Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we conclude our three part series on the heart and Pope Francis’ recent encyclical . We reflect on Scripture as a personal love story, how it speaks to our areas of weakness, and the awesome reality of Jesus desiring to love and heal us there. The Lord meets us where we are and He is always seeking to bring our hearts closer to His. He speaks directly to each one of us with an invitation to be loved and to love. This invitation of love requires a response not only in big moments but in the ordinary moments of each day. Heather’s One Thing - Her friends Laura...
info_outline S15 E8 - The Sacred Heart - Dilexit Nos (Part 2)Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we continue our three part series on Pope Francis’ recent encyclical . We reflect on our ache to be loved, how Jesus heals in close proximity to us, and the “science of the caress”. We also talk about how Jesus is a man who comes and finds us wherever we are and longs to open up a new place for us in relationship with Him. Will we allow our hearts to beat again with love? Heather’s One Thing - Sister Miriam’s One Thing - by Dom Dysmas de Lassus Michelle’s One Thing(s) - Fr. Mark Mary’s podcast: and Other Resources Mentioned: ...
info_outline S15 E7 - The Sacred Heart - Dilexit Nos (Part 1)Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we begin a three part series on Pope Francis’ recent encyclical (on the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus Christ). We discuss how God, as the Divine initiator, loved us first and continuously calls us deeper into His most Sacred Heart. We also reflect on the meaning of our hearts, being captivated by Jesus’ love, and the beauty of allowing Him to set our hearts aflame. Heather’s One Thing - Man and Woman and the Order of Creation Conference at Franciscan University () Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Michelle’s One Thing - The book by Fr....
info_outline S15 E6 - Practical Aspects of Living Out CommunityAbiding Together
In this week's episode, we continue our discussion on communion and focus on the practical aspects of living out in community. We reflect on the four main pillars of building a community: intentionality, vulnerability, proximity, and organically. We also talk about community as a journey and that we learn to love others by experiencing the love of God ourselves. This experience brings communion within us, which bears fruit, and then we are then able to give that love away to others. Heather’s One Thing - Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Quiz Michelle’s One Thing - ...
info_outline S15 E5 - Theology of CommunionAbiding Together
In this week's episode, we talk about the theology of communion. Our desire for communion with others is very good and comes from God Himself. In fact, our ache for community is an ache for eternity. God desires to bring us into an eternal communion with Him and the community here on earth points towards this in a small way. We discuss what happens when we experience a broken community, the challenges faced in building community, and how community changes throughout the seasons of life. Heather’s One Thing - My art on the (add photos to website) Sister Miriam’s One Thing -...
info_outline S15 E4 - Lectio DivinaAbiding Together
In this week's episode, we model what it looks like to pray Lectio Divina, which is a divine reading of Sacred Scripture. We begin by sharing the different ways we spend time in Sacred Scripture, how it has impacted our lives, and model how to pray Lectio Divina. We invite you to follow along and join us as we spend time reading and reflecting on John 15:5-8. Sacred Scripture is the voice of God and what He has said is alive forever and relevant to our lives in all situations. We encourage you to journey with us as we deepen our relationship with God through His word. Heather’s One Thing -...
info_outline S15 E3 - Suffering & LoveAbiding Together
In this week's episode, we reflect on suffering and love. We all have deep and tender places in our hearts where we suffer. Sometimes we feel alone in these sorrows and because of this, turn inwards into our pain. But the reality is, we are never alone in our suffering; God is always with us. We also reflect on fear in suffering, suffering in isolation vs suffering in communion, and how to allow God’s light to shine into these sorrowful places. Heather’s One Thing - The subscription and . (especially this candle) Sister Miriam’s One Thing - (particularly a recent excerpt...
info_outline S15 E2 - Living the Mysteries (Part 2)Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we look back and remember both the glorious and luminous moments in our lives. We share how allowing the Holy Spirit to overshadow us has brought forth an overflowing of grace and restoration in our lives. We also reflect on how God desires to restore our voices in places where we are afraid and have become silent. Today, join us in reflecting on your recent faith journey to discover the beautiful ways God has been shaping your soul through your own glorious and luminous mysteries. Glorious - something you see the Lord redeeming and restoring (it can be in...
info_outline S15 E1 - Living the Mysteries (Part 1)Abiding Together
In this week's episode, we look back over the past year and remember both the joyful and sorrowful moments in our lives. We discuss the importance of regularly bringing our attention to what God is doing in our lives and reflecting on the opportunities we have to deepen our surrender to God’s provision. Today, join us in reflecting on your recent faith journey to discover the beautiful ways God has been shaping your soul through your own joyful and sorrowful mysteries. Joyful - an area of delight or gratitude where you have felt the tangible presence of the Lord Sorrowful - a hurt or an...
info_outline Bonus: Abiding in HopeAbiding Together
In this bonus episode, Heather is joined by Fr. Dave Pivonka, TOR live at the National Eucharistic Congress (NEC) for a special Abiding Together and They that Hope podcast mashup. They reflect on their experiences at the NEC and share how they hope God will transform the lives of not only those in attendance, but also those at home. Heather and Fr. Dave also discuss finding Jesus in our daily lives and the importance of feasting on God instead of earthly things. This episode is a production of and . Special thanks to for recording and hosting the live podcast stage. Heather’s...
info_outlineIn 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