In this episode, we begin our Lenten book study “Jesus and the Jubilee” and welcome the author, Dr. John Bergsma, to the podcast! Dr. Bergsma shares his powerful conversion story during the Great Jubilee Year in 2000 and why he felt called to write a book about this Jubilee Year of Hope. We also reflect on this Jubilee year as a time of abundant grace, why Reconciliation is the Sacrament of Jubilee, and how we can engage the virtue of hope this Lenten season. 

 

Heather’s One Thing - Fathering Sons by Dominic Polito 

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Floriani (Chants of Deliverance CD) (Spotify)

Michelle’s One Thing - Jesus and the Jubilee

Dr. Bergsma’s One Thing - Dr. Scott Hahn’s meditations on “The Seven Last Words of Christ”. (Sign up to be sent a weekly video reflection during Lent)

 

Announcement:

It’s not too late to order your copy of “Jesus and the Jubilee” at the St. Paul Center with promo code “ABIDE15” for 15% off. There are also bulk discounts available. 

 

Journal Questions:

• How does the Lord want to invite me more deeply into the Jubilee Year?
• What am I seeking freedom from this Lent?
• How can I approach Lent with a spirit of hope?
• What do I need to repent of this Lent?

 

Discussion Questions:

• What is your current understanding of the Jubilee?
• How have you experienced interior miracles from the Lord?
• What stuck out to you from Dr. Bergsma’s statement: “The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a perpetual Jubilee”?
• What is a miracle you want to pray for this Lent?

 

Quote to Ponder:

“I’m convinced in my heart that the proper response to the announcement of Jubilee 2025 should be joy, hope, and excitement. Lived well, this Jubilee Year can be a moment of miracle and grace for all of us, a kind of yearlong spiritual Christmas season in which we daily awake to open the gifts of grace that God our Father so lovingly gives us.” (Dr. John Bergsma)

Scripture for Lectio:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.” (Isaiah 61:1-4)

 

Sponsor - CORDA:

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Timestamps: 

00:00 - CORDA

01:34 - Intro

02:26 - Welcome

04:55 - Dr. Bergsma’s Conversion Story

12:58 - The Jubilee Year of Hope is a Time of Grace

16:07 - St. Pope John Paul II

17:35 - The Inspiration to Write Jesus and the Jubilee

21:29 - Why the Jubilee Year is a Personal Experience

28:16 - Reconciliation is the Sacrament of Jubilee 

31:38 - Engaging the Virtue of Hope

37:38 - Hope in Prayer

40:12 - One Things 

In this episode, we talk about spiritual mentorship and being formed in Jesus. We reflect on the spiritual mentors who have journeyed with us and share stories about the lessons that have shaped who we are today.  We also talk about why comparison crushes our ability to receive, our calling to make disciples of all nations, and how the daily witness of our lives is an answer to this call.

 

Heather’s One Thing - Fix You (Live from the O2 Arena) by Jacob Collier and Chris Martin

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Dr. Christin McIntyre on the Restore the Glory Podcast and her lectures on Thomistic Psychology (Part 1) (Part 2)

Michelle’s One Thing - Dr. Mary Lou and Chris O’Grady and letting us use their beach home

 

Announcement:

Join us for our Lenten Study beginning March 5th, 2025 as we journey through “Jesus and the Jubilee: The Biblical Roots of the Year of God’s Favor“ by Dr. John Bergsma. We look forward to sitting at the feet of a leading scholar as we unpack what the Lord has in store for us in the year of Jubilee.

Order your copy at the St. Paul Center with promo code “ABIDE15” for 15% off. There are also bulk discounts available. The St. Paul Center just restocked their inventory so they have plenty of books for you to order!

 

Journal Questions:

• Who has mentored me throughout my life?
• Who have I mentored throughout my life?
• How have I failed to acknowledge the humanity of my mentors?
• What intentional “yeses” can I give to mentoring or being mentored in this season?

 

Discussion Questions:

• What were the practical ways that you were able to receive mentorship in your life?
• What parts of the Face of God did my mentors reveal to me despite their own brokenness?
• How have your peers mentored you in different seasons?
• Who can you help discover & release their gifts to the world?

