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 Monday, December 29th, and the Gospel reading is Luke 2, 22-35, and the scripture to reflect on is Luke 2, 30.
For my eyes have seen your salvation.
Happy Christmas! Our Savior is born.
Did you know that the English Christmas carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, is a secret code for Catholic teachings used when Catholicism was illegal in England?
Since Catholicism was illegal in England from the 16th to 19th century, tradition holds that the song was a mini-catechism to teach the faith to Catholic children secretly.
I thought it would be fun to talk about what each day represents as we keep celebrating the Christmas season through Epiphany.
First, let’s catch up.
The first day of Christmas is a partridge in a pear tree.
A partridge represents Jesus and the pear tree represents the cross.
The second day is two turtle doves represents the two parts of the Bible, the Old and New Testament.
Three French hens represent the virtues faith, hope, and charity.
The fourth day of Christmas, four calling birds, represent the four evangelists and the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Today we are going to talk about yesterday’s feast day of the Holy Innocents.
After Jesus was born, an angel told Joseph in a dream that he must take Mary and Jesus to Egypt.
The evil King Herod had heard that the new king has been born in Bethlehem and he was determined to rid himself of the child who might one day take his throne.
The Holy Family fled to Egypt in time, but many of Bethlehem’s children were not so lucky.
Herod sent his soldiers to kill all the boys that were two years old or younger.
They were the first to shed their blood for the sake of Christ, and we call them the Holy Innocents, which we can imagine the sadness their mothers and fathers experienced.
But we can find some measure and comfort in knowing that they are again with the Holy Family this very day in heaven.
Today, the fifth day of Christmas, five golden rings, represents the first five books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
These are called the Pentateuch.
Kind of cool that as Catholics, Christmas Day is just the beginning of the season.
Even today, children are in danger.
Many unborn children and their mothers need our prayers.
Maybe you can even drop some diapers or gift cards off to a local ministry.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, thank you for the whole Christmas season.
Help me to keep celebrating in my heart till Epiphany.
And we pray for all those innocent children and those unborn today.
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!