Healing Threads

~~~ 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13 ~~~ Psalm 132 ~~~ Mark 6:53-56 ~~~ 

King Solomon processed with the high priests.

They carried the ark of the Covenant into the temple.

The priests brought the ark of the covenant of the LORD

to its place beneath the wings of the cherubim in the sanctuary,

the holy of holies of the temple.

The glory of God filled the tent with a cloud.

The cloud was so dense and dark that it obscured their vision.  

Solomon interpreted this as a sign that God 

was dwelling there forever.

Perhaps this is reminder for us that God dwells

 in the dark clouds of our life too.

God is present when we cannot see no matter

 which direction we turn.

Mark's gospel today paints a very different 

picture for the presence of Jesus.

Jesus himself becomes the walking tabernacle of God.

Jesus was not carried around by the elders.

Jesus came out to the people.

He walked among them...in plain sight.

There was no cloud surrounding the person of Jesus.

Just the sight of Jesus inspired people to come closer.

They did not seek a private audience with Jesus.

Many were content to only touch the tip of his cloak.

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.

The glorious power of God passes freely

 and abundantly though Jesus extending even to his clothing.

We must never underestimate this power of God.

Jesus does not confine himself to places of worship...

Jesus is with us...he walks beside us...

Jesus is with us until the end of time.

Jesus is here to heal us...to love us...to extend

 his mercy and forgiveness to us.

The threads on the tip of his tassel 

are more than sufficient to heal.

When all else fails seek the threads from the tassel.

For just a slender thread contains the power of God.

How can we ever doubt his love for us?

Blessings in God's threads.

~~~Peace~~~

So Much More

~~~ 1 Kings 8:1-7, 9-13 ~~~ Psalm 142 ~~~ Mark 6:53-56 ~~~

King Solomon and the entire community of Israel
present for the occasion
sacrificed before the ark sheep and oxen
too many to number or count.

The special feast honoring the ark of the covenant

 is taking place and people from all around have came together for this event.

The ark is surrounded by beauty...

suspended above are the large wings of the cherubim...

There was nothing in the ark but two cold 

stone tablets etched with the Ten Commandments. 

When the priests left the holy place,
the cloud filled the temple of the LORD
so that the priests could no longer minister because of the cloud...

In the Gospel today we see Jesus in a familiar spot, a boat. 

He is not surrounded with any special ornamentation;

just himself. There is such a stark contrast between the ark and Jesus.

The ark was inanimate and Jesus was alive, Jesus was a real person.

Jesus attracted the people because of who he was not because of what he was.

Seeing the ark was almost like going to a museum to see a precious object.

It is true that the people believed that God resided in that space.

When Jesus attracted a crowd, they came to see him.

They came to listen to his words.

They came presenting their brokenness.

They came to be healed.

Again we see crowds coming from all around the countryside.

They are carrying the sick on mats.

They firmly believed that merely

 touching a small tassel of his garment was enough

 to make them whole again.

Jesus did not exercise his loving compassionate 

heart under a dark cloud.

Jesus openly expressed his compassion... 

even through the very tip of his clothing.

What Jesus could do would never 

compare to the grandeur of the ark;

Jesus was so much more.

The ark was separated with the people...set apart.

But Jesus was out among the people.

Jesus walked with the people.

Jesus Blessed the people in every way he possibly could;

just as he Blesses us today.

Jesus wants you to see him walking with you

just as much as he wants you to see him in the Eucharist.

Whenever you happen to see a tassel or some fringe 

consider your many blessings.

Peace.

Healing Waters

Our Lady of Lourdes

~~~ Genesis 1:1-19 ~~~ Psalm 104 ~~~ Mark 6:53-56 ~~~

The God who created heaven and earth.

The God who said, "Let there be light"....

The God who brought forth all manner of life in the universe...

The God who placed the sun and the moon in the skies...

this is the God who also created you.

This is the God who walked the earth in the person of Jesus

healing and blessing others.

This is the God who sen his Son to be born of a woman.

This is the God who came down to live among us.

This is the God in whom we place our trust.

This is the God in whom we profess to be our Lord.

It is this same God whom people long ago flocked to for healing.

This same God is here for you today.

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.

Touching the tassel from his cloak was sufficient to heal.

Or was that the only contributing factor to one's healing?  

