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 Tuesday, June 2nd, and the Gospel reading is Mark 12, 13-17, and the scripture to reflect on is Mark 12, 17.
Jesus said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.
And they were amazed at him.
Have you ever been getting ready to do something that you want to do, and then a parent or teacher asks you to do something totally different?
That thing you wanted to do might have been easiest or quickest, and what a person asks you to do might not make any sense.
You might think, why do I have to listen?
Why does that matter?
Maybe you even think my way would have been better, but something we can realize is that there are people in our lives and parents or teachers that make rules that we might not always like.
But they are not just there to tell us what to do.
They are there to help us.
They might be teaching us something bigger that we don’t even understand or see the exact moment.
They might be teaching us how to listen better or care for something more and have more respect, even though sometimes it might be hard to do in a different way.
And I might think I know best.
It’s okay to keep learning and to respond to those who teach us in love.
Today’s Saint of the Day, Saint Joan of Arc.
We totally missed her feast day on Saturday, May 30th.
She is a patron saint of military members.
This is my sister’s patron saint.
Joan of Arc was born to attendant farmers in northwestern France during the turbulent Hundred Years' War between England and France.
From age 12, Joan began to receive visions and hear voices of saints, particularly Saints Michael the Archangel, Margaret of Antioch, and Catherine of Alexandria.
Through the gifts of prophecy and vision, Joan eventually managed to persuade the desperate Charles VII to accept her help and went to win a battle at Orleans.
Like Jesus was saying to those he was teaching about paying Caesar what’s due, he is saying that it’s important to listen to those who are in charge.
However, to stay close to him so that we choose to do the right things and live our lives through love.
During her military travels, Joan encouraged the soldiers around her to live holy lives.
She insisted that the men receive the sacraments and conduct themselves honorably.
Joan was condemned by pro-English clergy to burn at the stake.
As the flames surrounded her, this brave 19-year-old girl asked for a crucifix and died with a gaze fixed on it, calling out the name of Jesus.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Dear God, help me to respond with love for those who are teaching me.
And help us to be courageous, just like St.
Joan of Arc.
St.
Joan of Arc, 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!