From outside the city I heard this Rabbi Jesus as He came through our town.
“Good News,” He said.
“Come to me,” He says, as He motions to His hearers.

I see Him now, again.
He says the same thing, in the same way.
I have nothing to lose in coming to Him.
I have nothing.

“Unclean, unclean,” I exclaim.

He lifts His head above the crowd, as if He hears the shouting and commotion that follows me.
His face softens.
He nods.

I walk as quickly as my broken body will allow and kneel before Rabbi Jesus as one
kneels before King Herod, bowing my head low.
Lower.

Rabbi Jesus has no scepter. He has no crown. He does not hold court.

I have heard He has power, a heavenly one, and He freely gives it away.
Could He bestow on me such a blessing?
Even me?
So undeserving, unwelcomed,
unwanted.
One blessing from Him.
And.

Rabbi Jesus knows the law that should He touch me, He too would be unclean and
be cast out. Rabbi Jesus knows the law and moves in its spirit.

He moves toward me,
His presence brings peace over my fear, over all my frailty.
He kneels down before me as a servant would kneel to wash the feet of a guest.

Rabbi Jesus bends lower,
His eyes now looking up at me.

What does He see?
I cannot see.

He raises His hand and touches
my chin, slowly lifting my head
until my eyes finally meet His.

Eyes of joy.
Eyes of grace.
Eyes of healing
Eyes of compassion.

He speaks five life-changing words.
Words I will call to mind each time I hold my daughter’s daughter and she holds me.
“I am willing…Be clean.”

Then His embrace,
full of laughter and tears.

To be seen.
To be touched.
To be held.
To be healed.
To be whole.
To be holy.

Because of His tenderness,
I am.
Clean.

RESPOND:

• 1. Where do you find yourself surrounded by the tenderness of Jesus?
  2. How might you partner with Jesus in extending His tender touch?

PRAYER:

Jesus, I long to know that you see me. I long to know what you see in me, what you really see. Would you open my eyes to see me the way you see me? Jesus, I long to be touched by you. A healing touch. A calming touch. A soothing touch. A touch that would bring a full and final peace. Would you, in tenderness, come? Come, Lord Jesus. Come.

Sanctuary Lent 2023 Spotify Playlist