God our Father, as we celebrate today the memorial of St. Blaise, a Bishop and Martyr so loved by people for the many miracles attributed to him, I pray only for one thing: to be simply simple like him.
His life was clearly a life of simplicity anchored in deep faith in you, in just having you in through prayers and examples of life; St. Blaise took to heart Jesus Christ's instructions to the Twelve "to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick - no food, no sack, no money in their belts" as "they proclaimed repentance, driving off many demons, and healing the sick" (Mark 6:8, 12).
Famous for healing those with afflictions of the throat and neck, St. Blaise's life of simplicity reminds us how too much things of the world like wealth and fame could "choke" us, preventing us from bridging what is in our hearts and what is in our minds.
Like King David in the first reading, let us realize that someday, we are "going the way of all flesh" that for us to be truly rich and fruitful in life, it is best to keep the mandate of the Lord always for he alone is our life and meaning. Amen.
