+ Today we celebrate the feast of a legendary figure in church history: St. Blaise. Though he was certainly a bishop and martyr in the early Church, his notoriety came about when it was said that he healed a boy who had fish bones stuck in his throat and was thereby near death. When Blaise was imprisoned during a persecution, the boy's mother brought him food and candles while he was in prison. Later, the idea of using candles to bless throats was joined and celebrated on Blaise's feast day: today, February 3rd.
What we need remember as we have our throats blessed today is that such a blessing and such a healing must have only two aims: to give glory to God, and to bring hope and encouragement to others. We must use our throats, our voices in praise of God, giving him glory at all hours of the day and night; and we must use our throats, our voices to upbuild our neighbors near and far, giving them heaven-based hope for a better day today and tomorrow!
St. Paul tells the Romans to use the voice to boast in the hope of the glory of God which is promised to us and also to boast of our afflictions which produces endurance, proven character, and finally hope because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given us.
The gospel passage is the pre-Ascension commissioning of the Eleven to go out and the use their blessed voices to proclaim the Gospel to every creature; and this means every creature – not only human persons, but all creatures, including animals, birds and fish. All creatures of our God respond to the Gospel or else he would not have stated this mandate such. And then once blessed by the Gospel message – each is to pass on what they have received to the best of their ability – speaking mostly from their own graced experience.
May we this day – after receiving the blessing of God for our throats use them as he intends them to be used to upbuild, teach and give hope to all living creatures!
Go and teach all nations, says the Lord; I am with you always, until the end of the world.
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