PEOPLE attending church after a long break may be surprised by the informality as worshippers shake hands when sharing ‘The Peace’ - a less intrusive greeting than the Eastern church kissing! Maybe ‘high fives’ will come next as scripture mentions hand striking for contract making. Handshaking has long been a sign of welcome, even in the boxing ring.

The Romans laid hands on someone to show their authority, as Jesus often did when healing to demonstrate His authority over disease and death. Scripture frequently reports the Hand of God showing His authority in blessing and correcting.

As a medical student, I learnt the importance of hand contact with one’s patient - not just for checking the pulse, although today this must be done publicly. I was once threatened by an irate husband when I tried to calm his nervous wife by putting my hand on hers: “You have assaulted my wife.”

In schools too, physical contact must be done carefully. My nephew, a trainee teacher, was warned by his supervisor, when he put his hand on a distressed student’s shoulder: “If you do that again your teaching career is ended.” But performed wisely, physical contact, like handshaking is potentially a God given blessing.

St Theresa of Avila said: “Christ has no hands but our hands, yours are the ones with which He blesses the world today.” So let us literally make hand contact not just with friends, but with the lonely, the refugees and anyone who becomes our neighbour, so that they may feel welcome and recognise God’s love.

Keith Buckler, St Mary's Church, Allithwaite