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 9th, and the Gospel reading is Mark 6, 43-46, and the scripture to reflect on is Mark 6, 46.
And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
My day started out terrible.
First, I missed my alarm and woke up late.
I was in such a rush to get up that I hit my leg on the furniture and it started to really hurt.
Then I knocked over a lamp and it broke and shattered into a million pieces.
I was trying to clean it up and cut myself in the process.
And then I was trying to take out this lamp trash, and when I opened the door, the dog ran out, so I had to go running after her.
And as I was coming back up the stairs, I tripped and hit my head.
Can you believe that?
I wish I could just go back to bed and start all over.
You might have guessed that that story was completely fake.
I’m not hurt.
Maybe you felt bad for me when I said all that.
Did you care that I had a tough day?
Did it make you sad to think I had been hurt?
If you could fix it, would you want to?
If so, you are showing something called compassion.
Compassion means you feel sorry for someone.
It means you care and have concern for them.
Usually when you have compassion, you also want to try and fix the problem.
Today’s Saint of the Day is Saint Josephine Bikita.
She was born 1869 and died 1947.
She’s the patron saint of Sundan and Italy.
Josephine held the crucifix and saw the scars on Christ’s body.
On the silver cross, she saw a man who had suffered like she had suffered.
She was born in Sundan and she became a slave when she was only a child.
She endured horrible torture and had many scars.
She was sold to owners who were from Italy.
These owners gave her to another family who left her a gift, the small silver cross.
Then Josephine started going to church.
When her owner wanted to take her back to Sundan, she said she would not go.
A court declared that Josephine was free.
She became a nun serving others and praying always.
Josephine was free in two days.
She was free from slavery and free in Christ.
Saint Josephine Bikita helped others by cooking and sewing for them.
Jesus had the greatest compassion.
Jesus was always concerned and cared for those around him.
He performed amazing miracles that helped other people.
He made sick people better, provided food for those who were hungry, healed people who couldn’t see or walk, and even brought dead people back to life.
The Bible tells us that Jesus looked at crowds and had compassion.
He did all this because he loved them.
He wanted to make their lives better.
Mother Josephine, she was called or witnessed to the healing love of God.
For the next 50 years, serving others with simplicity and compassion, Saint Josephine Bikita endured unforgivable suffering.
Which remaining hopeful, she is a model of strength, courage, forgiveness, and compassionate service.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, thank you for showing us compassion.
We love you.
And help us to find you even in the middle of the difficult experiences and trust you to help me get through it.
Saint Josephine Bikita, 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!