Touch- a question of life or death

News from the Ebola-ravaged countries of west Africa suggest that that deadly disease is being contained.

Today's episode of Desert Island Discs, with Professor Peter Piot, shed light on how that disease is transmitted, in the most innocent of ways.

The death of the first victim was followed by the traditional local funeral practices of washing the corpse and then friends and family members taking time to say their farewells by hugging their lost loved one. But such loving tenderness shown in touch proved to be a deadly practice. Like a deadly form of childhood playground games, the touch itself was deadly, as many others were then infected.

Throughout history, many diseases have been transmitted by touch, and many others carried with them the fear of touch. 

Hence, these days, doctors and health workers wear rubber gloves for fear of catching anything deadly from any of their patients.

In Jesus' time, those with the skin conditions known as leprosy were treated as outcasts. Once infected, and with no hope of recovery, life became a lingering anticipation of death.

But Jesus changed all that, as we read in the Gospels. ' A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. 

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,”he said. “Be healed!” Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.' (Mark 1.40-42)

In a wonderful way, Jesus reversed the flow. Instead of infection and death moving from the sick man to Jesus, and spreading death itself, life and health spread from Jesus to the sick man. He was made well again, and death had been defeated.

Obviously, that reversal is most powerfully shown in the resurrection of Jesus.

As followers of the life-giving, death-crushing Jesus, we are called to bring his touch to those around us who are in the grip of many forms of death and dis-ease. As Jesus said about himself,'The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.' (John 10.10)

The question that challenges me is whether I will get close enough to the people around me to become contagious with the life of Jesus. Do I fear to touch the lives of others with the life of Jesus?
Best wishes,

Richard