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 Monday, October 27th, and the Gospel reading is Luke 13, 10-17.
And the scripture to reflect on is Luke 13, 13.
And he laid hands upon her, and immediately she was made straight, and she praised God.
What are some rules that are in your favorite sport?
Like, in soccer, can you use your hands?
No, you can’t.
Can you take your helmet off when you’re on the field during a football game?
No.
Well, how about baseball?
Can a base runner hold the bat while running around the bases?
No.
With any sport, can you just go on the field whenever you feel like it?
No.
So all the rules are important, right?
But when somebody gets hurt, then those rules are quickly broken, aren’t they?
When somebody is hurt, helmets come off, people aren’t playing out on the field, and the ball is held and moved differently than it normally is.
The regular rules are ignored until the hurt person is helped.
The same thing kind of happens in today’s Bible reading.
There are certain rules that the Israelites have to follow, and they have to take the day off of the Sabbath.
One of those rules is that they weren’t supposed to work at all on the Sabbath.
But when Jesus saw someone that was hurt on the Sabbath, he went up and healed them.
Jesus broke the rules, and the people weren’t very happy about it.
But when Jesus saw the sick lady, he had to help her.
Today’s Saint of the Day is Blessed Franz Jägennstatter.
He was born May 20, 1907, and died August 9, 1943.
He is a patron saint of family and youthful conversion.
Blessed Franz was born in Upper Austria.
Franz was a wild youth who enjoyed riding his motorcycle more than going to church.
He even fathered a child out of wedlock, but then he returned to practicing his Catholic faith, married, and settled down.
He and his wife, Franziska, had three daughters and lived happily on the family farm.
His life might have gone on to old age, but storm clouds were gathering.
In 1938, Hitler and his Nazis moved to Austria.
Franz was the only person in his town to vote against the takeover.
Franz reported for mandatory military training in 1940, but was released to attend to his farm.
Later, he was called and excused again, becoming more alarmed at what the Nazis were doing.
Franz decided that if called again, he would not serve.
Franz knew that his refusal would mean for his family, but Franziska supported his decision to follow his conscience despite her grief.
When he was conspirated in early 1943, Franz offered to serve as a medic but refused to fight.
For that, he was imprisoned for several months and then beheaded.
Jesus' words and actions are an important reminder that we are more important to God than rules are.
And when we or someone we know is hurt, God wants us to help them, even if we break the rules.
Franz received little support for his decision of conscience.
Even his pastor and bishop told him he should fight.
At times, we too have to stand up for our faith, even if others think that we are crazy.
The Holy Spirit will give us the grace and strength that we need.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, thank you for Jesus who shows us how you love us more than anything else.
Help us to love each other in the exact same way.
And help us that we have the strength to be faithful witnesses to the gospel.
Blessed Franz, 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!