Hello everyone.
Hey yo! 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 Wednesday, September 2nd, and the Gospel reading is Luke 4:38 through 42, and the scripture to reflect on is Luke 4:32.
And when it was day, he departed and went into a lonely place.
Do you want to hear something cool I learned in school?
Did you know that there are nine different times in the Bible that Jesus took time away and quieted himself to pray?
He found time to pray in gardens, in the wilderness, in the mountainside by himself, and often on the sea.
He would go in the early morning or in the evenings to have time alone with God, his Father.
It was a way he was able to focus completely on him and the goodness that God is.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus left at daybreak to go and pray.
After healing Peter’s mother, he took some time out of his busy schedule because he knew it was important to spend time with God.
We can follow his example.
It might seem hard, but with a good routine, you can find it to be easy.
Pick a time.
Choose a regular part of your day with fewest interruptions.
I like to start my day with the Bible and praying.
Sometimes I notice when I don’t do it, I’m a little grumpier than I am spending time praying first.
You can find a spot that is quieter than most, maybe a quiet room or a corner or an outdoor space.
You can take away distractions so you can focus on peace.
And if you don’t know what to do or pray, just start with something easy like the Lord’s Prayer.
Today’s Saint of the Day is Blessed Laura Vicuña.
She was born 1891 and died 1904.
She is the patron saint of abused victims.
Laura loved her school.
She attended school with her little sister Julia in the beautiful Andes Mountains.
Nuns taught the little girls about the love of Jesus and the importance of prayer.
Laura spent many hours in a little chapel praying for her mother.
Her mother, Mercedes, led a difficult life.
After Laura’s father died, Mercedes worked so hard to take care of the girls on her own, and she used her skills as a seamstress to make money.
Unfortunately, her seamstress shop was destroyed one night.
Mercedes turned to the nuns for help, and Laura and Julia were given a place at the school.
Even so, Laura knew that her mother was struggling in her faith, so Laura asked Jesus to restore her mother’s faith.
Help my mama know you, Laura prayed.
One day, Mercedes would return to the faith in Jesus.
When Mercedes asked the nuns for help, Blessed Laura Vicuña was nine and Julia was six.
Let’s pray.
In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Let’s pray the Lord’s Prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
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.