Full video episode available at: https://youtu.be/14_MowgxTyQ

 

The fullness of the mission of Christ includes a heart for the poor. This is pretty central, actually, but somehow doesn?t always get a lot of airtime.

 

This isn?t just something we do, but who we are. It?s not just a Christian thing?this is being like Jesus.

 

And even once that heart is developed and the desire is there? the how can be unclear. How do we live the Gospel this way? 

 

In this episode: examining our heart for the poor, and how to live this out in everyday life. How to love like Jesus.

 

Get your copy of Habits for Holiness (by Fr Mark-Mary Ames, CFR!) at https://ascensionpress.com/habits

 

The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of generous donors like you. You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you!

VIDEO: Watch at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfhPsn_uF30

 

In our world of wanting more and of endlessly upgrading, we have to get good at saying, ?Ok, that?s enough.? There?s a game of constant consumption and if we?re not careful, it?s going to take advantage of us. Don?t get played!

 

Simplicity isn?t about getting rid of everything. It?s saying ?no? to things you need to say ?no? to?creating a space where you?re not controlled by things.

 

How? A poverty check. A regular practice of examining everything to see what really needs to stay and what can go; a regular challenge to take an honest look at what we?re clinging to and what we can let go of.

 

Get your copy of Habits for Holiness (by Fr Mark-Mary Ames, CFR) at https://ascensionpress.com/habits

 

The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of generous donors like you. You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you!

Watch this video episode at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbtZV0z_is0

 

Ever try to connect with the person right in front of you? but he or she is staring at a phone, totally preoccupied? You want to jump in and say, ?Look up! Look at me.?

 

How often are we those preoccupied people in prayer?

 

We have to be real about attachment. Whether we like it or not, our humanity is into stuff. In our weakness, we can get attached to stuff, which can serve us or not serve us. It?s a burden.

 

Instead: lean into the freedom of simplicity, at the service of intimacy.

 

We only have so much emotional and spiritual energy throughout the day. And after all?the lilies don?t get up in the morning and have to pick out their nicest dresses. Can we give God our full attention by being less cluttered in our thinking or our environments?

 

Get your copy of Habits for Holiness (by Fr Mark-Mary Ames, CFR!) at https://ascensionpress.com/habits

 

The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of generous donors like you. You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you!

VIDEO now available! Watch on Spirit Juice?s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_wJgfHG1sI

 

As Christians, what does our free time look like? Do we prioritize the same things as the world? Is there any difference in how we spend our time and money and attention?

 

Those who know Jesus live differently. In important things, and in ordinary, everyday things. We?re talking about the kind of mindset that changes the most important thing about Friday from "End of the Work Week!" to "The Day Our Lord Suffered and Died For Us."

 

It can be a struggle to feel like everything is ordinary? but God wants to encounter us in that ordinary and make it extraordinary.

 

Get your copy of Habits for Holiness (by Fr Mark-Mary Ames, CFR!) at https://ascensionpress.com/habits

 

The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of generous donors like you. You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you!

VIDEO now available! Watch on Spirit Juice?s YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/dZ78lBznd_s

 

Love your enemies. 

 

AND love that one person who embodies every single one of your pet peeves and always seems to find the fastest way to most intensely annoy you.

 

Each person?s personality?our most and least favourite parts?is gift, and it?s all about how we receive the uniqueness of each person in his or her personality. Each trait speaks an aspect of God?s heart.

 

Accepting everyone as they are isn?t always easy? but it?s easier than being surprised and rattled every time they do that one thing over and over and over again. It?s more than that, though; when we accept people, they have the freedom to be themselves. After all, unity is not uniformity.

 

It?s scary to give people permission to be themselves. Maybe the Lord is asking you to expand your heart to fit them in it.

 

Get your copy of Habits for Holiness (by Fr Mark-Mary Ames, CFR!) at https://ascensionpress.com/habits

 

The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of generous donors like you. You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you!

VIDEO now available! Watch on Spirit Juice?s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFruaMSgbdc

 

We have some pretty strong feelings on this topic? and it shows in this week?s episode.

 

The most important thing you?ll bring to your vocation?whether that?s religious life or family life?is your capacity to be a man or woman of communion.

