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, March 12th, and the Gospel reading is Luke 11, 14-23, and the scripture to reflect on is Jeremiah 7, 23.
Listen to my voice, then I will be your God, and you shall be my people.Today’s Gospel reading was about Jesus casting out a demon, but I feel like talking about the Old Testament reading in Jeremiah instead.
We are halfway through Lent, and sometimes we are tempted to forget the promises we made, like me.
The other day, I was sneaking a piece of candy, sneaking in front of God, because I gave up sugar for Lent.
That doesn’t mean my heart doesn’t forget the purpose of the 40 days of Lent, it’s just I need to take more time to prepare my heart for Holy Week.
God isn’t going to punish me, He is ever forgiving, but I need to remember to honor Him.
He still loves me no matter what.
Sometimes we fall into the worst of sin, with complaining or gossip, so during the second half of Lent, I’m going to continue to work hard and not give in.Today’s Saint of the Day is Saint John Birchmans.
He was born 1599 and died 1621.
He is the patron saint of altar servers and students.
John Birchmans was one of a trio of the young Jesuit saints who are models for young people.
John was born in Flanders and was raised in a devout Catholic family.
As a boy, he liked to get up early and serve mass before going to school.
In 1616, he entered the Jesuits and did well in his studies.
His main goal was to strive for holiness.
He often said, if I don’t become a saint when I am young, I shall never become one.
John sought holiness in doing well the ordinary things of life.
In particular, he valued observing the Jesuit rule and fidelity in little things.
In the summer of 1621, after finishing philosophy study in Rome, John caught a form of malaria, known as the Roman fever, and died at the age of 22.
He was canonized in 1888.I’m going to be better at practicing my Lenten promise.
Instead of giving in to what my stomach or taste buds want, I’m going to give a small sacrifice to God and ask him to help me.
I’m going to find ways to draw closer to him so I can find true happiness.
An easy way to do this is to spend time with him and learn from him and tell him what’s on my mind.
Do these things sound familiar?
Those are three things we talked about many weeks ago, praying, fasting, and almsgiving.
John’s spirituality of seeking holiness in little things was similar to that of St.
Therese of Lusher.
Like her, he practiced a way of spiritual simplicity that led her closer to God every day.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, help me to stay focused on what’s important and to draw closer to you for the rest of Lent.
And help us to be faithful in the ordinary events of our lives.
St.
John Birchmas, 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!