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, July 2nd, and the Gospel reading is Matthew 8, 28-34, and the scripture to reflect on is Matthew 8, 32.
And he said to them, Go! So they came out and went into the swine, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the waters.
I know a lot of fun facts about pigs because of my brother.
One of his favorite animals is a pig, so I’m going to share some with you.
Pigs like to roll in mud to cool off.
Male pigs are called boars, and female pigs are called sows.
Pigs are found and raised all over the world.
Wild pigs eat leaves, roots, fruit, and even small rodents or reptiles.
Fully grown pigs weigh between 300 and 700 pounds.
Pigs have poor eyesight but a great sense of smell.
Pigs were considered unclean animals to the Jews, but Jesus visited a land where people took care of pigs like they would take care for sheep.
Today’s Saint of the Day, Saint Oliver Plunkett, he was born November 1st, 1625, and died July 1st, 1681.
He’s the patron saint of peace and reconciliation.
Oliver was born in Ireland in 1625.
He studied in Rome and was ordained to priest in 1654.
He stayed in Rome teaching and ministering to the sick.
In 1669, he became a bishop and returned to Ireland.
In 1673, there was so much persecution against Catholics that Saint Oliver had to go underground.
In late 1679, he was jailed on fake charges.
He refused to plead guilty, even though it might have saved his life, saying, I’d rather die 10,000 deaths than wrongfully take away one.
Saint Oliver was the last Catholic martyr to die in England.
Sin makes us like that unclean man that had an unclean spirit.
The people tried to control him and tell him how to act, but that didn’t change his heart.
Only Jesus could change his heart.
He freed us from sin by dying on the cross.
Saint Oliver took full advantage of any time when he could tell others about Jesus with freedom.
He wrote, this is a good time for doing good.
He trusted everything to God and can be an example to us when we feel disappointed in life.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, help us to trust in you and forgive us of our sins.
Change us to be more like Jesus.
And help us to never lose heart and to have courage to serve God and help others.
Saint Oliver Plunkett, 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!