 

Quote to Ponder:

“Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he listens to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.”  (Pope Paul VI, On Evangelization in the Modern World)

 

Scripture for Lectio:

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Romans 10:14-15)

 

Sponsor - Hallow:

This episode is sponsored by Hallow, the #1 prayer app in the world with over 10,000 prayers, meditations, and music to help you find peace and grow closer to God. Hallow's annual Pray40 challenge for Lent is a powerful way to dive deeper into the three pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. This year's Pray40 is called The Way and focuses on the writings of St. Josemaría Escrivá and the story of Servant of God Takashi Nagai. You can join Sr. Miriam as well as other Christian voices like Jonathan Roumie, Fr. Mike Schmitz, Mark Wahlberg, actor Chris Pratt, and more for this 40-day journey to the cross. As we meditate on the lives of those who follow Christ, we’ll see that despite the noise and distraction of today, Jesus died on the cross so that we might know His love and, ultimately, eternal life. We need only to follow His Way. 

Get 3 months free of Hallow at hallow.com/abide

 

Timestamps: 

00:00 - Hallow

01:23 - Intro

02:15 - Welcome

03:26 - The Loss of a Mentor

05:20 - Receiving and Giving

06:40 - Scripture Verse and Guiding Quote

07:16 - Michelle’s Mentors

11:26 - Sister’s Mentors

15:02 - Heather’s Mentors

18:04 - Sitting at Each Other’s Feet

18:50 - St. Pope John Paul II

19:47 - The Next Generation

22:06 - Spiritual and Biological Grandparents

25:04 - We are Called to Disciple

26:36 - Where You are Standing is Holy Ground

28:13 - Giving Our Yes to Jesus

30:56 - Speaking Blessings

32:10 - One Things

In this episode, we celebrate eight years of abiding together with you! We want to celebrate what God has done and is doing in not only our lives, but also in yours. We reflect on why we started the podcast and how our hearts still echo with a desire to help women grow closer to our Lord through communion with others. We share why we surrender the podcast to the Holy Spirit, how we’ve navigated supporting each other through different seasons of life, and what our hopes are for the future of the podcast. Most of all, we want to thank you for how you’ve received our vulnerability, your openness to us and the Lord, and your steadfastness in journeying with us along the way.

Heather’s One Thing - Jubilee Spotify Playlist

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Our very first episode - Coffee, Unity, and Companionship

Michelle’s One Thing - Our listeners! We are so grateful for you!

 

Announcement:

Join us for our Lenten Study beginning March 5th, 2025 as we journey through “Jesus and the Jubilee: The Biblical Roots of the Year of God’s Favor“ by Dr. John Bergsma. We look forward to sitting at the feet of a leading scholar as we unpack what the Lord has in store for us in the year of Jubilee.

Order your copy at the St. Paul Center with promo code “ABIDE15” for 15% off. There are also bulk discounts available. While “Jesus and the Jubilee” is currently backordered, the St. Paul Center expects a new shipment of books later this week and plans to fulfill your orders by late February.

 

Journal Questions:

• Have I experienced friendships and relationships that have been anointed by the Lord?
• How can I steward my relationships, gifts, time, and opportunities well?
• When have I seen the difference between success and fruitfulness?

 

Discussion Questions:

• When did you first start listening to the podcast?
• Do you have a favorite episode, season, series, or study? How did it bless you?
• What areas of your life can you surrender to the Lord to give growth?

 

Quote to Ponder:

"To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him. Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference." (Thomas Merton)

 

Scripture for Lectio:

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us.'" (1 Samuel 7:12)

 

Sponsor - The Little Rose Shop:

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Timestamps:

00:00 - The Little Rose Shop

01:17 - Intro

02:09 - Lenten Book Announcement

02:54 - Welcome

04:40 - Guiding Quote and Scripture Verse

05:53 - Born Out of Friendship

09:19 - Surrendering Everything Back

10:39 - Honest Conversations

12:05 - Stewarding Well

15:22 - Thankfulness

18:23 - Hearing from Listeners

20:35 - A Collaboration

22:47 - Your Starting Point

24:26 - Hope for the Future

28:29 - One Things

31:12  - Lenten Book Study Reminder

 

In this episode, we talk about how we can receive graces by making a spiritual pilgrimage to Nazareth. We reflect on the Holy Family, how they teach us to love well, and how they show us how to build a family that heals and transforms its members. We also discuss the sanctification of the ordinary, how life is found in doing our daily duty well, and how to dialogue with others. Nazareth is a place of love, and we invite you to use your imagination and make the journey with us. 

