Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the
sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only
the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.
Mark 6:56
It would have been truly awe-inspiring to witness Jesus healing the
sick. The people who witnessed this clearly had never seen anything
like it before. For those who were sick, or whose loved ones were
sick, each healing would have had a powerful effect upon them and
upon their whole family.
Today, modern science, with its ability to treat so many illnesses,
has lessened the fear and anxiety over getting sick. But in Jesus’
time, serious illness was of far greater concern. For that reason,
the desire of so many people to bring their sick to Jesus so that
they could be healed was very strong. This desire drove them to
Jesus so that “they might touch only the tassel on his cloak” and
be healed. And Jesus didn’t disappoint.
Though Jesus’ physical healings were unquestionably an act of
charity given to those who were sick and to their families, they
obviously weren’t the most important thing Jesus did. And it’s
important for us to remind ourselves of that fact. Jesus' healings
were primarily for the purpose of preparing the people to listen to
His Word and to ultimately receive the spiritual healing of the
forgiveness of their sins.
In your own life, if you were seriously ill and were given the
option to receive either a physical healing or to receive the
spiritual healing of the forgiveness of your sins, which would you
choose? Clearly, the spiritual healing of the forgiveness of your
sins is of infinitely greater value. It will affect your soul for
all eternity. The truth is that this far greater healing is
available to us all, especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
In that Sacrament, we are invited to “touch the tassel on his
cloak,” so to speak, and be spiritually healed. For that reason, we
should have a much deeper desire to seek out Jesus in the
confessional than the people of Jesus’ day had for physical
healing. And yet, too often we ignore the priceless gift of God’s
mercy and healing offered so freely to us.
Reflect, today, upon the desire in the hearts of the people in this
Gospel story. Think, especially, about those who were seriously ill
and about their burning desire to come to Jesus for healing.
Compare that desire in their hearts to the desire, or lack of
desire, in your heart to run to our Lord for the spiritual healings
your soul so desperately needs. Seek to foster a greater desire for
this healing, especially as it comes to you through the Sacrament
of Reconciliation.
My healing Lord, I thank You for the spiritual healing You
continually offer me, especially through the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. I thank You for the forgiveness of my sins on
account of You suffering on the Cross. Fill my heart with a greater
desire to come to You so as to receive the greatest gift I could
ever receive: the forgiveness of my sins. Jesus, I trust in
You.
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Featured images above: The fresco Jesus at the healing in
Duomo by Lattanzio Gambara, via Adobe
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