Hello everyone! Heyo! Welcome back to Scattering Flowers with Elise and Miles, a podcast where you read the daily Gospels and the Saint of the Day.
Let’s get started! Today is Wednesday, April 23rd, and we’ll be reading Luke 24, 13-35.
Follow along in your Bible if you have one.
Now let’s read Luke 24, 13-35.
That very day, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem.
And talking with each other about all these things that had happened, while they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
And he said to them, What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?
And they stood still, looking sad.
Then one of them named Cleopas answered him, Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?
And he said to them, What things?
And they said to them, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and worked before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him to be condemned to death and crucified him.
But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel, yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened.
Moreover, some women of our company amazed us.
They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body, and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive.
Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.
And he said to them, O foolish man and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had spoken, was it not necessary that the Karsh should suffer these things and enter into his glory?
And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interrupted them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
So they drew near the village to which they were going.
He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.
So he went in to stay with them.
When it was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed it and broke it and gave it to them.
And their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight.
They said to each other, Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?
And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem, and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, The Lord has risen indeed and has appeared to Simon.
Then they told what had happened on the road and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
We have been to many museums in my life.
My family and I love to walk around and take in all the art that shows you history or even art that shows you emotions and feelings that the artist is having.
I’m sure a lot of you already know this, but do you know why we read the Old Testament and the New Testament?
Why they are both so important?
It’s because the Old Testaments are like pictures of Christ.
They are prophecies of what will happen when Jesus walked on earth and after.
Like an abstract painting you might see in a museum.
The smudges that the artist or shadows they painted mean something or create something on a big canvas.
The Old Testament points out parts of Jesus' life.
They teach us about him before he was even born.
Heyo! Today’s saint is Saint George.
Now let’s read his story.
Many legends surrounded the life of Saint George, but very little is known for certain.
We do know that he came from Lyda in Palestine.
He was a Roman soldier and was martyred in the early 4th century because he was a Roman soldier.
He could have easily escaped death by simply denying that he was a Christian.
But George stood fast on his faith, even when in the face of death.
In Western art, George is usually pictured as a medieval knight on horseback slain a dragon.
He appears in many fictional tales as a hero who saved maidens and towns, killed dragons, and even come back to life after being killed.
In parts of the Middle East, he is venerated by Muslims as well as Christians.
He is called in Greek a megal martyr, meaning really great martyr.
The long list of people who claim him as their pardoner is evidence that he was still a well-loved saint.
Devotion to Saint George has been very strong throughout many centuries, which means that his life and death made a deep impression on many people throughout the ages.
Later stories of his life are not always factual.
They indicate that George was known for his courage.
They showed valor in standing up for the faith, but also protecting the innocent and defending the weak.
Saint George is actually one of my favorite saints.
He killed a dragon and was beheaded for giving to the poor and saying, I am a Christian, I believe in Jesus.
I like to pretend the dragon became friends with him.
We should try to be more like Saint George, slay the evilness around us, and stand up and be brave like Saint George.
The men on the road to Emmaus should have remembered what the Old Testament prophets said about Jesus.
Jesus reminded them that God fulfilled his promises.
God’s word is true, and God always does what he promised.
Saint George is known for his courage.
He trusted in Jesus even through he was martyred in his faith.
He trusted the Bible was true from beginning to end.
We should do the same.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, help us to believe and live without our faith.
Help us to always remember your word is true and full of your promises, even for today.
And help us to have courage to always believe in what is good, not evil.
Saint George, pray for us.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Thank you so much for listening.
We’ll be back tomorrow scattering more flowers.
See ya!