 

Heather’s One Thing - Discovering your God-given Identity Course 

Heather’s Other One Thing - Memorize Scripture by Jackie Angel

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Last Paragraph of Pope Benedict XVI’s Inaugural Homily

Michelle’s One Thing - Everyone who experienced the loss of home from a natural disaster. We are praying for you.

 

Other Resources Mentioned: 

For any alumni of the JPII Healing Center’s Holy Desire retreat, Jake Khym is offering a free online course “The Freedom Series: Journeying with Holy Desire”

 

Announcement:

Join us for our Lenten Study beginning March 5th, 2025 as we journey through “Jesus and the Jubilee: The Biblical Roots of the Year of God’s Favor“ by Dr. John Bergsma. We look forward to sitting at the feet of a leading scholar as we unpack what the Lord has in store for us in the year of Jubilee.

Order your copy at the St. Paul Center with promo code “ABIDE15” for 15% off. Amazon has very limited copies, so we recommend you order from St. Paul Center to ensure you receive your copy before Lent begins!

 

Journal Questions:

• Have I ever prayed about life in Nazareth?
• How can I experience Nazareth in an ordinary way?
• Where do I need to be transformed in family life?
• Spend time this week meditating on life in Nazareth. How did I encounter the Holy Family in my meditation?
• When are the times that I want to rebuke and accuse others? Do I want holiness and transformation more than being right?

 

Discussion Questions:

• What renewal and transformation do you need to experience in Nazareth?
• How do you see ordinary life as the path to sanctification?
• How do you see ordinary life as an obstacle to sanctification?
• Where are you in bondage within family life? How can you allow an encounter of Nazareth to set you free from that bondage?

 

Quote to Ponder:

“Pilgrimages are a call to return to the roots of our faith. Nazareth, where Jesus lived His hidden life, is a place that invites us to reflect on our own journey. It is not only a place of memory but also a place of renewal and transformation.” (Pope Francis, Homily, Mass at the Basilica of the Annunciation, 2014)

 

Scripture for Lectio:

“And he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.” (Matthew 2:23)

 

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As a listener of Abiding Together, we’re excited to offer you a free session of Catholic spiritual direction or personalized wellness coaching. 

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Timestamps:

00:00 - CMF CURO

01:37 - Intro

02:30 - Welcome

04:30 - Rest in Nazareth

06:45 - How Do We Go to Nazareth?

11:57 - Spiritual Pilgrimage of Hope

13:31 - The Sanctification of Ordinary Life

15:34 - We Find a Love that Heals

18:00 - A Place to Dialogue

20:39 - Bringing Our Littleness to Nazareth

24:07 - An Encouragement to Try

24:37 - A Place of Astonishment and Wonder

28:50 - One Things

In this episode, we welcome Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR to talk about his podcast Rosary in a Year. He shares the inspiration behind his podcast and the importance of meditating on and understanding the mysteries of our faith. We also reflect on prayer being something received not produced, how the Rosary specifically answers the cry of our hearts to learn how to pray, and how Mary intercedes for us within this prayer. Our desire is that Fr. Mark-Mary’s podcast will be an aid as you take the next step deeper in your prayer life.

 

Heather’s One Thing - Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Basil Soup Recipe 

Heather’s Other One Thing - Sharing the Gospel with Our Lives: A Relational Approach to Catholic Youth Ministry by Bob Rice

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Creamy Chicken Rice Soup Recipe 

Michelle’s One Thing - The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

Fr. Mark-Mary’s One Thing - Christ in the City Missionaries

 

Other Resources Mentioned: 

• Rosary in a Year Podcast on Spotify, Apple, Ascension’s Website (or app)

 

Announcement:

Join us for our Lenten Study beginning March 5th, 2025 as we journey through “Jesus and the Jubilee: The Biblical Roots of the Year of God’s Favor“ by Dr. John Bergsma. We look forward to sitting at the feet of a leading scholar as we unpack what the Lord has in store for us in the year of Jubilee.

Order your copy at the St. Paul Center with promo code “ABIDE15” for 15% off. Amazon has very limited copies, so we recommend you order from St. Paul Center to ensure you receive your copy before Lent begins!

 

Journal Questions:

• What has my relationship been with the Rosary?
• Do I often perceive the Rosary to be a formulaic task or a channel of grace?
• How have I experienced a strengthening of my “concentration muscle” in the past?
• Do I see prayer as something I produce, or something I receive?

