Weekly Homily of Father Mraz

5^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 4-5, 2012

In our Gospel today we have people coming to Jesus to be healed. We see it starts with the healing of Simon’s mother-in-law from a fever. Once word gets out the ill and possessed by demons were brought to Him. The whole town was gathered at the door. He cured many who were sick of various diseases and drove out many demons. Even when Jesus and the disciples went to a deserted place to rest people sought them out. But Jesus went to other villages to do the same.

Healing is a special part of Jesus’ ministry. To heal the body he also healed the soul. Jesus came for the healing of all mankind from the effects of original sin. Thus He heals the sick, casts out demons, and forgives sins. He then sent out his disciples 2 by 2 and they came back and reported how they healed the sick and cast out demons in His name. So throughout history we have the ministries of healing, forgiveness and exorcism in the church to continue the work of Christ.

One person who was known for this was Saint Blaise. He was born in the 200’s to a wealthy noble family in Sebaste in Armenia, present day Turkey. He was raised a Christian. He studied philosophy as a youth and was also a doctor known for his healing skills and piety. When the Bishop of Sebaste died he was elected by the people as the new bishop. His holiness was manifest through many miracles. Like Jesus people sought him out from all around for healing of body and spirit. In the 316 Agricola the governor of Cappodocia and Lesser Armenia arrived to enforce the order of Emperor Licinius to kill Christians. St. Blaise was inspired by God to go to the mountains and there he found a cave and lived as a hermit. There sick animals came to him for healing. When the hunters went up the mountain to find wild animals: Lions, wolves and bears to feed the Christians to in the Ampitheater, they were amazed to find them outside the cave of St. Blaise together living peacefully. Bishop Blaise was arrested and taken for trial. On the way down 2 things happened: He saw a wolf which had captured a pig belonging to a poor woman and convinced it to let the pig go, and a woman ran up with her son choking on a fishbone and he blessed and healed the child. Bishop Blaise was asked to renounce Christ and he did not so he flesh was torn with wool combs and rakes. When he refused again he was sentenced to be starved to death in total darkness to drive him insane. The woman whose pig was saved then smuggled food and candles to him. Candles representing Christ the light of the world who is light for us in the darkness of our lives. He was later beaten and beheaded.

Since the 700’s he has been listed as one of the 14 holy helpers, saints people turned to for help in time of need, and he and been invoked for healing of throats because of the boy with the fish bone being healed and also for healing for other diseases. Today, after the creed and the petitions, we will continue with the blessing of throats. Everyone is invited to come up, no matter who you are to have God’s blessings of healing and health called down upon you with the blessings of throats. St. Blaise’s Feast Day was celebrated on Feb. 3, the day after the feast of the presentation of Jesus in the temple when he was 40 days old, this is when we have the blessing of candles - as Jesus is recognized by elderly Simeon as the Light of the Nations. So crossed blessed candles will be placed under your throat for the blessing as we ask St. Blaise for his prayers for your health.