THE FRINGES OF THE CLOAK
There is a detail in today’s Gospel that we want to focus on: Jesus’ cloak, which the woman with a haemorrhage secretly wants to touch to be healed of her illness. The cloak Jesus wore was probably the talled. It should be known that the talled, with fringes on the sides (zizzit), was of two types. A smaller one (talled katan), worn under the robes, and therefore worn all day, and a larger one worn only in the morning during prayer. If the talled refers to praise, its fringes (zizzit) refer to obedience to the Torah. Touching the cloak, or rather the legal fringe of Jesus’ talled (cf. Nm 15,37-41) therefore means experiencing God’s salvation thanks to Jesus’ prayer and obedience. But that’s not all. Jesus praises the faith of this courageous woman: “Daughter, your faith has saved you” (Mk 5:34). Certainly, there is a power that comes out of him, and it is a healing power. But there is also a power, that of faith, which dwells in the believing heart and which Jesus awakens with his word. The woman with a haemorrhage reminds us that faith is a dynamic reality (she approaches the master, she wants to touch him and then prostrates herself at his feet). But faith must also trust and rely. Only in this way does it demonstrate its full effectiveness. As a pictorial icon we go to the mosaics of Santa Apollinare Nuovo in Ravenna. The representation of Jesus as a child, dressed in a purple tunic and pallium, is interesting. He extends his hand of blessing towards the woman with a haemorrhage kneeling at his feet, who has her hands covered to signify Christ’s untouchability. This detail is interesting. Throughout the evangelical scene, the woman’s desire to touch the fringes of Jesus’ cloak is highlighted. After her healing, in the mosaic, she no longer dares to touch her person. Most likely here the divine character of the Master is highlighted and therefore the recognition of his lordship.
