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 Friday, November 5th, and the Gospel reading is Luke 14, 25-33, and the scripture to reflect on is Luke 14, 27. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Can you do this?
Can you do this?
If you can’t do these, why do you think you can’t?
How do you think you could learn?
First, someone would have to show you how to do it, and then you would have to practice and practice, and you would probably mess up, but then you would get it! And then you would be really good at it, and you would have to spend a lot of time learning and practicing the one thing, right?
Jesus was telling the crowd that if they want to be like him, they have to pick up the cross and follow him. Today is Saint of the Day, Saint Longinus.
He was born in the first century.
His death is unknown.
He is the patron saint of blind people with poor eyesight and soldiers.
Saint Longinus is not named in scripture, but legend gives this name to the Roman centurion who was present at the crucifixion and death of Jesus.
All four gospels indicate that Roman soldiers were present at the foot of the cross.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus gave a loud cry before he died, and when the centurion stood facing him, saw that in the way he breathed his last, he said, Truly, this was God’s Son.
In the Gospel of Matthew, the centurion and the men with him utter these same words.
In the Gospel of Luke, the centurion declares, Certainly, this man was innocent.
Tradition also indicates that Longinus is the soldier in the Gospel of John who pierced Jesus' side with his spear, and at once blood and water came out.
The Gospel writer does not record the soldier’s reaction, but this is traditionally thought to be the moment of Longinus' conversation.
According to legend, Longinus was going blind, but when he pierced Jesus' side, the blood that fell on his eyes healed him.
How amazing was that? Jesus was telling the crowd that if they really went to learn to be more like him, they’re going to have to put a lot more time into learning and practicing what Jesus was teaching them. Longinus was moved to belief at the moment when blood and water gushed forth from the heart of Jesus.
We too can be moved to convert our hearts each time we meet Jesus in the Eucharist.
When we read the accounts of the Passion of Jesus in the Gospels or pray the Stations of the Cross, we can imagine ourselves present in that scene.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, thank you for teaching us how to live in a better way.
And help us to open our hearts to know and love you more completely each day.
St.
Longinus, 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!