There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, "If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured." Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. (Mk 5:21-43)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020326.cfm
The Blessing of Throats on the feast of Saint Blaise recalls the ministry of Jesus with the sick. I grew up singing the old hymn: She Only Touched the Hem of His Garment. Like the woman in the gospel story, when we reach out and touch just the hem of his garment, we find healing in body, mind and spirit. Today's photo is of the blessing of throats in the Church of Saint Blaise in Dubrovnik, Croatia. https://youtu.be/m2E9RYWRgkU?si=i9RPuYJBEcIkovvV
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Saint Blaise, bishop & martyr, February 3