 

Passing through purgatory is the experience that prepares us for heaven. There?s no greater insight into what purgatory is like than family life or community life.

 

This applies directly to mission, too. We can be obsessed with mission at the cost of communion? and that?s when your mission will dry up because it?s no longer connected to the vine.

 

So what does it mean to be a man or woman of communion? What does a life like that look like? We get into all of it in this conversation.

 

Get your copy of Habits for Holiness (by Fr Mark-Mary Ames, CFR!) at https://ascensionpress.com/habits

 

The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of generous donors like you. You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you!

Now with video! WATCH the podcast on Spirit Juice's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Hg26S_bDo

 

Discipleship is a team sport. Family?both through our natural families, and our supernatural family through baptism?and communion with others is an essential ingredient to the Christian life.

 

Not that it will be easy? it won?t be. It is simple, but not easy. An encounter with family lived well is redeeming not because it?s perfect, but because there?s love and sacrifice in the midst of the mess. That?s where healing is, especially if your experience of family has been painful in some way.

 

And truly, if the mention of ?family? is painful for you, know this: God wants to break through and redeem that. The bond through baptism is real and deep?this family is not second best; not a consolation prize. Blood is thicker than water, but grace is thicker than blood.

 

?Lord, help me to see today how you?re going to reveal yourself in my family.?

 

Get your copy of Habits for Holiness (by Fr Mark-Mary Ames, CFR!) at https://ascensionpress.com/habits

 

The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of generous donors like you. You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you!

Now with VIDEO! Watch this episode on Spirit Juice's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FteWNKQD8wM

 

It?s key to commit to prayer; to schedule it and keep honor it through intention and discipline. But, then, how do we maintain prayer as an intimate relationship and not let it become a routine?

 

The answer to one question: where?s your heart in it?

 

Going through the motions to get it done is not the point. You know? when you finish your prayer time, look up, and think what just happened? It?s better, even, to do less with a whole heart than to try to do more while totally disconnected.

 

Even if you?re not in a good place to pray?tired, hungry, whatever?be honest about that and bring that to prayer. Because just like you can tell when somebody?s totally checked out of a conversation (nodding, ?uh huh, yup?), the Lord knows our hearts. He can tell. Talk to him instead about why you?re distracted or angry or not in it; that?s where he wants to be.

 

Simply be still, and with your whole heart, say ?Jesus, look at my heart.?

Now with VIDEO! Watch this episode on Spirit Juice's YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sbgj8IU-ogg.

 

Do you know anybody who wants to work out *every* time? Unlikely. But nobody who gets in that workout says afterwards, ?That was a waste of time. Why?d I bother??

 

Even more with prayer. When you take the time, it?s always, ?I?m so glad I did that.?

 

Eternal perspective changes how you use your time. What are we made for? To live forever. Our decisions now have an effect on that. We?re made to be fully alive starting now.

 

When you grow in prayer, your heart grows in capacity. And you take that capacity?an expansive heart with deep desires?with you to heaven. Let God expand your heart.

 

Get your copy of Habits for Holiness (by Fr Mark-Mary Ames, CFR!) at https://ascensionpress.com/habits

 

The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of generous donors like you. You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/pocoapoco. Thank you!

You crave conversion and real change; to receive the healing and hope that God wants to give you. How does that lasting, long-term change happen?

 

It happens when we accept some truth or let go of some lie. Each step forms our will, either strengthening it or weakening it. And the stronger our will, the more we?ll be able to choose the good even when it?s hard and resist the evil even when it?s tempting. 

 

This change can start in an instant, but the long-term forming of the will happens slowly, over time and over many, many choices ? choices that might seem small, but matter. Deeply.

 

Because we?re not kids anymore. Choices have consequences and all those moments make up the battle for our hearts and our minds. Our lives. This is it!

 

The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of generous donors like you. You can give at spiritjuice.org/pocoapoco

We?re all really interested in what God can do for us; the healing, the restoration, the gifts of the Father. Are we as interested in committing to the long term relationship that allows us to receive all of that?

 

It?s all too easy to spend the inheritance while overlooking the relationship.

 

As sons and daughters of God, we?re meant to live from the inside of Jesus? heart. Not as outsiders or coworkers or bystanders, but within, where we can experience being known and seen and loved by the Father. That?s discipleship.

