Several years ago Tom and I attended a “Fringe Festival” with our youngest child, Rachael. Her boyfriend’s theatrical group from high school had been invited to perform “Godspell” at a much larger international Fringe Festival in Scotland. Okay, so far, so good. A slight new understanding of an old word: artists and creators coloring a little outside the lines.
I recalled the festival visit recently while reading a short passage in the Gospel of Matthew.
All together, Jesus and the disciples crossed to the other side of the sea. They landed at Gennesaret, an area famous for its princely gardens. The people of Gennesaret recognized Jesus, and they spread word of His arrival all over the countryside. People brought the sick and wounded to Him and begged Him for permission to touch the fringes of His robe. Everyone who touched Him was healed.
As is often the case with this rabbit-chasing brain of mine, I tried to make the connection between “fringe” in referring to the festival, and to twisted threads on the edge of a garment, like Jesus most likely wore. Hold on, Dear Reader, this may take a minute.
Many of us wear talismen to remind us of something significant. I wear a necklace with a cross and a heart with a pearl, to keep my faith and family always with me. Is there something you wear, or a picture in your wallet that is a reminder of something important to you, Dear Reader?
So, Jesus was wearing a prayer shawl, as most Jewish men did, and it had fringe upon it. Nothing unusual about that.
Speak to the Israelites and bid them make fringes or tassels on the corners in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and put upon the fringe of the borders or upon the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.
The phrase “fringe mentality” kept running around in my head, which usually means I better do a little research. Not surprisingly, several online resources alluded to fringe mentality, thinking, theory, as relating to going beyond the fringe of the mainstream. Hmmm? Coloring outside the lines . . . acting outside mainstream beliefs or behavior . . . Jesus . . .
And behold, a woman who had suffered from a flow of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment;
For she kept saying to herself, If I only touch His garment, I shall be restored to health.
Here comes the punchline, Dear Reader: the people of Gennesaret and the woman with an issue of blood were willing to go beyond mainstream thinking in their searches to be healed. The fringe on Jesus’ prayer shawl didn’t inherently have the power to heal; it’s power came from the One who wore it.
I believe even an infintisemal flicker of a prayer, a grain of faith or hope, reaches the heart of God. His power is made manifest in our answered prayers. I love the way James Mofatt’s New Testament translation describes the power of faith and hope:
For Abraham, when hope was gone, hoped on in faith, and thus became the father of many nations — even as he was told . . .
Dear Reader, will you be brave with me? Will you step out into the fringe with your faith? Can we dare to believe in things not seen, to hope on in faith for that which grips our hearts? Perhaps it’s a strained relationship with no signs of reconciliation, or a career that’s in a holding pattern. Maybe a diagnosis has been received that seems to offer no positive outcomes. Let us be brave, and maybe a little reckless, Dear Reader. Let us stretch our faith, hope with no reason, and strain to touch the fringe of the One who loves us most.
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