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 continue our three part series on Pope Francis’ recent encyclical Dilexit Nos. 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 - Thai Peanut Chicken Stir Fry
Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Abuses in the Religious Life and the Path to Healing by Dom Dysmas de Lassus
Michelle’s One Thing(s) - Fr. Mark Mary’s podcast: Rosary in a Year and Vanilla Caramel Nut Butter
Other Resources Mentioned:
“Dilexit Nos”: A brief guide for busy readers and Dilexit Nos audio version
Journal Questions:
- Do I perceive Jesus’ presence in my life as being up close to me, or at a distance?
- How have I encountered Jesus as the Lover?
- How do I project my scars onto Jesus?
- Who in my community or in the Church is hardest for me to love right now? How can I love them better?
- Where do I have a belief that Jesus is indifferent to me?
Discussion Questions:
- How have you experienced the ache to be cherished?
- How can you bring communion where there is polarity and discord?
- What happens in you when you consider the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
- When have you blindly trusted in Jesus and His Love and Providence for you? How did He prove Himself trustworthy?
Quotes to Ponder:
“The heart of Christ, as the symbol of the deepest and most personal source of his love for us, is the very core of the initial preaching of the Gospel. It stands at the origin of our faith, as the wellspring that refreshes and enlivens our Christian beliefs.” (Pope Francis, “Dilexit Nos”, Paragraph 32)
Scripture for Lectio:
“Take heart, daughter!” (Matthew 9:22)
Sponsor - Florecita Design:
Florecita Design wants to help you build your domestic church. The Florecita Design Activity Bundle is a set of 12-15 printable activities for young children, delivered each month and based on the Catholic liturgical calendar.
Every month, Florecita Design will help you incorporate math, science, and pre-literacy skills with your little kids all within the context of the Catholic Church. This Activity Bundle is a digital subscription created by a speech-language pathologist to provide parents with the tools and language to incorporate the faith easily into every day play for their 2 to 7 year-olds. All parents have to do is print the activities and follow along the instructional booklet for enriching, screen free ways to entertain their kids.
Florecita Design just released the Advent and Christmas Activity Bundle, which is a holiday special with TWENTY activities, including puzzles, an Advent prayer banner, St. Nicholas activities, and so much more. To learn more, visit florecitadesign.com.
You can use the code ABIDE10 for 10% off your first three months of the Activity Bundle! You can also follow along on Instagram @florecitadesign for speech-language tips, sales and liturgical living ideas for little kids. Let’s teach our kids the Catholic faith in ways that are simple, tangible and beautiful!
Timestamps:
00:00 - Florecita Design
01:19 - Intro
02:12 - Welcome
02:43 - Actions Reflect Our Heart
04:09 - The Science of Caress
05:37 - The Humanity of Christ
08:26 - Aching to Be Loved
10:11 - The Holy Spirit and Community
14:03 - The Human Heart
17:08 - Vulnerability and Secure Love
20:00 - Our Image of God
23:08 - One Things