 

Because life is demanding, and the only thing that makes your vocation and your ministry sustainable is through a receiving relationship with the Father. That relationship transforms you into an instrument of God. Without that relationship, it?s just too hard.

 

Be courageous in making time for prayer, for the Word of God ? making time for the beloved.

 

We're able to produce the Poco a Poco podcast because of generous donors. If you'd like to join us, go to https://spiritjuice.org/pocoapoco

St Francis is the rich young man who didn?t turn away sad. God invited St Francis, and his response was even more than his heart burning for the Lord ? he was consumed. There was no going back. 

 

He became more like Jesus, but without being less like Francis. He became more like Francis; not losing himself in God, but finding himself in God. The unique man that he is in the eyes of the Father, not just repeating the works of other saints.

 

Our hearts have such a capacity that we want more and more? which means that at some point, you leave behind some lesser goods. You develop a taste for a love that?s greater, and that?s a good thing. Francis didn?t settle for anything less ? and neither should you.

 

This podcast is possible because of generous supporters like you. Interested in helping us? Go to https://www.spiritjuice.org/pocoapoco/

We have a God who?s always on the move, always pursuing. In our busyness, we?re distracted ? we miss things. We miss people. But God is constantly seeking, constantly encountering what is broken and seeing the wholeness.

 

Christianity is different: it?s about God becoming Man and coming to us.

 

He?s looking for you. Let yourself be found.

 

For the next few episodes, we?re focusing on Habits for Holiness, a new book written by our own Fr Mark-Mary. You can find it at ascensionpress.com/habits

 

We now have video! Watch this full episode on facebook.com/spiritjuice, instagram.com/spiritjuice, youtube.com/c/SpiritJuice.

 

Want to support the Poco a Poco podcast? Become a monthly benefactor at spiritjuice.org/pocoapoco

Jesus has a wounded human heart; he allowed himself to be fully wounded this way. If it had only been his hands or feet, he would?ve survived.

 

How do we allow ourselves to be wounded for him? My sacrifices thus far are survivable. I could still be intact on my own. He gave us everything; we can?t turn back.

 

Evangelical chastity is the full, total gift of your heart, which is set on fire with love for God and for one another.

 

Jesus teaches us a new way to love on the cross ? one that lines up with our desires. We want to love differently, but we?re tempted to settle. There?s a real fear in getting our hopes up. 

 

The Father wants you to get your hopes up.

 

Set your hopes high for intimacy ? for the union and the love that is possible.

 

If you can, donations to support the Poco a Poco podcast now gratefully accepted at spiritjuice.org/pocoapoco

Obedience isn?t something being snatched from you; it?s about willingly offering the gift of your freedom. It comes from great humility, a bold statement that ?I?m not in charge of my life. I?m not God.? It?s recognizing that we don?t have all the answers, and God really knows what is best for us.

 

So wherever Jesus is, wherever he?s leading you: go there. Stay there. Choose to go there... don't get dragged! Don?t back off, don?t fill it with other things. Stay focused on him on the cross.

 

We?re so grateful to be able to connect with you. If you?re able, consider making a donation to this podcast and community at spiritjuice.org/pocoapoco

The last few weeks, we?ve been in the wilderness for Lent? but you can only stay in the desert so long. And when the Lord came out of the desert, he was very focused on his mission, with one moment in mind: going to the cross, and ultimately giving his life. 

 

As we move towards Holy Week and the Triduum: stay focused. Look at Jesus on the cross.

 

For three episodes, we?re going to ponder the wounds of Christ and relate them to the three evangelical counsels: poverty, obedience and chastity.

 

(People might think these are just for consecrated religious. And yes, we take vows. But the Catechism, St JPII, St Bonaventure?and more?all propose that these are for every disciple to grow in imitation of Jesus.)

 

Today?s episode is all about poverty? but we don?t talk about possessions. Look at Christ?s wounded hands, nailed to the cross; they?re a manifestation of Jesus? own poverty. He can?t grasp at anything, but can only receive anything from the Father. His hands and wide open arms are all receptivity.

 

At the culmination of his life, he has given everything; let go of everything, for the sake of love. Absolute and total surrender.

