In this week's episode, we continue our conversation about leading with our God-given authority, particularly in our spiritual or biological motherhood. We talk about how God has blessed us with the Sacraments, Scripture, and prayer to fight spiritual battles. We reflect on the importance of rooting our identity in Christ, how Our Lady modeled feminine leadership, and practical ways to do spiritual warfare. We also discuss generational bondage, repairing trust, and the power of an apology given and received. 

Heather’s One Thing - Her Battle Cry playlist and her friendship with Michelle and Sister Miriam and the way they have helped her through dark seasons in life

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Having Heather visit and The Litany of the Waiting Woman

Michelle’s One Thing - Bee Still a Catholic Jewelry Company

Other Resources Mentioned: 

• Priscilla Shirer’s talk on the Armor of God and the schemes of the devil
• Sr. Miriam and Fr. John Burn’s talks on forgiveness (Healing Through Forgiveness and Seeking Healing Through Forgiveness)
• Sr. Miriam’s  Forgiveness Meditation
• Renouncing Lies and Announcing Truth – 7 Deadly Wounds
• Scripture Verses on Identity

Journal Questions:

• What areas does the enemy often attack me in this area? What are my frequent sins?
• What are the deeper longs behind my frequent sins?
• Am I tempted to under-spiritualize or over-spiritualize the sufferings, temptations, and attacks in my life?
• When did I last go to confession? When am I planning to go next?
• What battles have I inherited from my family? How can I take responsibility for those battles?

Discussion Questions:

• How can you apply the invitation to worship rather than worry in your current season?
• What are the prayers and tools God has given you out of love to help you on this journey?
• Who has been entrusted to you? How can you pray for them and do battle?
• Where in my life can I invite Christ’s Precious Blood into my life and family?
• What are some of Jesus’ promises in response to the attacks you face?

Quote to Ponder:

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Scripture for Lectio: 

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them” (Deuteronomy 4:9)

Sponsor - Leanne Bowen:

Today’s sponsor is Leanne Bowen Fine Art. Leanne is a Catholic Artist and a stay at home mom. She has released a beautiful collection of candles, prints, and gifts just in time for Mother's Day, Confirmations and all the upcoming Sacraments! She has an incredible Holy Spirit candle and a baptism candle that smells just like Chrism. These are beautiful gifts intentionally curated for those receiving their Sacraments. Her most popular print, Sacrifice of Love, depicts a married couple embracing the cross on their wedding day. It is bound to be the most intentional gift your friends or family will receive for their wedding. 

Leanne also just released a batch of bronze Prayer Card Holders that are absolutely stunning. They come in a three pack of each of the Hearts of the Holy Family. They are sturdy and beautiful- the perfect weight to hold small prints. She is offering 15% off site wide to all our listeners with the code ABIDE15 at www.LeanneBowen.com.

In this week's episode, we reflect on leading with our God-given authority rather than worldly influence. We discuss the importance of remembering our identity in Christ and how true authority is a display of intimacy that has been rooted in a real tangible love. We share the ways we may have been wounded by authority figures in our past, why these wounds can distort our perception of authority, and how to heal from these wounds so that we can lead others into the light of Christ.

Heather’s One Thing - Chicken Khao Soi (Thai Coconut Curry Noodle Soup) from My Kitchen Little

Sister Miriam’s On Thing - The book Litanies of the Heart by Dr Gerry Crete

Michelle’s One Thing - Beatify: Lullabies with the Saints (an album of Catholic lullabies) from Beatify with Josh Blakesley and Kelly Lombardi

Other Resources Mentioned: 

The Restore the Glory Podcast series on Parts Work (Parts Work (Part 1) w/ Gerry Crete; Parts Work (Part 2) w/ Brya Hanan; Parts Work (Part 3) w/ Bishop Andrew Miller)

Journal Questions:

• How have I abdicated my God-given authority?
• When do I perceive surrender to be a form of defeat?
• How has authority been misused in my life?
• How is God inviting me to stay with Him in faithfulness and obedience?
• Where do I need to be both honoring and honest?

Discussion Questions:

• How often do you think God is holding out on you?
• How do I lose sight of God-given authority by seeking out worldly influence?
• What accountability do I need to choose surrendered, God-given authority over worldly influence?
• When have you felt safe under God’s authority?
• How do you need to grow and mature to better lead and serve others?

