They begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak

11 FEBRUARY (Mk 6,53-56)

In the Old Testament, the mantle of Elijah is powerful. It is similar to the rod of Moses, Elisha opened Jordan in two with it. He carried out with it a real miracle.

When the Lord was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, he and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal. “Stay here, please,” Elijah said to Elisha. “The Lord has sent me on to Bethel.” “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live,” Elisha replied, “I will not leave you.” So they went down to Bethel, where the guild prophets went out to Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master from over you today?” “Yes, I know it,” he replied. “Keep still.” Then Elijah said to him, “Stay here, please, Elisha, for the Lord has sent me on to Jericho.” “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live,” Elisha replied, “I will not leave you.” They went on to Jericho, where the guild prophets approached Elisha and asked him, “Do you know that the Lord will take your master from over you today?” “Yes, I know it,” he replied. “Keep still.” Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here; the Lord has sent me on to the Jordan.” “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live,” Elisha replied, “I will not leave you.” And so the two went on together.

Fifty of the guild prophets followed, and when the two stopped at the Jordan, stood facing them at a distance. Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water, which divided, and both crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.” “You have asked something that is not easy,” he replied. “Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.” As they walked on conversing, a flaming chariot and flaming horses came between them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. When Elisha saw it happen he cried out, “My father! my father! Israel’s chariots and drivers!” But when he could no longer see him, Elisha gripped his own garment and tore it in two. Then he picked up Elijah’s mantle which had fallen from him, and went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan.

Wielding the mantle which had fallen from Elijah, he struck the water in his turn and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When Elisha struck the water it divided and he crossed over. The guild prophets in Jericho, who were on the other side, saw him and said, “The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha.” They went to meet him, bowing to the ground before him. “Among your servants are fifty brave men,” they said. “Let them go in search of your master. Perhaps the spirit of the Lord has carried him away to some mountain or some valley.” “Do not send them,” he answered. However, they kept urging him, until he was embarrassed and said, “Send them.” So they sent the fifty men, who searched for three days without finding him. When they returned to Elisha in Jericho, where he was staying, he said to them, “Did I not tell you not to go?” (2Re 2,1-18).

Infinitely more powerful is the cloak of Jesus. It does not perform a single wonder, or miracle. It heals a numberless multitude. It suffices for a sick to approach and touch it, he is instantly cured of his illness, with no difference between curable or incurable, small or large diseases, of men or women, of young or old.

It is as if the cloak participated in the omnipotence of the wearer. The greater is the holiness of the person and more powerful is the power of miracles and signs that flows from it. This is a historical truth. This miracle has happened, happens and occurs also in many holy people. Cloaks and men as if they were one.

After making the crossing, they came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 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.

Perhaps it is for this reason that the Apostle Jude invites the disciples of Jesus to stay away from those who work evil: “On those who waver, have mercy; save others by snatching them out of the fire; on others have mercy with fear, abhorring even the outer garment stained by the flesh.” (Jude 1.22 to 23). The body permeates even the clothes of its evil. Impure is the body and impure is also its dress.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints purify our body.