Memorial of Our
Lady of Lourdes
(Genesis 1:1-19; Mark 6:53-56)
Every year eight million people visit the town of Lourdes
in southern France. Most go to be healed
of some malady or to pray for another who is sick. The water from the spring at the site of Our
Lady’s appearance to St. Bernadette has shown to be especially curative. Pilgrims drink the water and fill bottles
with it to be taken home. Many take
baths in the pools. They are immersed a few
seconds and emerge healed either spiritually or physically. The custom can be compared with one noted in
today’s gospel.
The reading tells how the sick beg Jesus to touch one of his
tassels. The practice sounds
superstitious but actually expresses great faith. Jews are required by the Law to wear
tassels. Jesus, known as a holy man,
keeps that precept and the whole Law in both spirit and letter. By touching one of his tassels, a person
manifests her own acceptance of God’s will.
This in turn puts the person in God’s favor. If she is sick, she can expect some kind of healing.
Tassels serve Jews in a way not at all unlike how the sacraments
serve us. They put us in touch with the Holy
One whose power created the universe. Submitting
our will to His, we too will be healed of our ailments.
