The Tassel of His Cloak
February 10, 2025 - Monday, Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin
Mark 6:53-56
A woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years once thought to herself, “If I just touch his cloak, I will be healed” (Mark 5:28). In today’s Gospel, we see that same kind of faith. People begged Jesus to let them “touch even the tassel of his cloak,” and “all who touched it were healed” (Mark 6:56). Was there something magical about Jesus’ cloak, or was it their faith that made healing possible?
This question isn’t new. In the Old Testament, when the Israelites complained against God, poisonous snakes appeared among them. After they repented, God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and place it on a pole. Anyone who looked at it was healed (Num 21:4-9). But was it the bronze serpent that saved them? The Book of Wisdom clarifies: “The one who turned toward it was saved not by what was seen, but by You, the Savior of all” (Wis 16:7).
Some modern thinkers take a similar approach, emphasizing that the tassels on Jesus' cloak symbolized God's commandments (Num 15:38-39). They argue that faith alone—not any object—was the source of healing. But is that the full picture?
In our scientific age, we sometimes forget that God works through physical things. The universe has a sacramental structure—visible signs that point to invisible realities. This is at the heart of the seven sacraments: bread and wine in the Eucharist, water in Baptism, oil in Confirmation and Anointing of the Sick. They aren’t just symbols; they carry real, transformative grace.
Beyond sacraments, the Church has always recognized the power of sacramentals—holy water, crosses, icons, rosaries, scapulars. They don’t work like magic charms, but they remind us of God’s presence and can be instruments of His grace.
In a way, these sacraments and sacramentals are the tassels of the Church. They invite us to reach out in faith, just as those people did in the Gospel. Through them, countless believers have experienced God’s healing, strength, and peace.
So, what’s the modern equivalent of touching the tassel of Jesus’ cloak? Maybe it’s kneeling before the Eucharist, making the sign of the cross, or holding onto a rosary in prayer. Maybe it’s as simple as carrying a medal or placing a crucifix in your home as a reminder of the One who saves. The power isn’t in the object itself. It’s in the faith that moves us to reach out and trust in Jesus.