Relics, Miracles, and Faith

In today’s Gospel, Jesus makes His way to Gennesaret, a town near Capernaum, where He lived. He’s mobbed as soon as He arrives, and we’re told the villagers “…begged him that they might touch only the tassel on His cloak; as many as touched it were healed” (Mk 6: 55-56). The books of Numbers and Deuteronomy in the OT required the Israelites to sew tassels on their garments “to look upon and remember the commandments of the Lord to do them,” and not follow their own sinful inclinations (cf. Num 15: 37-41; Deut 22:12).  So, when the people of the region of Gennesaret touched Jesus’ tassels, they were being reminded of two things: to have faith in the Lord, and to be morally upright, as the sign of their faith (cf. James 2: 1-18). Three things, then are demonstrated here: Faith, moral goodness, and grace flowing from Jesus, through his garments. This latter reality is what we call, relics, objects sanctified by touching Christ. Do I realize that if I combine faith with my moral uprightness, even though weak, I, too, can be healed through Christ’s relics and Sacraments? Today, go to confession and open up that grace flowing from his tassels!