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 16th, and the gospel reading is Mark 8, 11-13, and the scripture to reflect on is Mark 8, 12.
And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, Why does this generation seek a sign?
Truly I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.
When me and my mom were reading through the readings for today, we realized that the Psalms and the gospel tied into each other.
The Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign from heaven, as a test.
And the Psalms writes about how hard times can be like a sign or an alarm reminding to obey and follow God.
Life isn’t always easy and straight, and God doesn’t set off fireworks in the sky with directions of what to do next.
We can sometimes be unsure of what to do.
But Jesus teaches us that constantly seeking signs can distract us from what truly matters.
We can’t be more focused on what Jesus can do for us, but we should also wonder what we can do for him.
It’s a good balance.
Today’s saint of the day is Saint Claude.
He was born 1641 and died 1682.
He’s the patron saint of devotion to the sacred heart.
Claude was born to a renewable family in southern France.
As a teenager, Claude felt a call to priesthood, but was reluctant to follow it.
After much prayer, he ultimately determined to follow God’s will.
Claude entered the Jesuit.
He studied philosophy and later became a professor.
After Claude was ordained, he was known for his fresh and inspired sermons.
Claude was then sent to London to be a preacher to the Duchess York.
The situation in England was very tense because of the mounting anti-Catholic hysteria, but Claude’s fervent preaching brought many Protestants back to the church in 1678.
Claude was accused for being involved in a plot to kill King Charles II, was thrown into jail.
Claude was able to return to France in 1681, but his health had seriously deteriorated.
Less than a year, he passed away, and when he died, it is believed his soul went directly to heaven.
Instead of asking for signs, we should ask for wisdom.
Wisdom helps us to live justly for God and keep us rooted in faith.
Just like David in today’s Psalms, he said his struggles helped him pay attention to God’s voice.
God always wants what’s best and good for us.
We can serve him with our love and hearts, and he will help us through it all.
See, like I said, a good balance.
Claude, a man of love with his heart of his Savior, showed devotion to the sacred heart of Jesus with enthusiasm.
How are ways that we can love the heart of Jesus?
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, help us to live justly and well-balanced.
And help me to love and stay devoted to your sacred heart.
Saint Claude, 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!