Hello and welcome to A Word of Hope for February 3rd, the Memorial of Saint Blaise, bishop and martyr! Join Fr. Dominic Holtz, O.P., coming to you from Rome, Italy, as he reflects on the powerful lesson of prioritizing immediate needs in our Christian lives.
Father Dominic begins by sharing the fascinating legend of Saint Blaise. Forced to flee persecution, Blaise lived in a cave, becoming known as a great healer of both people and wild animals. He recounts stories of Blaise healing a child choking on a fishbone (the origin of the traditional Blessing of the Throats) and miraculously making a wolf return a pig. Despite facing martyrdom, Blaise's enduring legacy comes from these humble acts of compassion.
The reflection then connects Blaise's story to today's Gospel, where Jesus, on His way to perform a major miracle (healing Jairus's daughter), is interrupted by a woman with hemorrhages. This woman, with quiet faith, is healed by simply touching the hem of Jesus' cloak.
Father Dominic highlights a crucial lesson from both stories: while pursuing "great big actions" for the Gospel is good, it is equally, if not more, important to meet the needs that come before us, however small they may seem. These acts of love and grace touch lives deeply and are vital in building God's Kingdom. Discover how responding to these immediate calls allows us to share the joy of Christ crucified and risen from the dead.
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### ⏰ Timeline
0:00:00 Welcome & Introduction from Fr. Dominic Holtz in Rome, Italy
0:00:14 The Memorial of Saint Blaise: Bishop & Martyr
0:00:17 The Legend of St. Blaise: Escaping Persecution & Healing in a Cave
0:00:36 St. Blaise's Miracles: The Child with the Fishbone (Throat Blessing)
0:01:29 St. Blaise's Miracles: The Wolf and the Pig, Candles in Prison
0:01:55 Why We Remember St. Blaise: Healing and Protecting from Throat Ailments
0:02:12 Today's Gospel: Jesus' Journey to Jairus's Daughter
0:02:29 The Interruption: The Woman with Hemorrhages and Her Quiet Healing
0:02:43 The Shared Lesson: Priorities for Jesus and St. Blaise
0:02:52 Beyond "Great Big Actions": Meeting the Needs Before Us
00:03:07 Small Acts Matter to the Lives They Touch
0:03:21 Our Job: Respond with God's Love & Grace to Others' Needs
0:03:37 Concluding Word of Hope: Sharing the Joy of Christ
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