Touch of the Master’s Hand
T'was battered and scarred and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin, but 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 the 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 its worth?" Swift came the reply: "The touch of a master’s hand." And many a man with 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 potage," 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 never quite understands the worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought by the touch of the Master’s hand. Myra Welsh
Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. So we know and believe the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 1 John 4:7,16
One day, I witnessed an exchange between a little girl and an elderly woman. The woman had curly grey hair and she bent over to say hello to the child. With both hands outstretched, the little girl reached up and touched the woman's soft grey curls and said, "I love your hair!" The woman's heart melted. It may have been a long time since anyone complimented her on her hair. "God is love" and this is the loving exchange that happened between the little girl and the elderly woman. Another time, this little girl came to Eucharistic Adoration. It was the Hour of Divine Mercy and the chapel was filled with people singing the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. The little girl knelt on the kneeler before Jesus in the Eucharist, her arms reaching up, as she sang, "For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world." Watching her sing with all her heart, the hearts of those in the chapel that day melted with the pure love and joy the little girl expressed.
The hands of the little girl were an expression of love when she touched the woman's hair and when she reached up praising Jesus, singing the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Love came from her little heart and love spread to those she encountered.
Love came from the hands of the grey haired man when he picked up the bow of the violin, tightened the strings and "played a melody pure and sweet as a caroling angel sings." Love came through his hands and made a the beautiful melody. The crowd at the auction suddenly saw the worth of the old violin by the beautiful melody it produced. "The touch of a master’s hand...And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin, is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin."
Today we honor fathers. God is our Papa. God looks at you with pure love and He is delights in you. If you have turned away from the Lord and become "battered and marred by sin," turn back to Him. He is waiting for you with outstretched arms. Run to Confession. It is there, you will experience the love and mercy of Jesus. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, you will receive the "Touch of the Master's hand. He will restore you and heal you. Come...let the Hand of God touch you...He is waiting for you...and He will welcome you with outstretched arms into His loving embrace...This is your invitation...Come to the Father and let Him place His hand upon you...
O Lord, our Lord, how awesome is Your Name through all the earth! I will sing of Your majesty above the heavens with the mouths of babes and infants. Psalm 8:2
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