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 Friday, February 13th, and the Gospel reading is Mark 7, 31-37.
And the scripture to reflect on is Mark 7, 37.
And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, He has done all things well.
He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.
Can I be honest with you?
There are things I can do really well, like tap dancing, art, and caring for people.
But there are things that I can’t do well, like harder math like trigonometry.
And sometimes I struggle with creative writing.
And my mom likes to tease me that I’m an okay-ish speller.
I know I don’t do all things well, and really, that’s okay.
But guess what?
I know someone who does.
And you know him too.
Jesus does all things well.
People were amazed by all that Jesus did.
They knew and trusted that he could do anything.
Jesus didn’t want them spreading to the whole world about what had happened.
But they told others anyway.
They said of Jesus, He has done all things well.
They realized there was nothing he could not do.
Today’s Saint of the Day, Saint Valentine.
His birth is unknown, but he died in the year 270.
He is a patron saint of happy marriages.
Very little is known for certain about the real Saint Valentine, and how his feast day came to be associated with the celebration of romantic love.
We do know that a 3rd century bishop named Valentine was martyred near Rome during the persecution of Christians by Emperor Claudius II, and that local devotion to this saint was strong enough for a church to be erected in his name less than 100 years after his death.
One legend is that Saint Bishop Valentine celebrated Christian marriages for those forced into Roman military service and forbidden to martyry.
This would make him a fitting patron of counting and marriage couples.
The tradition of exchanging love notes and gifts on Saint Valentine’s Day likely has its roots in the nation of the popular and medieval England and France that in mid-February birds pair off with their mates.
Jesus did amazing miracles while he was on earth, and he continues to make miracles happen.
Jesus can do anything.
He promises to be with us, and he is with us always.
So just like the man who was healed in today’s gospel reading, we can ask God to help us truly listen, and we can ask him to help us with words from our mouths so that we can tell other people about his love.
While in prison, Valentine met the jailer’s daughter who was blind.
He was kind to her, prayed for her, and according to legend, her sight was restored.
Before he was put to death on February 14, 270 AD, he wrote her a final note of friendship and signed it, From Your Valentine.
Saint Valentine is remembered as a person with kindness.
People celebrate this day by sending notes to friends and family, just like the first Valentine message.
Saint Valentine’s loved Jesus more than they loved their own lives.
Their love wasn’t about candy or love notes.
It was about the true Savior of the Lord.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, open our ears and give us the courage to share your love with others.
And help me to show my love to those around me.
Saint Valentine, 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 next week scattering more flowers.
See ya!