Gospel Reading for February 10, 2025 – Mark 6: 53-56
TRULY DEEP FAITH
After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 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.
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In Luke 8: 43-48, it was just the hemorrhagic woman who thought she would get healed by just touching the tassel of Jesus’ clothes. Probably, word spread about this such that many were doing it. Although it is true that Jesus is the Saviour and part of his mission was to cure the sick, it is important to recognize that he is the Son of God that’s why he has such powers.
Even today, when we learn of a very effective healer, those sick among us flock to him endlessly no matter how far he is situated. We start attributing to him the healing power, showering him with gifts, and sometimes forgetting where the healing power comes from.
Although the Catholic Church does not teach its faithful to touch clothes of images, or ask our hankerchiefs to be wiped on images to make us well, it is a sign of deep faith, like the people in the gospel reading of today did to Jesus. However, with Jesus no longer physically present among us, a person with TRULY DEEP FAITH will believe that just a fervent prayer is enough to get well because all power comes from God. And, the best way to show our gratitude is to do acts of charity to those who are in need and others who are also sick.
Lord, heal us of all kinds of sicknesses!
