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 Tuesday, September 16th, and the gospel reading is Luke 7, 11-17, and the scripture to reflect on is Luke 7, 13.
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, Do not weep.
Jesus' disciples followed him, but great crowds did too.
The distance to go about 30 miles would take over 10 hours to walk.
Can you imagine a crowd walking together for 10 hours, shoving and pushing about with other people?
This crowd meets the crowd of Jesus at the city gate.
Jesus has compassion.
Jesus noticed the widow and comforted her, saying, Do not weep.
Just with his word, Jesus brought the man to life.
Jesus did so without being asked because he had compassion.
Sometimes before we even call on him, he answers our heart.
Today’s saint of the day is Saint Cyprian.
He was born in the year 200 and died in the year 258.
He is the patron saint of North America.
Saint Cyprian of Carthage is another important father of the African church.
Like Saint Augustine, he was close friends with Pope Cornelius and supported him both against the anti-pope.
Saint Cyprian was born to wealthy pagans.
He converted at the age of 58 and was ordained a priest a year later and was made bishop two years after that.
His writings are of great importance, especially the unity of the Catholic Church in which he argues the unity is grounded in the authority with the bishop and among the bishops.
Saint Cyprian helped guide his community through two great persecutions, the second which he got him martyred.
He chose to be beheaded rather deny Jesus through words and example.
Saint Cyprian encouraged all Christians to live out their faith even until death.
Sometimes people say that big kids don’t cry, but that’s not true.
It’s okay to cry, especially when something bad happens.
One thing I try to remember is that when I’m sad is that God is always helping me and letting me know that it will be okay.
I just need to listen to his voice with my heart.
When Jesus tells the woman not to weep, it is because he wants her to trust him to raise her son to life.
And that’s exactly what Jesus does.
Jesus shows us that we can help us heal even from the worst pain.
Saint Cyprian had a deep love for the unity of the church and did all he could to protect it.
We can do the same by praying for our church, Pope Leo, our bishops, and our priest.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, help me to be still and so I can hear your speaking in my heart and let me know that you are with me.
And we pray for Pope Leo, our parish priest, and local bishops.
Help us to live in unity.
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!