Reach Out and Touch Jesus' Cloak

A most-beautiful June to you!

Remember when Jesus was passing by a woman who had suffered from a bleeding problem for twelve years? She had heard about Jesus and how He was able to heal people. Her hope was that He would heal her too. She had spent a lot of money on doctors for a cure, which never came—at least not through any of them. But this day, as Jesus passed by, according to the Gospel, she reached out and touched the edge of His cloak, and at once her bleeding stopped. She was healed.

"Who touched me?" Jesus asked. Peter asked Jesus how He knew someone touched Him when there were crowds of people around Him, pressing in on Him. But Jesus knew, and now the woman knew that He had discovered what she had dared to do. When she confessed to Him what she had done, He lovingly said to her, "My daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace." (See Luke 8: 43-48.)

Do you need a healing? Does someone you know and love need a healing? Do you dare to reach out and touch Jesus' cloak? Let me say to you, "Cristo Gesu e Vivo! Jesus is alive!" He is waiting for you to simply call on Him and reach out and touch Him. He will reward your act of faith. You will experience His love and compassion and Presence.

According to Saint Padre Pio's dear friend and "bodyguard" in his last years, Father Alessio Parente, OFM Capuchin: "Rather than touch Jesus' cloak, Padre Pio held onto it tightly throughout his life, never letting go, because for him, it was the reason for all his hope.

"Let each one of us follow Padre Pio's example," continues Father Alessio, "and hold tightly onto Jesus' cloak and we can be sure that we will receive many, many graces and blessings from Him." (from Padre Pio Our Good Samaritan, by Fr. Alessio Parente, OFM Capuchin)

May I end with words of encouragement from Saint Padre Pio's Letters, Volume One: “May the Most Holy Virgin, who was the first to practice the Gospel teaching in all its perfection, give us the impetus herself to go [to Jesus]. . . Let us make an effort. . . to always follow behind the Blessed Mother; to always walk close to her" because she will always lead us to her divine Son, Jesus Christ, and there we can hold onto His cloak and find healing, comfort, peace, and love.

May I once again say to you, "Cristo Gesu e Vivo! Jesus is alive!" He is waiting for you to call on Him and reach out and touch Him. He will reward your act of faith. You will experience His love and compassion and Presence.

Love to you,
Eileen Dunn Bertanzetti