"Touching Jesus" - A New Hymn for Sunday

What follows is a hymn newly composed by my friend David Weiss. It particularly touched me and I asked David if I could share it in this forum. We are singing it this Sunday as our closing hymn at our 10:30 service. If you'd like a copy of the hymn formated as an insert for your bulletin, I've got that and would be glad to send it to you.

Precious Lord, in my need, many years did I bleed;
I reach out, and I touch - touch your hem.
I am healed, like the rest; lepers cleansed, children blest.
Touch your hem, precious Lord, make me whole!

By the well, as I drew, there to drink, I drank you.
I am down, I am out, I am naught.
But you stop, and you speak; you're the One whom we seek;
Our lives touch, precious Lord, and I'm whole!

At the edge, of the town, there I knelt, to the ground.
Pour the nard, wipe your feet, with my hair.
While you dine, on the bread, through my tears, see you dead
Precious Lord, fragrant love, in the air!

Easter morn, through my tears, call my name, bring me near,
And I hear, and I look, and I hope.
Over the cross, over death, bringing life, drawing breath;
Precious Lord, once again, you are whole!

Easter Eve, I'm away; you were there, but I say,
Let me see, let me touch, let me know.
Once again, there you are; fingertips touch your scars;
In my heart, precious Lord, now I know!

Precious Lord, still your hands, bear your wounds, many lands:
Some are lost, some are least, some are hurt,
Let me touch you in deed, as I touch those in need;
Use my hands, Precious Lord, make them whole!

Text: David R. Weiss b. 1959 (April 2006)
Tune: Thomas A. Dorsey, 1899-1993 (Precious Lord)

Author's note: This hymn, written for the 2nd Sunday of Easter (when we commemorate Thomas' need to touch Jesus), lifts up a variety of images of touching Jesus. Verse 1: the woman with the flow of blood (Mark 5:25-34). Verse 2: the woman at the well (John 4:4-29). Verse 3: the anointing at Bethany (John 12:1-8). Verse 4: Mary Magdalene at the tomb on Easter morning (John 20:1-18). Verse 5: Thomas' Easter encounter (John 20:19-29). And Verse 6 suggests that we, too, touch Jesus whenever we offer our healing touch to the wounds of the world today.