Hello everyone! Heyo! Welcome back to Scattering Flowers with Elise and Miles, a podcast where we read the daily Gospels and the Saint of the Day.
Let’s get started! Today is Monday, May 5th, and the Gospel reading is John 6, 26-27, and verse 32.
The scripture to reflect on is John 6, 27. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him has God the Father set his seal. My mom and I make sourdough bread every week for sandwiches, toast, garlic bread, and anything else that sounds tasty.
But to make the bread, we have to feed the starter.
It’s not hard to, but you have to discard some wheat and add more flour and water.
It just takes a little time.
After you do all this, it grows into a crazy sourdough, ready to be mixed into a dough.
But it’s caring and feeding a dough to become more delicious bread for us to eat.
Jesus encourages and tells us to seek food that lasts forever. Miles is sick today, and he got his saint story ready, so I’m going to read it.
Today’s saint of the day is Saint Florian.
He was born in 250 and died in 304.
We celebrate his feast day today, May 5th.
Saint Florian is the patron saint of firefighters and floods.
Saint Florian was an officer in the Roman army who died for refusing to kill Christians as ordered by the emperor.
Saint Florian’s faith was so strong that he saved an entire town from being burned by intently praying and throwing a single bucket of water into the flames. Today’s readings help us to realize how special and important our relationship with Jesus is.
We should always try to grow through spiritual food such as prayer, Bible reading, and following him instead of only focusing on worldly happiness. Like Saint Florian, we should feast on Jesus' love and wisdom.
Get it?
Feast?
Because he will satisfy our wanting to live only for him.
Maybe today you can say a prayer for your community firefighters or find a way to thank them for helping your community. Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, help us to remember that Jesus satisfies our spiritual hunger when we take time to grow in our faith.
And help us to be more like Saint Florian and live out our faith even when it’s hard.
Saint Florian, pray for us.
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!