 

Discussion Questions:

• How were you formed in how to pray the Rosary?
• What obstacles do you experience when praying the Rosary?
• What do you desire for your relationship with Our Blessed Mother?
• How can I enter more fully into the Rosary during this Jubilee Year of Hope?

 

Quote to Ponder:

"Mary was the first person to take the 'way' to enter the Kingdom of God that Christ opened, a way which is accessible to the humble, to all who trust in the word of God and endeavor to put it into practice." (Pope Benedict XVI)

 

Scripture for Lectio:

“Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” (John 19:27) 

 

Sponsor - Ascension:

Join Fr. Mark-Mary Ames and Ascension Press for a new installment of the “In a Year” series with the new Rosary in a Year podcast, which debuted in January as the #1 podcast in the U.S.!

 

The podcast’s host, Fr. Mark-Mary Ames, CFR, takes listeners on a step-by-step journey that will change how they approach the Rosary—and prayer in general—no matter where they are in their spiritual life. 

 

By starting small and adding on over time, listeners will find themselves falling more in love with this powerful Marian devotion, becoming a source of grace for the whole world. 

 

In six different phases throughout the year, the podcast builds up from just an “Our Father", three “Hail Mary’s”, and a “Glory Be” at the beginning, to joyfully praying the entire Rosary together by the end.

 

Along the way, listeners will learn the basics of prayer, discover the Biblical roots of the Rosary, and learn to meditate on each mystery like never before with help from Sacred Scripture, the writings of the saints, and Sacred Art.

 

You can listen to the podcast and download the Rosary in a Year Prayer guide by visiting our website here. 

 

Whether you’re already listening every day or this is your first time hearing about the podcast, it’s never too late to start and there is no better place to listen to Rosary in a Year than in the Ascension app.

 

You’ll get exclusive content and special features you won’t find anywhere else, like full transcripts of each episode, the full text of the prayers and litanies Fr. Mark-Mary shares in the podcast, references to Sacred Scripture and the Catechism, images of sacred art, and much more that help you dive even deeper into each reflection on the Rosary.

 

You can also pray all four mysteries of the Rosary with recordings from Fr. Mark-Mary, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and Jeff Cavins, all for free in the Ascension app.

 

Download the Ascension App on your smartphone or tablet from wherever you get your apps, or by visiting https://link.ascension-app.com/Abide15 

 

Additionally, you can get 15% off the following Rosary in a Year resources by clicking the links and using the promo code ABIDE15 at checkout:

Rosary in a Year Prayer Guide (preorder)

How to Pray a Better Rosary

Rosary in a Year 5 Decade Gemstone Rosary (preorder)

 

Timestamps:

00:00 - Ascension

01:33 - Intro

02:26 - Welcome

03:20 - Fr. Mark-Mary

09:30 - Guiding Quote and Scripture Verse

09:59 - Inspiration for Rosary in a Year

13:16 - A Podcast for Formation in Prayer

15:00 - Mary and the Rosary

18:12 - Organization of the Podcast

22:18 - Prayer is Something Received

25:08 - Father’s Hope for the Podcast

27:37 - One Things

In this episode, we talk about Pope Francis’ Bull of Indiction on the Jubilee Year of Hope! A Jubilee year occurs once every 25 years and it is a year set apart and consecrated just for our Lord. We chat about what it looks like to be pilgrims of hope, especially in the places where we have deep sorrows or unfulfilled desires. We reflect on how we can bring these tender places to our Lord and let them be illuminated, so He can redeem and restore the light of hope in our lives. Keeping our hearts open to hope can be painful and crucifying. But when we enter into this pilgrimage, we are transformed in the light of hope.

 

Heather’s One Thing - The Podcast Burning Hearts with Rachel Herbeck 

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Heather’s Acoustic Worship Spotify Playlist

Michelle’s One Thing - Jubilee by Maverick City Music

 

Other Resources Mentioned: 

• In Defense of Hope a talk by Jackie Hill Perry

 

Announcement:

Join us for our Lenten Study beginning March 5th, 2025 as we journey through “Jesus and the Jubilee: The Biblical Roots of the Year of God’s Favor“ by Dr. John Bergsma. We look forward to sitting at the feet of a leading scholar as we unpack what the Lord has in store for us in the year of Jubilee.

