St. Blase

February 3,2004

by Rev. Herbert Nichols

Today we celebrate the feast of Blase, a bishop and martyr, who lived centuries ago. It is believed that perhaps he had been a physician and in his priestly ministry combined his talents for healing.

Legend tells us that one day a young boy who was choking on a fishbone was miraculously cured by the bishop. Perhaps, as a physician, he was familiar with what we now call the Heimlich maneuver. In any case, the boy’s life was saved giving thanks to God through bishop Blase (now St. Blase).

In the church’s liturgy we often use symbols from nature, which attribute power from Jesus Christ. (water, candles, ashes, palms, medals, fire, etc.)

Symbols are popular today. Think about highway graphics, which have replaced words, in order to speak the international language. Sometimes the use of symbols can be misunderstood as magic rituals or instant cure-alls. The Church has never encouraged this abuse, which is superstitious and forbidden by the First Commandment.

Rather, we attempt to use symbols in church, home, or on our person, as a powerful sign of the nature and beauty of God’s creation and His love that is ministered through it.

Today we combine the use of two symbols, blessing and candles. We use the candles, which were blessed at yesterday’s Liturgy, a symbol of Jesus the Light who came into the world at Christmas when light is at its shortest. The Feast of the Presentation, also called Candlemas, (Candle/mass) dates back to at least Medieval times. Not only is it linked to Christmas and the Christ child, but the blessing of candles for the entire liturgical year, including the Paschal candle, links it to the Easter fire and restored light by the risen savior.

The gesture of blessing, likewise, is always linked to the life-giving waters of Baptism, at which we received for the first time, the blessing: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Blessing offers no guarantees that you won’t get sick. It is a prayer of trust and intercession, which demands, 1. Use of common sense, 2. Faith in God, and 3. Accepting the will of God.

In the gospel, Jesus demonstrates his power, another Epiphany, if you’re comfortable with that word. He not only heals a woman who has exhausted her life savings searching for a cure, only to grow worse, but Jesus demonstrates he has the power even to raise from the dead.

In the first reading however, we have the heart breaking scene of a parent mourning the loss of a child; albeit, a rebellious child, a child who had become a mortal enemy. David followers could not understand his grief, but perhaps David was able to see the light in the darkness.

How often we feel "dark joy" when we see a wrongdoer get what is coming to him; but God is a God who wants to restore life. If anyone has ever disappointed you, rejected you, betrayed you, or insulted you, defied you as Absalom did his father, this might give you an experiential insight into the heart of God.

Later, when you step forward to receive Holy Communion and to have your throat blessed, realize that the tongue, which is the gateway to your mouth, is a powerful instrument for love or for hate. It can speak encouragement or criticism; build a person up or tear them down. Let us pray through the intercession of St. Blase that we will always use it in the service of Christ’s Kingdom.