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 19th, and the gospel reading is Luke 9, 23-24, and the scripture to reflect on is Luke 9, 23.
And he said to all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Do you know what the word repent means?
It’s when we turn from what is sinful and change ourselves towards what is good.
When you repent, you feel true sorrow for your sins and acknowledge what you have done as sin and you try to repair what you have damaged your relationship with God.
You receive God’s grace when you accept God’s forgiveness and try to sin no more and love God better.
Lent is a good time to take away things from our minds and hearts that distract us from focusing on God.
When we take time to follow Jesus, you begin to realize those things are far less important than Him.
Take time throughout the day today to make a habit of thinking about Jesus as many times during the day as you can, when you wake up, when you eat, you’re at school, or when you’re going to bed.
I don’t know if you have the same problem I did, but when Lent rolls around, I sometimes have a hard time deciding on what things to add or give up during Lent.
Or even worse, sometimes the thing I’ve decided to do for the Lenten season is sometimes easy to slip back into.
When I’m done with school, if I have a good day or had I been too sassy to my mom, I get to play a few minutes of video games and I really love my snacks.
But this Lent, I chose to give up those two things.
It sure has been hard today because I’m so used to it.
My mom said, the harder the better, because we talked through today and the more that you give, the more that you’re giving up something you really, really love to Jesus.
When you think about it, it’s just a way that means that you’re sacrificing something for Jesus.
And remember, Jesus sacrificed himself for us so we could sacrifice small or big things to God, because nothing is a bigger sacrifice than that.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, come into our hearts and homes for Lent.
Help me to continue to commit to prayer, fastings, and almsgiving so I can grow closer to you.
And help me to stay open to your grace and mercy to live in your love and to keep our Lenten promises.
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!