Order your copy at the St. Paul Center with promo code “ABIDE15” for 15% off. Amazon has very limited copies, so we recommend you order from St. Paul Center to ensure you receive your copy before Lent begins!

 

Journal Questions:

• Where in my life am I experiencing hopelessness?
• What idols do I place my hope in?
• How can I look at this year through the lens of hope?
• Think about an area of hopelessness in your life. What do you believe about the situation? What do you believe about yourself in this situation? What do you believe about the Lord in this area?

 

Discussion Questions:

• Where in your life is it scary to have hope?
• When have you experienced the buoyancy and freedom of hope?
• How is Christ inviting you to hope this year?
• How does your hopelessness impact your understanding of the character of God?

 

Quotes to Ponder:

"Begin again with hope." (Pope Francis)

“Indeed, the jubilee is a new beginning, the possibility for everyone to start anew from God. With the jubilee we start a new life, a new phase.” (Pope Francis)

 

Scripture for Lectio:

“Hope does not disappoint.” (Romans 5:5)

 

Sponsor - Glory: Women’s Gathering:

Franciscan University, and Heather Khym from Life Restoration are holding their first ever Steubenville women’s conference! We absolutely love the theme they've chosen: The Spirit and the Bride Say Come.     Heather will be joined by an amazing lineup of speakers including Michelle Benzinger, Sr. Josephine Gerrett, Sarah Kaczmarek, Debbie Herbeck, Fr. Tim Hepburn, and Sarah Kroger leading worship!   Join women across generations to worship God, hear from Spirit-filled speakers, and make room for conversation with one another and with Jesus the Bridegroom.    Mark your calendars for June 6th-8th 2025 and click this link to register!

 

Timestamps:

00:00 - Glory: Women’s Conference

1:31 - Intro

1:39 - Welcome

6:16 - Scripture Verse and Guiding Quote

6:51- Why Hope?

10:01 - Hopelessness and Fear

12:20 - Grieving Hopeless Areas

16:29 - A Place of Healing

17:41 - It’s A Pilgrimage

19:33 - The Grace of Jubilee

21:55 - Patience

23:50 - An Invitation to Transformation

25:50 - Challenge to Mature

27:22 - Our Lady Mother of Hope

29:26 - Lenten Book Study Announcement

32:01 - One Things 

Welcome to the season 16 kickoff with our annual tradition of the Word of the Year episode! Each year, we ask God to give us a theme to focus on for the new year and invite you to do the same. After personal prayer and reflection, we share what our words for 2025 mean to us and chat about the Saints journeying with us this year. We are excited to be back and look forward to seeing what this season will bring.

 

Heather’s One Thing - This Strange Land Podcast

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Jubilee Year podcast episode from the Poco a Poco Podcast 

Michelle’s One Thing - Notre Dame Football and Marcus Freeman and time with Heather and Sister at the 2025 SEEK Conference in DC

 

Other Resources Mentioned: 

• Word of the Year video from Blessed is She
• Beautiful Holiness Beautiful Holiness: A Spiritual Journey With Blessed Conchita to the Heart of Jesus by Kathleen Beckman 
• Under the Gaze of the Father by Archbishop Martinez (A retreat written for Blessed Conchita)

 

Journal Questions:

• If you’ve been selecting a word of the year for a few years now, reflect on how the words have built on each other over time.
• Through what golden lens does God want me to see my year?
• How can I approach this new year with a spirit of integration rather than novelty?
• In what circumstances of your life do you feel like God isn’t showing up?

 

Discussion Questions:

• How did you experience your word for 2024?
• What is the Lord doing for you this year?
• How is the Lord inviting you to greater faithfulness in 2025?
• Do you feel like any particular saints have been chosen to journey with you this year?
• What is your word for 2025?

 

Quote to Ponder:

“The object of a new year is not that we should have a new year, but rather that we should have a new soul.” (G.K. Chesterton) 

 

Scripture for Lectio:

“And a word spoken in due season, how good it is.” (Proverbs 15:23)

 

Sponsor - Rooted for Good:

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Rooted for Good 

01:31 - Intro

02:23 - Welcome

04:01 - Guiding Quote and Scripture Verse

04:34 - What is a Word of the Year?

