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, February 2nd, and the Gospel reading is Luke 2, 22-40, and the scripture to reflect on is Luke 2, 40.
And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
At my old parish before we moved, when our priest had baptized babies, he would walk them down the front and kind of do like a Lion King, raise them up to show off the newly baptized baby to each section of the church.
Our parish was pretty big, and so there were six sections that he had to walk and raise up the sweet little baby.
Today’s reading made me remember this.
When someone is baptized at all the parishes we’ve ever gone to, each person is usually presented afterwards, and you sing a song and clap for them because you’re excited that they are now a part of your church family. Today’s Saint of the Day is Saint Simeon.
He was born in the first century and his death is unknown.
He’s the patron saint of woodworkers.
Simeon waited for the Lord.
The Holy Spirit told Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the coming Savior with his own eyes.
In the temple, day after day, Simeon prayed for the Savior and waited to see him.
Then one day, a very old Simeon saw a woman and a man walking into the temple.
They were holding a baby, and suddenly Simeon knew that the baby was the promised Savior.
Simeon was full of joy and he started to sing.
He took the new baby in his arms and sang over him.
God did what he had promised.
He showed Simeon his son and the Savior of the world. In today’s reading, we hear that Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus had a community too.
Two of those people in that community were Simeon and Anna.
Just like Mary and Joseph were supported and encouraged to raise Jesus and to pay attention to God, we too can find those that remind and teach us to pay attention to God.
Saint Simeon told Mary that her son would change the world and that she would have to suffer too before a glorious ending.
Saint Simeon’s story shows us how we can be patient and devoted in our faith.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, help us to see a community that brings us closer to pay attention to you.
And help us to keep your promises.
I want to believe in you, just like Saint Simeon.
Saint Simeon, 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!