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 12th, and the Gospel reading is John 10, 1-10.
And the scripture to reflect on is John 10, 10.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Do you have any pets?
We have one, our dog.
We have to take care of her by making sure she has food and water and a safe place to stay.
We let her outside and even play with her.
Our dog knows my voice.
If I call her, she knows me and will come because she recognizes me and probably wants a treat.
This is a little bit like being a shepherd.
A shepherd is responsible for taking care of sheep.
The shepherd takes the sheep to places where they can find grass to eat, water to drink, and a place to rest.
They know when he is talking to him because they recognize his voice.
And he will lead them to good things.
Today’s Saint of the Day is Saint Nercus and Aetulus.
They were alive during the first or second century of their feast day.
It’s today, May 12th.
They are the patron saints of soldiers.
Saint Nercus and Saint Aetulus were martyrs of the Roman military.
It’s thought that they had been baptized by Saint Peter because they are among the early Christians without much in our information.
Their brutal sight is the most ancient part of the Catacomb of Dea.
And according to the list of names, they are brothers.
They acted for the empire by killing other Christians but converted to believe and courageously left serving the empire because of this they were beheaded.
Jesus tells us that he is like a shepherd.
We can trust in Jesus to provide for us and to protect us.
He said that a good shepherd would even lay down his life for his sheep and that’s exactly what he did for us.
We can trust in him and be happy that our shepherd, Jesus, will rescue us from sin.
Saint Neryus and Aetulus left their jobs as soldiers because they listened to Jesus, their shepherd’s voice.
The courage of these two men living their faith is an example for Christians from many centuries.
Don’t you think how we believe in Jesus should affect the daily choices that we make or as how we treat other people?
And how we respond or react to things or attitudes should show God’s love?
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, thank you for being like a good shepherd and that you will guide us and protect us always.
Help us to find your voice and to follow it even if it isn’t what others are doing.
Even if it’s hard just like these two saints.
Saint Neryus and Saint Aetulus, 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!