08:24 - Michelle’s Word(s)

14:10 - Heather’s Word

24:10 - Sister’s Word

32:15 - One Things

In this week's episode, we conclude our 4 part Advent study of Heather’s new book Encountering Emmanuel. We discuss how we all have deep cries within our hearts and how Jesus coming as a baby gives voice to those longings and sorrows that we hold. We also reflect on the role of the Holy Spirit in revealing the love of God, the power of a name in calling out our truest identity, and the great adventure of falling in love with the Lord. Friends, thank you for joining us on the journey this Advent season. We look forward to next year and pray the Lord reveals Himself to you in a deeper and more intimate way this Christmas season. God bless!

Heather’s One Thing - 2025 SEEK Conference in DC and the Ave Maria Press team

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming choral arrangement

Michelle’s One Thing - Our amazing staff (Kristina, Camille, Kate, and Kathy) and The Genesis Prescription Program with SoulCore

 

Other Resources Mentioned: 

Encountering Emmanuel Resources 

 

Announcement:

Season 16 will begin on January 20th, 2025!

 

Journal Questions:

• What would it look like for light to be born in the darkness of my life?
• Where are the places I’m trying to escape or overcome my own humanity?
• Where in my spiritual life do I feel like I’ve plateaued?
• Pray the Litany of Encounter. Which line resonates with you at this moment?

 

Discussion Questions:

• When you think about seeing Jesus face-to-face, what questions, fears, or excitement are in your heart?
• Where do you need the Holy Spirit to overshadow you?
• What graces have you received this Advent?
• What is Jesus inviting you to this Christmas season?

 

Quote to Ponder:

“Jesus has chosen to show me the only way which leads to the divine furnace of love; it is the way of a childlike self-surrender, the way of a child who sleeps, afraid of nothing, in its fathers arms.” (St Therese of Lisieux)

 

Scripture for Lectio:

“And His name shall be called Emmanuel, which means God with us.”  (Matthew 1:23)

 

Sponsor - Stonecrop Wealth Advisors:

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Stonecrop Wealth Advisors

01:13 - Intro

02:19 - Welcome

05:03 - Jesus Comes to Show Us God’s Love

07:07 - The Liturgical Seasons

08:33 - He Comes with a Cry

11:38 - He Comes with a Name

12:27 - He Comes as a Person with a Face

16:00 - He Comes with the Holy Spirit

20:30 - He Comes as a Gift to the World

25:10 - Litany of Encounter

29:02 - One Things

 

In this week's episode, we continue with “Week Three” in our 4 part Advent study of Heather’s new book Encountering Emmanuel. We meditate on the vulnerability of Jesus as a baby and how He comes as one who is little so we can know that we are loved in our littleness. We also reflect on what it looks like to have hope, how to love with an open heart, and the deeper meaning of incense. Jesus’ heart is an open place of refuge where we find the comfort and relief we so desperately need this Advent season.

 

Heather’s One Things - The upcoming women’s conference at Franciscan June 6-8  (registration opens January 29, 2025) Sponsored by Abiding Together and Deacon Bob Rice’s new Scriptural Rosary Cards

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Restore the Glory Podcast episodes on redemptive suffering (Carrie Archual) (Part 1) (Part 2)

Michelle’s One Things - This mug from Deacon Bob Rice, Trader Joe's winter peonies, and The Portal of the Mystery of Hope by Charles Peguy

 

Other Resources Mentioned: 

• Encountering Emmanuel Resources Resources
• The Hidden Meaning of Incense w/ Fr. Boniface Hicks

 

Journal Questions:

• What does abundant life look like in my life at this time?
• How can I lean into Hope today?
• When did I become so serious?
• How can I allow the Lord to transform my woundedness into a sweet fragrance for the Lord?

 

Discussion Questions:

• How do you conflate abundant life with perfection?
• Where are you holding onto hopelessness?
• How can you live more openly even in the midst of pain?
• How can you embrace more play in your life?

 

Quote to Ponder:

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken.” (C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves)

 

Scripture for Lectio:

“I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.”  (Hosea 11:4)

 

Sponsor - Catholic Women & Couples NFP:

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Catholic Women and Couples NFP

01:30 - Intro

02:22 - Welcome

04:20 - Vulnerability and Hope

08:12 - Loving with an Open Heart

11:41 - Incense

16:06 - The Language of Play

22:22 - Thoughts for the Third Week of Advent

24:37 - One Things

In this week's episode,  we continue in our 4 part Advent study of Heather’s new book Encountering Emmanuel and focus on “Week Two”. We ponder the reality that we are welcomed into Jesus’ family as heirs and children of God. We also discuss the restoration that takes place in family, relating to each other as spiritual family, and the ache we experience for union with God in Heaven. 

