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, January 2nd, and the Gospel reading is John 1, 19-28, and the scripture to reflect on is John 1, 27.
Even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.
On the ninth day of Christmas, nine ladies dancing represents the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit that Paul writes about in Galatians.
They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
You can read about them in the Bible in Galatians 5, 22-23.
Today’s Saint of the Day is Saint Basil the Great.
He was born around 330 and died 379.
He is a patron saint of Cappadocia, which is modern-day Turkey.
Basil of Cappadocia, also known as Saint Basil the Great, was an important Christian leader.
He served as a bishop.
At what is now Turkey, Basil was a very influential thinker and writer about Christian beliefs.
He strongly supported the Nicene Creed, which explains that Jesus is fully God.
He also spoke out against ideas that he believed were wrong, like those who taught that Jesus was not fully divine.
Saint Basil was good at both understanding deep religious ideas and working with powerful people.
This made him a strong defender of the Nicene Creed.
Saint Basil was famous for helping people in need.
He created rules for monks to live together in communities.
These rules focused on praying together, living simply, and doing manual labor.
Remember a couple days ago when we talked about the seven sacraments?
Well, the fruit of the Spirit are the things which the Holy Spirit produces in us through the sacraments.
You might think it’s easy to live out a virtuous life, but only with God’s help and strength we can do that on a daily basis.
The Church recognizes Saint Basil as a Doctor of the Church.
The title given to saints whose writings are very important.
All Saint Basil wanted was God false teachers, who nothing to change his mind.
He left his walker and other things behind to dedicate his life to Jesus.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, please continue to give the fruits of the Spirit daily, and for me to live them out as best as I can.
And help me to be like Saint Basil the Great, who was defending the truth about you.
Saint Basil the Great, 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!