'And withersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole'.
Christ had power enough to heal all of their sicknesses. All they needed to do was but have faith enough to reach out to him. And to touch.
Through His Atonement, He still has power enough to heal each one of us. Of sickness, heartache, sin, depression. The healing of His Atonement encompasses all darkness in this world, and is available to all in this world.
I am reminded of a poem that one of my companions on the mission would quote. I loved it so much, I too memorised it.
The Touch of the Master's Hand
Myra B. Welch
Twas battered and scarred and the auctioneer
thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start the bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar, then, two! Only Two?
Two dollars, and who'll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;
Going for three..."
But no.
From the room, far back, a grey-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening a few loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet
As a caroling angel sings.
The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low, said:
"What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand! And who'll make it three?
"Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice;
And going and gone." said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand, what changed it's worth?"
Swift came the reply:
"The Touch Of The Master's Hand."
And many a man with his life out of tune,
and battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A 'mess of pottage,'a glass of wine;
A game - and he travels on.
He is 'going' once, and 'going' twice,
He's 'going' and almost 'gone'.
But the Master comes and the foolish crowd
Can never quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that's wrought
By the Touch of the Master's Hand.
As I reflected on this poem, it brought me back to a few days back.
I was driving out of a store parking lot and was waiting in a line of cars to turn. I ended up idling right next to a man with a sign asking for money or food for his family. I shamefully considered to ignore him, but from where he was standing, I knew that was an obvious lie to him, and any unobservant bystander. Plus, my wallet with cash not yet returned to it's rightful place was sprawled out on my lap, where he could no doubt see. So, I did the obligatory thing, and wound down the window and handed him a few notes. Embarrassed for him, I didn't give any eye-contact, and did the exchange as quickly as possible, grateful that the line of cars were finally moving ahead.
As I drove home, I was so disappointed in myself. I wished I had seen this man, as Christ does. And treated him accordingly. He would have smiled, and tried to convey love in his eyes. He would have looked him in the eyes. I wish I had at least given him eye-contact and a smile. I wish my eyes were filled with the love of Christ for this man.
President Uchtdorf has shared:
'A story is told that during a bombing in a city in WW II, a large statue of Jesus Christ was severely damaged. When the townspeople found the statue among the rubble, they mourned because it had been a beloved symbol of their faith, and of God's presence in their lives.
Experts were able to repair most of the statue, but it's hands had been damaged so severely that they could not be restored. Some suggested that they hire a sculptor to make new hands, but others wanted to leave it as it was - a permanent reminder of the tragedy of war. Ultimately, the statue remained without hands. However, the people of the city added on the base of the statue of Jesus Christ a sign with these words: "You are my hands."
The Touch of the Master's Hand is available to all, sometimes through others' hands. Let's make those hands our own!