Perhaps there was something invisible occurring within each person who was healed...

they had faith...they believed something so slight as touching a few threads

from his clothing had his power to heal.

They came...they touched...they believed.

So often a healing will happen in an unanticipated fashion.

A part of you will be healed; if not physically,

then in mind, spirit, or soul.

Whatever the healing it will come through love and compassion.

God created you and wants you to be whole,

united with him...united with his will for you.

God has seen fit to imbue the waters at Lourdes with his healing power.

Just as at the wedding at Cana the Blessed Mother intercedes on our behalf.

If God is truly God, which we know him to be,

then changing water into wine...allowing his healing to pour forth as water,

pales in comparison to his creation of water itself.

He can do all things.

Ask for the healing you desire,

knowing that God will give you the healing you need more.

Prayer to Our Lady of Lourdes

O ever immaculate Virgin, Mother of mercy, health of the sick, refuge of sinners, comfort of the afflicted,

you know my wants, my troubles, my sufferings; deign to cast upon me a look of mercy.

By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary,

whence you dispense your favors, and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities,

both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence,

to implore your maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, the grant of my requests.

 I will endeavor to imitate your virtues, that I may one day share your glory,

and bless you in eternity. Amen.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord let his face shine upon you and keep you safe

in mind, body, spirit, and soul.

You are loved more than you can understand.

Tassel of Healing

~~~  Mark 6: 53-56  ~~~

The scene from the gospel of Mark today is much like that of a celebrity surrounded by the paparazzi.  People were scurrying around, pushing and shoving trying to reach Jesus. 

They had immediately recognized him.

How did they know who he was? Did they first recognize Peter and the other fishermen?

They did not have high tech social media like Twitter. The word about Jesus' ability to heal was spreading like wildfire through word of mouth.

Everyone was talking and gossiping about the miracles performed by this carpenter's son.

Maybe they did not even believe or need to be healed. Maybe they came out of curiosity bringing their family, friends, and neighbors. After all Jesus did invite the first apostles to 'Come and See'. He invited them to come and see; fully knowing they could not have dreamed

what they would encounter.

The believers who came from the villages and the countryside begged Jesus, that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak. The writer of Mark confirms for us 'as many as touched it, the tassel, were healed'. Their faith was so great that they trusted in the healing power of Jesus. He was most likely a stranger to those many who came that day. They did not personally know him.

But they, like us, wanted to have their good health restored.

In ancient Israel, men wore four-cornered outer tunics with these tassels, or tzitziyot, tied to each corners. This outer garment became known as a tallit, and eventually evolved into the more formal prayer shawl. These tassels were to remind each Jewish man of his responsibility to fulfill God's commandments. Because they were hanging on the four corners of your garment, in full view of everyone including yourself, they would be a constant reminder to walk according to God's Laws.

The Hebrew word we translate as Law, is halacha, and it literally means "walk." These tassels were a constant reminder to daily follow God's law. Being a devout Jew, Jesus would have had one of these traditional prayer shawls. During formal times of prayer you would cover your head with your prayer shawl. These tassels were also associated with one's authority as was emphasized when David snips off the corner of Saul's cloak in the dark cave. Saul knew his authority was in danger.

Touching 'only the tassel on his cloak' represented the word of God

and the authority of Jesus as the Divine Healer. 

I can just imagine our local flea market today packed with people laid out on cots waiting for the traveling charismatic healer to arrive. Some hurry to purchase food and cold soft drinks from the nearby vendors to share with their loved ones. As the healer arrives, word quickly spreads through the market place. People are straining just to get a glimpse of him.

He is surounded by his people and briskly walks among the rows of cots. He lays his healing hands on the most crippled and ill. Others reach out to touch the tassel on his stole even if he does not stop at their cot. Only touching a part of his clothing is sufficient to guarantee healing. This simple contact with his tassel ignited their faith and they were healed. The cries of joy and celebration as each person is healed permeate throughout the marketplace.

What an incredible scene this must have been. I wonder how many people truly were converted that day and became believers. Did those who were  healed stand up and follow him?

How did they express their gratitude?

The original photo was of a Hebrew Prayer Shawl with the four customary blue tassels.

This captured kaleidoscope image reflects to me the crowd of people coming to be healed.

They were healed by touching the tassel on his cloak.

Is your faith strong enough to be healed by touching a simple tassel?

What would you need in order to believe?