Quote to Ponder:

“The fourth commandment opens the second table of the Decalogue. It shows us the order of charity. God has willed that, after him, we should honor our parents to whom we owe life and who have handed on to us the knowledge of God. We are obliged to honor and respect all those whom God, for our good, has vested with his authority.” (CCC 2197)

Scripture for Lectio: 

“Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” (Deuteronomy 4:9)

Sponsor - WalletWin:

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In this week's episode, we reflect on the themes of resurrection, grief, and hope in Pope Francis’ Easter Vigil homily. We chat about the sadness of unfulfilled dreams and the tender places in our hearts where we are afraid to hope and want to stay in the tomb. We also talk about the anxieties and worries that can come with trying to figure things out on our own and the importance of surrendering our plans to God. Just like Christ, we are called to walk through the sufferings of this life with Him into the Resurrection.

Heather’s One Thing -  Her Easter playlist

Heather’s Other One Thing - The book Becoming Wife: Saying Yes to More than the Dress by Rachel Bulman (or on Amazon here)

Sister Miriam’s On Thing - The book Beloved Daughter by Carrie Daunt 

Michelle’s One Thing - The book Befriending Your Inner Child: A Catholic Approach to Healing and Wholeness by Brya Hanan (or on Amazon here)

Other Resources Mentioned: 

The Restore the Glory Podcast series on Parts Work (Parts Work (Part 1) w/ Gerry Crete; Parts Work (Part 2) w/ Brya Hanan; Parts Work (Part 3) w/ Bishop Andrew Miller)

Journal Questions:

• What hopes have been dashed by the sorrowful mysteries of my life?
• Where are the places that I am afraid to hope?
• Do I believe my dreams are doomed to fail?
• What anxieties in my heart are preventing me from hoping?

Discussion Questions:

• How are you still living in winter during the spring of Easter?
• Do you know how to practice Resurrection?
• In what ways do you believe your dreams rely on you for their fulfillment?
• How do you intellectualize or explain away your dreams?

Quote to Ponder:

“Yet the same women who bore this darkness in their hearts tell us something quite extraordinary. When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. This is the Pasch of Christ, the revelation of God’s power: the victory of life over death, the triumph of light over darkness, the rebirth of hope amid the ruins of failure. It is the Lord, the God of the impossible, who rolled away the stone forever. Even now, he opens our hearts, so that hope may be born ever anew. We too, then, should “look up” to him.” (Pope Francis, Easter Vigil Homily)

Scripture for Lectio: 

“When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.” (Mark 16:4)

Sponsor - Farm of the Child:

Farm of the Child is a Catholic children's home, school and clinic in Trujillo, Honduras where children receive healing care from a team of Honduran staff, Franciscan sisters, and international missionaries. Each year, the Farm of the Child attracts dedicated missionaries who make a 2 year commitment of service. Missionaries come from all different walks of life in order to serve in a variety of functions such as teaching, nursing, project management and community outreach. After spending 6 weeks in Antigua, Guatemala learning Spanish, missionaries travel to the children’s home where they live together and are guided by the four pillars of community, spirituality, simplicity and service.  Short term immersion trips, remote and summer service opportunities are also available. 

If you think you might be called to serve in the capacity of an international missionary, email [email protected]. Want to learn more about how to get involved in the mission in the US? Check out farmofthechild.org and sign up for our monthly newsletter here: https://www.farmofthechild.org/contact-us

In this week's episode, we conclude our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and discuss the theme of “focus”. We chat about our natural temptation to focus on our woundedness, why we should take action and invite Jesus into these places, and how our wounds can be transformed into signs of the resurrection power of Christ. We also talk about the crosses we bear and the importance of recognizing the little resurrections in our life. Friends, thank you for journeying with us this Lenten season. We look forward to seeing you again after Easter!

Heather’s One Thing -  Our team behind the scenes: Kate, Camille, and Kristina! We are so grateful for you

Sister Miriam’s On Thing - Springtime!

Michelle’s One Thing - These Easter themed charcuterie boards! Option 1 Here. Option 2 Here.

Announcement(s):

We will be taking a two week break for Easter beginning on 4/1/24! Season 14 will continue on 4/15/24!

Journal Questions:

• What was hard for me?
• What were the graces and mercies I experienced?
• How have I grown?
• How can I make this week holy?
• What wounds do I bring to Jesus? What wounds do I simply “stare at”?

Discussion Questions:

• Where in your life are you seeking glory?
• Do I live like the Resurrection is a reality?
• When do you lose hope?
• Does the story you tell yourself about God align with God’s story (the Paschal Mystery)?
• What are the places of my heart that I don’t believe the narrative (of the Paschal Mystery)?

