Daily Thoughts: We celebrated a
familiar feast today that of St. Blaise a bishop and martyr in the early fourth
century. Legend has it that he cured a boy who was choking on a fish bone. St.
Blaise has long been linked cures of ailments of the throat. In fact many will
have their throats blessed today through the intercession of St. Blaise. The
legend of St. Blaise’s power to heal flows from his faith as a church leader
and a martyr. It is healing power of faith that our readings touch on today.
We heard in the Gospel (Mark 5: 21-43)
about two women, one who is cured and the other who is brought back to life.
The women in the Gospel story are different, one is just a child of twelve who
faces death, and the other has lived many years but for the last twelve years
has faced a great physical struggle. For one woman it is the faith of her
family, in particular her father, that makes all the difference, for the other
it is her own faith that makes the difference. This is what brings these women
together, faith. Faith if lived out can give us the opportunity to be cured;
faith can also give us life!
The focus of the Gospel is the thread of
faith. The two women in our Gospel relied on faith to bring about comfort,
relief and life. We, the community of faith, rely on the faith of those that
journey with us, our own faith and the faith of those who have gone before us,
"the cloud of witnesses" to keep us going, to support us on this
journey of faith we call life.
Faith can be a comfort, faith is always
a challenge but remember it can bring healing, it can bring support and it can
bring life. Let us be faith filled people today and always so that we to can be
a source of healing, comfort, support and life to all we meet!
Have a great Tuesday everyone!
Daily Prayer: O God, give
strength to our faith, so that we can be a source of support, comfort, healing
and life as we make our journey through this day to a new day tomorrow.
Help us to draw upon the faith of all who have gone before us, trusting that
they are always with us. Give us the courage to reach out and touch you when we
most need it today. Make us aware of those in need of life today so that we
may bring you to them. May we not grow weary or lose heart. Amen!
A Runner's Thoughts: Let us accept
our next run for what it is, remembering that this is a spiritual practice
that, like any exercise, requires persistence through experiences of success
and what seems like failure.
Daily Blessing: Tuesday
greetings and blessings everyone! We weathered the snow, sleet, rain and snow
of yesterday and today we are just dealing with a cold cloudy day. I hope your
Tuesday has started off well and that the weather is not playing too big a role
in your journey through this day!
I tuned into a morning sports talk so
for a few minutes and we are still dealing with “pass verses run.” I guess it
will take a week or so before we move on from the mistakes of the Super Bowl.
Oh the joy that is taken in other peoples misfortune!
On this feast of St. Blaise my prayer of
blessing today for all is a simple one – Through the intercession of St. Blaise,
bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from every disease of the throat and
from every other illness: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the
Holy Spirit. Amen. And even if you don’t struggle with any diseases of
the throat or any illness for that matter may God bless you today with a day
rich in God’s love! Have a great Tuesday everyone! Peace in Christ's Passion...Fr. Paul
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