I tell this story against myself.

Last year on holidays I was passing a long line of restaurants one evening.

They have people outside trying to coax you in to dine and to whom I kept replying ‘No thank you’.

Obviously I missed one because a man ran up behind me shouting ‘I am not a dog and when you pass me at least acknowledge me, speak to me’.

I will never forget him and have learned the lesson to acknowledge them all in future.

Recently, I was on holidays again – is O’Kane ever at home? I hear you ask - and there was a man sitting with a beggar’s cup outside the hotel.

Now and again if I had loose change I would throw in a few coins.

I had a copy of The Tablet with me, a religious magazine published in England.

I read a recent homily in it given by Pope Francis in which he asks ‘When you see a beggar on the roadside do you look into his eyes when you give him a few coins, or do you ignore his gaze’? Do you speak to him’?

The words hit me like a sledge hammer.

Next morning before I left for the airport I went to him and kneeling on one knee said ‘Soy sacherdote’ (‘I am a priest).

I placed my hand on his head and prayed over him.

Then made the sign of the Cross on his forehead to which he responded with the warmest, most appreciative smile I have ever seen.

After His Resurrection Jesus invited his disciples to touch him.

Last Sunday he said ‘Look at my hands and my feet- touch me and see for yourselves’. He also invited Thomas to touch his wounds. It was in touching and being touched that they were healed of their unbelief.

‘Lord your wounds give us hope in our wounds. As you were not embittered by them neither let us be, by ours. Give us the healing you gave your apostles so that we too can bring your peace to all we meet. Amen’

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