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 Thursday, February 5th, and the Gospel reading is Mark 6, 7-13, and the scripture to reflect on is Mark 6, 7.
And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.
Have you ever been on a trip?
It takes a lot of preparation to get ready to go.
You may need to get someone to bring in your newspaper and your mail while you’re gone.
If you have a dog or cat, someone has to take care of your pet.
And most importantly, you need to pack your suitcase.
You probably made a list of all the things you will need to pack.
Maybe socks, jeans, shirts, shorts, toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, a brush.
Have I forgotten anything?
When Jesus was on earth, he traveled around from village to village, teaching and healing people and casting out demons.
One day, he called his twelve disciples to him and said, I want you to go out two by two.
I’m giving you all of the authority you need to cast out evil spirits.
But then, Jesus gave them further instructions.
Take nothing for your journey.
How could the disciples possibly make this journey?
No pack list?
Phew! Today’s saint of the day is Saint Agatha.
She was born 235 and died 251.
She is the patron saint of breast cancer patients.
Born to a wealthy Christian family, Agatha committed herself to living as a virgin, dedicated her life to Christ from a young age.
Ancient legends tell us both of her family’s great generosity to the poor of the village and of Agatha’s great physical beauty.
When a pagan official came to know about her, he proposed marriage.
Since she was not interested in either renouncing her faith, a necessary condition of the marriage, or in disciplining with her promise of virginity to the Lord, she rejected his proposal in an attempt to change her mind.
He locked her in a local brothel.
The brothel’s mischiefs, however, wouldn’t allow Agatha to stay for very long because of her presence, loud prayers, and instants on purity were bad for business.
Still unwilling to submit to the official proposal, Agatha was then imprisoned and subjected to many tortures, including having her breasts cut off.
Throughout all she suffered, Agatha continued to pray aloud to Jesus, eventually committing her spirit to him in her final moment of death.
The disciples did exactly what Jesus told them to do, and he gave them the power to do it.
Jesus has also told you and me to go and make disciples.
I wonder if sometimes we delay following his command because we think we aren’t ready.
If we would just go like the twelve did, he would give us the ability to share the good news with others.
He will give us the courage and strength to go out to all the world.
Agatha was resolved to live according to the values she held most dear.
Nothing was able to convince her to act contrary to what she understood to be God’s will for her.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, give us the courage and strength to go out to all the world and tell of the good news of you.
And help us to have love for you, and to always choose you first.
St.
Agatha, 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!