Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Mark (6: 53-56) in which people carried their sick to Jesus, as he travelled around their region, and begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Fr Paul says the reading we hear today sums up the activity of Jesus in the first part of his ministry in Galilee. He is recognised as a healer, to whom people can bring their sick. This Gospel will lead to a confrontation with the authorities and after that confrontation Jesus will begin a wider ministry to the Gentiles. This Gospel mentions people touching the fringe of his cloak. Fr Paul says, this could be the tassels traditionally on a Jewish prayer shawl but even it if is not and it is just the hem of Jesus’s garments then it is clear that even the very end of his garments was still enough to come into contact with the healing holiness of Jesus. Mindful of this, for our reflection, Fr Paul asks, ‘What would I ask for if I could touch the fringe of Jesus’s cloak?’
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