345. Thursday, June 26, 2025

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 Thursday, June 26th, and the Gospel reading is Matthew 7, 21-29.

And the scripture to reflect on is Matthew 7, 24. Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock. You have probably heard of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, right?

The tower was never designed to lean, so what’s the problem?

Was it down to a bad design or poor building?

Nope! The problem was that the tower had no firm foundation.

The sandy soil under Pisa is not stable enough to support it.

Jesus is saying that if we listen to his words and follow him, we will be like the wise builder.

If we don’t listen and follow, we’re like the foolish builder, and our lives could be easily a mess! Today’s Saint of the Day is Jose Maria Azcarve.

He was born in 1902 and died 1973.

He is a patron saint of those who suffered from diabetes and is the founder of Opus Dei.

He was born in Barbastro, Spain in January 9, 1902, into a very religious family.

When he was young, he one day saw barefoot prints left in the snow by a monk.

The small sign was the beginning of his desire to priesthood.

His prayer life was majority centered in the Eucharist during his priestly studies and also had a deep devotion to Mary. If you’re going to be a follower of Jesus, you will have to build on Jesus, who is solid ground.

Building your life on Jesus' teachings isn’t always easy.

You have to stop doing some of those things your friends are doing that just aren’t right.

You’ll need to forgive others who hurt you and show love to those who are outcasts, and even pray when you don’t feel like it. Saint Jose Maria Azcarve helped others realize that daily life can be a path to holiness.

If you find God in everyday work and activities, he likes to teach that your work can be a prayer and a conversion with God.

Let’s pray.

In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Dear God, give us the strength to do anything you ask of us and keep our minds and hearts of solid ground.

Help us to have special conversations with you as a friend and see you with everything around us.

Saint Jose Maria Azcarve, 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!

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