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, March 20th, and the Gospel reading is John 7, 1 through 2, and verse 10 and 23 through 30.
And the scripture to reflect on is John 7, 28. So Jesus proclaimed as he taught in the temple, You know me and you know where I come from, but I have not come of my own accord, but he who sent me is true, and him you do not know. When Jesus does join others in Jerusalem, in today’s Gospel reading, he arrives somewhere in the middle of the festival, and some are complaining about him, and said he was a good man, and others called him a deceiver.
Imagine what it was like for the people of Jesus' time.
They don’t know what to make of Jesus.
Some say he’s a prophet, others say he’s a messiah.
If Jesus was meant to bring peace, how come people always wanted to disagree about him?
Jesus' teachings, loving our enemies, feeding the poor, welcoming those who annoy us, are not easy for people even today to follow.
But Jesus gives us grace. Today’s Saint of the Day, St.
Maria Josepha Sancho de Guerra.
She was born 1842 and died 1912.
She is the patron saint of the congregations of the servants of Jesus.
Throughout her childhood, Maria Josepha had a profound devotion to the Eucharist and the Blessed Mother.
When she was 18, she decided to join the contemplative community of nuns.
Heartbroken when she came down with typhus, she could not enter the monastery.
She often repeated, I was born with a religious vocation.
Later, she discerned that the Lord was calling her not to the contemplative life, but to an active religious life, and she entered another community of Sisters of Madrid.
When it came to her first profession of vows, however, she began to have strong doubts that this was God’s will.
Maria Josepha consulted with several spiritual directors, including St.
Anthony, Mary Collette, and a difficult decision. What do you actually know about Jesus?
How can you know more about him?
One way would be if we pay attention to the Gospels and Scriptures when we read God’s Word.
Or perhaps we can listen more closely to the homilies at the services we attend.
Or we can talk about them on the car ride home of things we’ve learned.
I know an even better way of knowing that goes beyond the Bible or homily.
Knowing that comes from spending time in prayer.
When you know Jesus, he gives you peace.
So close your eyes, talk to him, and get to know him.
Maria Josepha and four other women, with their bishop’s permission, established a new community called the Congregation of the Servants of Jesus.
In 1898, Maria Josepha fell ill, and in 1912, news quickly traveled through the city of her death.
Maria Josepha led a life of intense determination to do whatever God asked of her, no matter how hard.
She was on fire with a special love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and he was able to use her to bring his tenderness and care to many lonely and suffering people. Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, please fill me with your grace and give me everlasting peace.
And tell me to become more aware of the needs of others.
Saint Maria Josepha Sancho de Gara, 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!