Quotes to Ponder:

“How are wounds made glorious? By our deciding what we will do with them. Our Jesus turned his wounds into beauty, and there is not one of us who would say, “Oh, this should not be in eternity.” Our poor hearts thrill to the verity that he is always showing his wounds to the Father on our behalf. They are transformed now in glory. Likewise, there is a transformation that we too can make of our own little everyday wounds which sometimes seem so deep and so big and so insufferable to us. How do we transform them into glory? By looking at Jesus, by remembering his suffering which was turned into glory.”  (Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 207)

Scripture for Lectio: 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24)

Sponsor - Pearl and Thistle:

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In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on how life is a continual process of refinement and how true learning comes through the healing found in suffering and communion. We also talk about the feelings of shame that accompany situations where we fall short, the importance of recognizing our limitations in humility, and how God desires to redeem our deepest wounds to help us grow in communion and love. 

Heather’s One Thing -  Sarah Kroger’s new song No Filter 

Sister Miriam’s On Thing - Heather Khym’s Lenten Playlist (AGAIN!!)

Michelle’s One Thing - Floret Flowers

Announcement:

We will be taking a two week break for Easter beginning on 4/1/24. Season 14 will continue on 4/15/24!

Journal Questions:

• What learning curves in my life do I react to with shame or fear?
• Where in my life do I feel like I need to figure it out?
• What are my most frequent complaints? How do they wound the Heart of Christ?
• How can I honor the Lord this upcoming Holy Week?

Discussion Questions:

• What lessons are you learning this Lent?
• What blocks and walls do you experience when learning new lessons?
• How is the Lord inviting you to put in effort in learning the lessons of this season?
• How can you show loving and attentive devotion to the Lord in your daily life?

Quote to Ponder:

“Let us think for a few minutes about the process of learning. All real learning requires a great effort….One could perhaps define the greatest scholars as those who have put forth the most effort with the equipment that God gave them. There is always some form of suffering in all learning because there must be patience, and patience is suffering. There is always humility in learning. It is the great scholars who realize how little they know…”

(Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 175)

Scripture for Lectio: 

“He said to his apostles, “I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.”” (John 16:12)

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In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on the theme of “filling up the sufferings of Christ”. We reflect on the connection between repentance and love, recognizing how they complement each other, and the beauty of repentance as an intimate act of drawing nearer to God. We share our own struggles during this Lenten season, how others have helped keep us accountable, and the importance of helping others grow in holiness. Lastly, we chat about the significance of renouncing falsehoods about ourselves and embracing the truth about our identity that can only be found in God.

Heather’s One Thing -The song Jesus is My Healer by Gateway Worship 

Sister Miriam’s On Thing - Andrew Laubacher and his organization called Humanality

Michelle’s One Thing - Fr. Mark Mary CFR new book The Father: 30 Meditations to Draw You Into the Heart of God

Journal Questions:

• Where is the ease of the Lord in my life?
• How can I turn back to the Lord in moments of hardship this Lent?
• In the people I struggle with most, how do I encounter the image of God in them?
• In my own self-righteousness, from whom do I withhold the kingdom of God?

Discussion Questions:

• Do you perceive repentance as an opportunity for intimacy or a response to punishment?
• How can you more urgently respond to God’s invitation of love?
• What accountability can you incorporate to be steadfast to your Lenten promises?
• How can you invite a culture of redemption into your life?

Quote to Ponder:

“Our joy must be in him, where alone things have permanent depth and even eternality. The more earnestly we live our Lent, the more will we be finding our joy in Jesus.” (Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 148)

Scripture for Lectio: 

“He delivered us from the dominion of the darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved son.”  (Colossians 1:13)

Sponsor - Mary’s Meals:

Mary’s Meals sets up community-run school feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities, where poverty and hunger prevent children from gaining an education. The idea is a simple one that works. Mary’s Meals provides one daily meal in a place of learning to attract chronically poor children into the classroom, where they receive an education that can, in the future, be their ladder out of poverty.

Bringing hope to hungry children around the world, their mission is to enable people to offer their money, goods, skills, time, or prayer, and through this involvement, provide the most effective help to those suffering the effects of extreme poverty in the world’s poorest Communities.

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In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on the theme of the right kind of zeal. We chat about how we may be feeling tired and tempted to relax our Lenten penances and discuss the importance of taking time to reflect on why we felt called to take on a specific sacrifice and then recommitting ourselves with zeal to carry it out. We also talk about the joys of living in covenant with the Lord, the heartache we should experience when our hearts wander, and the beauty of giving ourselves totally to Him out of love.  

Heather’s One Thing - Happy 80th birthday to her dad!

