Does Your Throat Hurt?

 It my youth, on the closest Sunday to February 3, the priest would have us come up at the end of Mass for the blessing of the throat. He held two candles over the throat and said a prayer. I once belonged to a parish named for St. Blaise, bishop and martyr. We always celebrated St. Blaise there.

I haven't experienced the throat blessings in recent years.  My current parish is named for a long ago pope, not the bishop who blesses throats. But, this Covid variant that is going around starts with a sore throat. Maybe it is time to find some parish that celebrates St Blaise with a throat blessing today.

Ground Hogs Day

 If there were ever a silly holiday, it is Ground Hogs Day.  The ground hog sees his shadow and we have 6 more weeks of winter.  Who invented such a day? It appears to be some of my ancestors, the Dutch people in America.  They looked at the ground hog (or badger in Europe) and if the weather was clear on Candlemas then there would be 6 more weeks of winter.

You don't hear a lot about Candlemas on Ground Hogs Day. Candlemas is the celebration of the presentation of Jesus at the temple and the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. I remember being at Mass once and receiving candles that were blessed for my home.  It seems a big reach to think about ground hogs and weather.

Still, this is Ground Hogs Day and I will be looking to see if the skies are clear today.  And maybe I will light a candle when I pray this morning.

Old Ladies Unite

 I am an old lady.  My hair is going gray.  I am retired and I couldn't imagine working these days.  I am a grandma.  I ask for help with technology and fixing things.  I have arthritis. There is no doubt, I am an old lady.  But, in my mind, I still am young.  My body lets me down when it won't do the things I picture in my mind.  But, the worst part to me is that people treat me like an old lady.

And the old lady that they treat me like is one who doesn't understand things.  Is one who doesn't matter.  Is one who doesn't think or do anything important. I often feel that I am treated as though I were invisible. I often feel as though the things I have to say are just noise that nobody hears or understands.

I have decided that I do not accept that reality.  I am a person.  I deserve to be treated with respect.  I am not a confrontational person, but I have decided to hold my head up and be more than an old lady. So, I remind people to listen to me.  I take my business elsewhere when I feel disrespected.  I speak up.  I recommend this course of action to all the old ladies out there.  Old ladies, unite.

January, the Last

 So, January is finishing up.  It has been a challenging couple of years.  The challenges aren't over, but maybe they will be someday. I am declaring this day as I new start, a new year.  Pandemics, recede into the past. Pandemics, go away!

I have hopes for the rest of this year.  I plan to get healthy. I plan to travel.  I plan some home improvements. I plan with hope.

But, whatever the year brings, I will get through it. I will pray.  I will celebrate with joy.  January, I have high hopes for the rest of the year.

Sunday Prayers

 

Jesus,

You chose to live in Capernum.  It was a city with many, many people.  Simon Peter lived there.  It was a busy place on the banks of the sea of Galilee. It was Your place.  I imagine it felt like home.

I am happy to have a home base.  I understand and share that feeling of home and of passing through life.  Things don't stay the same. Life isn't permanent.

Help me to go through life and enjoy the blessings of home, but appreciate that I am borrowing my time in life.  Help me to listen to You.  Help me to carry out the reason you made me.  Help me to remember that I am loved.

Amen