 

Heather’s One Thing - The community at Franciscan 

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Gingerbread and gingerbread cookie recipes

Michelle’s One Thing - The gift of community in North Carolina

 

Other Resources Mentioned: 

Encountering Emmanuel Resources

•  

 

Journal Questions:

• How do I “sanitize” the Gospel and oversimplify the transformation Christ came to bring us?
• In what parts of my heart am I not attached to the Lord?
• Do I believe the Lord delights in the poor parts of my heart? Or do I believe He merely tolerates them?
• How do I experience the Divine Ache in my life? Do I run from the ache or run towards the Lord when I experience it?

 

Discussion Questions:

• How have you experienced healing and restoration within your family?
• How have you experienced the Trinity as a family?
• How often do you consider the hope and reality of Heaven?
• Have you experienced the transformation from deep aches to lasting hope?

 

Quotes to Ponder:

“The Word became flesh to make us “partakers of the divine nature”: “For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.” “For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.” “The only-begotten Son of God, wanting to make us sharers in his divinity, assumed our nature, so that he, made man, might make men gods.” (CCC 460)

 

Scripture for Lectio:

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” (Romans 8:14-17)

 

Sponsor - In.spired Living:

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Inspired living - bringing eternal beauty to the home

 

Timestamps:

00:00 - In.spired Living

01:08 - Intro

02:00 - Welcome, Scripture Verse, and Quote

04:58 - Familial Love of God

06:58 - Adoption and Belonging

10:47 - The Desire to Be Received

15:13 - A Way to Heaven

19:53 - The Ache Within Us

21:45 - Kindness vs. Comfort

24:59 - One Things

In this week's episode, we begin our 4 part Advent study of Heather’s new book Encountering Emmanuel and focus on the “Introduction” and “Week One”. We discuss the inspiration behind the book, the fruit that comes from journaling, and the call to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd.  We also reflect on allowing Jesus to be born in our hearts, encounter our wounds, and bring light to our personal darkness. 

Heather’s One Thing - Josiah Henley’s artwork for Encountering Emmanuel and the wallpapers made by our friends at Tilma

Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Heather’s updated advent worship playlist 

Michelle’s One Thing - Life in the Power of the Holy Spirit with Dr. Mary Healy (S14 E15) and the Auburn win against Texas A&M

 

Other Resources Mentioned: 

• Encountering Emmanuel Weekly Videos (sign up at the bottom of the page)
• Encountering Emmanuel Leaders Guide (free resource)
• Subscribe to our weekly newsletter 

 

Journal Questions:

• In what ways am I transparent, but not vulnerable?
• Am I allowing Jesus to come into my heart and actually transform me?
• What is holding me back from letting “it be done according to [His] Word?”
• What parts of yourself have yet to encounter the Real Jesus?

 

Discussion Questions:

• Do you believe the Lord has something new to offer you this Advent?
• How are you experiencing resistance in your heart this Advent?
• When it comes to your faith, are you completing tasks or are you encountering Jesus Christ?
• How can you “wake up” from sleepwalking through life?

 

Quotes to Ponder:

“Awake, my soul, awake! Show thy spirit, arouse thy senses, shake off the sluggishness of that deadly heaviness that is upon thee, begin to take care for thy salvation. Let the idleness of vain imagination be put to flight, let go of sloth, hold fast to diligence” (St. Anselm of Canterbury)

 

Scripture for Lectio:

“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46)

 

Sponsor - Into the Deep:

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Timestamps:

00:00 - Into the Deep

01:34 - Intro

02:26 - Welcome

05:32 - The Heart of Encountering Emmanuel

06:51 - Vulnerability and Openness

09:13 - Disposition of Our Hearts

11:30 - Quote to Ponder

12:21 - Coming Awake

13:40 - Personal Encounter

17:46 - The Fruit of Journaling

20:53 - Exploring Areas of Darkness

22:00 - He Comes with Power

26:17 - A Journey of Healing

29:48 - The Voice of the Shepherd

32:04 - One Things