Heather’s Other One Thing - Episode 5 of Fr. Dave’s series called: My father’s Father. Watch on Wildgoose TV here or Faith and Reason here.

Sister Miriam’s On Thing - Heather Khym’s Lenten Playlist

Michelle’s One Thing - The song Closing Distance by Seven Hills Worship (acoustic version here)

Journal Questions:

• What do you need to fill your tank for the long spiritual roadtrip of Lent?
• What spiritual rest stops do I need to take to continue to go the distance with the Lord?
• How am I letting my emotions drive the bus?
• Do I treat my covenant with the Lord with the same respect as I show the covenants of marriage or religious life?

Discussion Questions:

• How do you need the Lord to love you this week?
• Have you been feeling empty, angsty, or frustrated this Lent? How is the Lord inviting you into deeper freedom through this experience?
• How can you suffer and fast with more joy?

Quotes to Ponder:

“The ancient name for Lent is “the season of the battle”, agonia, which was the Greek word for the final testing of the athlete or the warrior, and has become the term for the Agony in the Garden.” (Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 143)

Scripture for Lectio: 

“His disciples recalled the words of Scripture, Zeal for your house will consume me.” (John 2:17)

Sponsor - JPII Healing Center: 

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Additionally, the numerous books and resources offered in our online store offer you insight and accompaniment on your path to healing. There you will find several familiar authors including Dr. Bob Schuchts and Abiding Together’s very own Sr. Miriam.

In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on the theme of being in conversation with Jesus. We reflect on the importance of reserving space for dialogue with God, surrendering to Him our own plans and desires, and allowing Him to love us in our poverty. The process of dying to self is always accompanied with the hope in the promise of resurrection and new life that Jesus offers.  

Heather’s One Thing - In thanksgiving for Deacon Bob and Fr Dave Pivonka letting her use their studio to record this episode and for being asked to be a guest on their podcast called They That Hope.

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - The book How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen by David Brooks

Michelle’s One Thing - Her household sisters at Francisan University

Journal Questions:

• Am I in conversation with God or in a monologue with myself?
• How can I create more space for dialogue with God?
• What Isaacs (idols) do I have?
• How do I self-sabotage in order to confirm my deepest fears?

Discussion Questions:

• What does it look like for you to be a new creation in Christ?
• Have you ever felt like God contradicts Himself? How did He resolve that apparent contradiction?
• What littleness in your life do you tend to hide and run away from? How can you be more open with the Lord in your littleness?
• What holds me back from entering into prayer honestly or making a confession regularly?

Quotes to Ponder:

“Then, a word about the Tabor Gospel. I was newly impressed by the fact that Moses and Elijah were in conversation with Jesus. Let us be occupied always in being in conversation with Jesus. We know the deepest conversations are the wordless ones. We love that simple and profound word of Pope Saint John Paul II, “Let Jesus be the one to whom you talk the most.””

(Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 76)

Scripture for Lectio: 

“Here am I, Lord!” (Genesis 22:1)

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In this week's episode, we continue our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and focus on the theme of true self-denial. We reflect on the importance of recognizing our need for God’s love and allowing ourselves to be transformed by His grace. We also share personal experiences and insights on repentance, amendment, and trusting in God’s plan especially when the desires of our heart are not being fulfilled. We end by discussing the joys that can come from Lent when approached with a tender, sensitive, and alert heart. 

Heather’s One Thing - Lenten Playlist

Heather’s Other One Thing - The talk Joy, Hope, and the Way Around by Monsignor Shea

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - The Pints with Aquinas episode on Transhumanism and Emerging Technologies w/ Fr. Michael Baggot (Watch on YouTube here)

Michelle’s One Thing - The book A Grand Slam for God: A Journey from Baseball Star to Catholic Priest by Fr. Burke Masters

Journal Questions:

• Have I ever approached Lent with a sense of wonder?
• How have I approached Lent with self hatred in the past?
• What parts of myself are the stranger I need to welcome home and allow the Father to love?
• How can I be more open to God as the Divine Interruptor?

Discussion Questions:

• Where are you hungry? Where are others in your life hungry?
• Who in your life is the stranger you need to welcome?
• Do you believe something wonderful can happen this Lent?
• Where have you become resigned and hard of heart instead of tender and sensitive?

Quotes to Ponder: 

We are called to a glorious festival of love—to be spiritually dizzied with the fact that this is how much God has loved us. Surely we shall all look at the crucifix with a new vision, a deepened understanding that he really.

(Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 37)

Scripture for Lectio: 

“After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”” (Mark 1:14-15)

Sponsor - Reform Wellness:

Reform Wellness is a Christ-centered functional medicine and holistic wellness ministry. Reform redefines health as the state of your body and soul. Their mission is to empower the whole person to find well-being in Christ and become the best versions of themselves physically and spiritually. Reform works with private clients, corporate teams, religious communities, and educational institutions worldwide, both in-person and online. They offer valuable information, educational resources, and lifelong tools to improve your well-being.

We invite you to learn more about Reform’s foundational course Reform Online which offers educational tools, best practices, and community through their nine wellness pillars. Reform is extending an exclusive discount for all our listeners on their Lenten Cohort. We highly recommend this three-month foundational course; we’ve each taken Reform Online and still benefit from the fruits in our daily lives. Use code “Abide10'' for your exclusive discount through February 29. 

In this week's episode, we begin our seven week Lenten study of the book “A Time of Renewal” by Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. In this episode we cover the introduction and the sections on the first four days of Lent. We discuss how Lent is an opportunity for us to grow in intimacy with God and how viewing fasting as a time of renewal, not suffering, can help us encounter a deeper transformation. We also reflect on our ability to help others grow in holiness, why Lent is the Springtime of the liturgical year, and how we can allow ourselves to bloom this Lenten season. 

Heather’s One Thing - Aspire to Live a Quiet Life by Francis Chan

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - the women at the Trini-tea fundraiser (pictures here)

Michelle’s One Thing - ABBA by Johnathan Helser and the people of Louisiana

Journal Questions:

• Take inventory of your heart: where are you? Where do I need to reflower?
• What areas of my life does the Lord want to prune?
• Am I approaching this Lent like “just another Lent”? How can I accept this Lent as a unique season and invitation from the Lord?
• What practices put me back in the gaze of the Father? How can I incorporate them into my Lenten plan?

Discussion Questions:

• Which fruits in my life are good fruits? Which fruits are bad fruits?
• How can you be more conscious of your responsibility for one another’s holiness?
• Whose growth in holiness is God inviting you to be conscious of? Who can you offer your Lenten prayers and fasts up for?
• How close are you to the Lord today?

Quotes to Ponder:

“I hope we will not allow ourselves to think of it as “just another Lent”. There is a very deep sense in which there is not another Lent and then another and another after that. This Lent is unlike any other. It is this acceptable time. We do not know if there will be another Lent for us, but we do know God has brought us to this acceptable time, to this prolonged day of salvation.” (Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 19)

Scripture for Lectio: 

“Is not this the fast that I chose: to loose the bonds of wickedness and to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6)

Sponsor - The Little Rose Shop:

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In this week's episode, we welcome Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR as our guest to dive deep into what it means to be in relationship with God as Father. Together we chat about how our earthly fathers both positively and negatively impact our relationship with God the Father and how to begin to receive the love of God the Father. We also share how our relationship with God the Father has changed through the loss of earthly fathers. Check out Fr. Dave’s new (free!) video series entitled My father’s Father (or watch here on Wildgoose). 

Heather’s One Thing - Upcoming pilgrimages with Franciscan to France and Alaska 

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - The the beauty of the Pensacola beach

Michelle’s One Thing - Watching NFL Playoffs with Sister Miriam 

Fr. Dave’s One Thing - The book A Little Liar by Mitch Albom 

 Other Resources Mentioned: 

• My father’s Father Trailer Link
• My father’s Father on Wildgoose
• My father’s Father on Faith and Reason
• S3 E18: The Holy Spirit with Fr. Dave Pivonka
• S5 E22: The Holy Spirit with Fr. Dave Pivonka
• The Father’s Love Spotify Playlist

Journal Questions:

• What does (or did) my father’s relationship with our Heavenly Father look like?
• In what ways can I grow in honoring and being honest about my father?
• Other than my earthly father, who in my life revealed the heart of our Heavenly Father to me?
• For those whose fathers have passed away: how has my relationship with God the Father changed since my father passed away?

Discussion Questions:

• How has your relationship with your earthly father shaped your relationship with your Heavenly Father?
• In your current state of life, when do you feel most connected to your identity as a child?
• What thoughts, emotions, and associations arise when you think of your primary identity as a child?
• How can you grow in and more deeply receive your daughterhood from the Father?

Quotes to Ponder:

“The whole of the Christian life is like a great pilgrimage to the house of the Father, whose unconditional love for every human creature, and in particular for the 'prodigal son,' we discover anew each day.” (JPII Tertio Millennio Adveniente)

Scripture for Lectio: 

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

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