St. Blaise was a 4th century bishop, born in Armenia, who was martyred in the persecution of Licinius. Not much is known about his life, but there is one legend that tells of him saving the life of a boy with a fish bone caught in his throat. The boy's mother brought Blaise food and candles while he was imprisoned for his faith: thus we combine all this to have the custom of blessing throats with candles on the feast of St. Blaise: using the prayer: "Through the intercession of St. Blaise, Bishop of Martyr, may the Lord deliver you from all aliments of the throat and from every other evil."
Today's readings are well balanced: they speak both of boasting of affliction as well as laying hands on the sick and healing them! The exact extent and nature of any discomfort, disease, illness or affliction in our lives is really based on God's will. And we know that God either directly wills, or indirectly allows certain ills to befall us – both so that good can come from it.
One good is that we trust in his mercy, we cry out for his healing, and he grants it – sometimes pretty close to the way and time that we might want him to; another good is that the ill will be allowed to continue so that our trust in God may continue, uninterrupted, so that we may have a direct sharing in the Passion of Christ, so that we can have an even greater, more intense than other peoples', share one day in the life of resurrection that awaits us all!
God is steadfast in his love for us – and he will take care of us – he has promised and he will do it – all we need to do today is to trust, trust, TRUST in him and HIS WAYS!
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