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 Friday, July 18th, and the Gospel reading is Matthew 12, 1 through 8.
And the scripture to reflect on is Matthew 12, 8.
For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.
Think about some rules you have in your house.
Have you ever broke a rule?
Think about this question.
Are you ever allowed to break any rules?
Don’t get tricked by this question.
What if one of the rules in your house is that you’re not allowed to run in the house, but when a fire starts in the house, should you run away from the fire even if it means that you need to run in the house?
Definitely.
Your parents want you to run in the house usually because you might bump into something and it will break or might fall and hurt yourself.
But if there’s a fire, then they would want you to break the rule so you could get out of the house safe.
It’s a choice between doing good things or not running because it’s the rules and the best thing of running in that situation.
What if it was your bedtime and you’re supposed to be in bed, but then you heard your mom or dad fall down?
Are you allowed to get up and see if they’re okay even if you’re supposed to be in bed?
I would think so.
Your parents usually want you to stay in bed when it’s bedtime, but if they fall down and get hurt, they would want you to come and help them.
It’s a choice between doing the good thing of staying in bed or the best thing of going to check on your parents.
So there are times when you’re allowed to break the rule, even if you’re trying to do something more important than following the rules, like getting away from a fire or making sure your parents are okay.
It’s the same way with God’s rules.
Today’s Saint of the Day is Saint Camillus de Ellis.
He was born in Italy.
His mother was almost 50 when he was born.
His father was a soldier and was often away from home.
His mother passed away when he was only 12 years old.
After her death, other family members took him in, but he felt neglected.
When he was 13, he started traveling with his father to military camps at 16.
Camillus joined the army.
He became addicted to gambling.
At the age of 17, his leg was infected and it remained that way for the rest of his life.
In the winter of 1574, when Camillus was 24, he gambled everything he owned away, even the shirt he was wearing.
He took a job working at a friary of Manfredona and heard a sermon while at work.
He made him convert and change his life.
He tried to become a novice of the Capuchin Order, but was dismissed because of his sore leg.
Saint Camillus then moved back to Rome.
He returned to the hospital he stayed at, but this time he worked there as a caregiver.
He wanted to pay his stay and help others.
He eventually became one in charge.
He started making improvements in the hospital.
He noticed that the sick people were not getting enough attention from the staff.
Camillus invented a group of religious men to help care for the patients.
He felt called to start a special community.
His spiritual guide, a priest named Philip Neary, loved his idea.
A kind person gave him money to study to become a priest.
Camillus was ordained as a priest when he was 34 years old in 1584.
Saint Camillus suffered from a disease of his leg through his life when he was in bed, ridden from his illness.
He would leave the hospital bed to see if other patients in the hospital needed help.
People say that Camillus had special gifts of healing and prophecy.
What matters more is being helpful, being kind, and most of all, remembering God.
So spend time with God, be helpful to others, and let him refill your heart.
We can help others who are sick and have enough compassion to care for them.
Maybe you can take time to pray for those in the hospital or call and check on someone you know who’s better at it.
Make them a card or take them some cookies.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, help us to make time to spend time with you in prayer and word so you can fill our hearts so we can be kind to others with the love you fill us with.
And help us to have strength to care for people who are sick and need our help.
Saint Camillus de Lewis, 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 next week scattering more flowers.
See ya!