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 Wednesday, March 4th and the gospel reading is Matthew 20, 17 through 28. And the scripture to reflect on is Matthew 20, 28. Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Have you ever seen the movie Aladdin?
After reading today’s gospel, I thought about the part towards the end when Jafar gets really greedy and wants to first become a powerful sultan.
But then that’s not quite enough.
He has to become the most powerful genie in the world.
But he wasn’t doing that to grant wishes or to serve other people.
He was doing that because he was selfish and hungry for power and to be in charge.
Jesus said he came to serve people and to help people.
Even though Jesus is the king of the whole world, he didn’t want people to serve him or give him power.
Instead, he wanted to serve other people.
And that’s what Jesus wants us to do too.
Today’s saint of the day is Saint Casimir.
He was born 1458 and died 1484.
He is the patron saint of Poland.
Casimir and his father, the king of Poland, disagreed about power.
His father said power was about winning battles.
Casimir said power was about winning souls for Christ.
His father relied on swords and Casimir relied on prayer.
At his father’s request, Casimir led an army into battle, but after he returned, he promised to never join the war again.
When his father insisted that Casimir go into battle, Casimir said he would go into prayer.
His father couldn’t change his mind.
During his short life, Casimir rejected the comforts of his father’s kingdom so he could focus on God’s heavenly kingdom.
Saint Casimir slept on the ground even though he could have a beautiful and comfortable bed.
If Jesus can serve other people even though he was so great, we can serve and help other people too.
We shouldn’t worry about making other people think that we’re great or giving us power.
We should want to help people.
If you help people, God will think you’re great.
God doesn’t care about how much power you have.
He cares about if you’re helping other people instead of trying to be the boss or first.
Find ways to help friends, family, and classmates today.
More than just a prince, Casimir was a disciple for the Lord Jesus.
He was especially known for his devotion to the passion of the Lord and the great love for the Blessed Mother.
Although the king tried to get him to marry, he was unsuccessful.
He died at the age of 26 after having contracted tuberculosis and miracles were reported at his tomb.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, show us ways of how we can serve other people, just like Jesus did.
And I want to know your power, just like Saint Casimir did.
Saint Casimir, 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!