Today's reading speaks of the woman who excessively bled for many years. She wanted to get to Jesus to be healed. Her words, "if only I could touch his cloak, I would be saved".

I submit, that it could be argued that the Catholic Church has been bleeding for a long while, what with scandals and excommunications etc., etc.

If WE, the CHURCH, could only touch His cloak, WE, the CHURCH would be saved. Remember, the title of Hans Kung’s book, Can the Catholic Church Be Saved?

The answer to this question, is in the making. I have to wonder if Pope Francis has already achieved all the remarkable change during his papacy. He may be too physically taxed and he may be, too weary, from being opposed at the Vatican, if such reports are true.

What transpires at the coming Synod of the Family will no doubt be a strong indicator of what change, if any, can be expected. I sense, that there is a lot brewing under the surface, at the Vatican. What is stirring in the deeps? Will Touching the Cloak of Jesus by those, particularly, at the Vatican, save the Catholic Church? Of course, how the Church is saved, might well be a surprise of God, that no one, but, no one can foresee. Certainly, Pope Francis is an example of such a surprise. Time will tell! I present to you a tree from Skreen, Sligo. It’s a tree rich with potential for long contemplation of the deeps! Like this amazing, aged tree, the Church is also a subject for long contemplation and I hope we touch the Cloak of Jesus, while searching the deeps!

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