 

What about when we grasp? Try to control things? Think we know what will fulfill us, or others? This week, examine where you might be grasping?not receiving?the good gifts that the Lord is offering.

 

Want to share in the work of this podcast a little? Donations gratefully accepted at spiritjuice.org/pocoapoco

Sometimes, in the heart of the wilderness, your step that was a strong march slows down. Then turns into a limp after rolling an ankle, and finally ends up looking more like a crawl by the end of the day.

 

And that?s fine. Because the only rule is we don?t stop. 

 

When there?s a choice between struggling and stopping, we always want to err on the side of going for it. 

 

That means that at the beginning of each day, the ones who ?win?, spiritually, aren?t necessarily the most gifted, the most talented, the capable. It?s not the ones who look most promising on paper.

 

The most faithful are the ones who persevere. So just keep going. Be faithful.

 

Fr Mark-Mary's new book, Habits for Holiness, available now from Ascension Press. Check it out here: https://ascensionpress.com/products/habits-for-holiness-small-steps-for-big

After trying to go it alone day in, day out, you start to realize you can?t do it alone. That?s miserable. In the desert, you?re radically dependent: on the Lord, and on people who surround you.

 

Relationships are not accessory. They?re essential.

 

This breakthrough happens humanly and spiritually. All the physical sufferings start to purify you and you can experience what?s most important. It?s in our weakness that the only comfort, relationship, comes alive.

 

Once you lean into that, you can find joy in struggle because you?re in it together. It?s when all the distractions are taken away that you can focus on the gift of relationship. 

 

But being left with nothing except relationship can be a scary moment. You can put off that moment for a long time. You can run from it.

So? don?t. Instead, embrace the built-in grace of Lent: to not have another option. To willingly remove all the other comforts in life and to see relationship for what it is: a consolation. Let this consolation be consoling.

The desert isn?t about struggling for the sake of struggle. There?s a wrong kind of struggle; one that?s self-reliant, self-focused, worldly. It?s difficult for the Lord to do anything for us there.

 

In the desert, the reality of the wilderness slams against pride and ego. Against ?I know what?s best? and ?I?m strong.? You get to the desert and it punches you in the face because everything?s so heightened. You figure out real quick how self-focused you are.

 

And that wake-up call is good, because we all have a temptation to turn in to ourselves. To fix ourselves. To fix the people around us. To control. We?re so stuck in ourselves. Getting after this temptation? Now that?s the right struggle.

 

Don?t get dragged through the desert, kicking and screaming and resisting the whole time. Use your will to choose the desert, whatever that desert looks like for you. It doesn?t matter whether you see what God is doing in the suffering or know where He?s leading you. You don?t have to like it or even understand it. You only have to pray, ?Lord, I trust you and I receive this.?

 

Because that safety you?re trying to force with all your self-reliance? That safety is an idol. Let go. God?s got you.

We?re kind of tired of mediocre Lents. You?

 

This Lent, we?re going for it: into the wilderness. Accepting God's invitation into the desert, with all its dangers and hazards and risks.

 

Why does a loving Father, through a loving Church, invite us into a wild unknown?

 

Because it?s not unknown? to him. He?s the one who initiates the invite every time.

 

Jesus? journey into the desert began immediately after his baptism?after receiving his anointing and identity from the Father. He goes into the desert for us; truly, he doesn?t need reminders of who he is. But he goes, and he?s tempted. He struggles. He?s hungry. And it?s in this experience?as he responds to temptations with the truth of who he is and who the Father is?that Jesus receives his identity in a deeper way.

 

We can have that desert experience, too. In the wilderness, the Father creates a sacred place to more deeply give each person his or her identity; for him or her to receive it over and over again. 

 

This journey often means leaving what?s comfortable and not being afraid to suffer. After all, the desert can be dangerous? if you go alone. If you?re standing at the edge of the desert, feeling a nudge to go for it: beg for the courage to go. God is waiting for you there.

 

Want to see some beautiful photos from the wilderness? Check out www.franciscanfriars.com/pocoapoco

If you want to be healthy, happy and holy?and truly, these things are possible!?you have to live intentionally. It?s not going to happen by accident.

 

The small things are the foundation for that kind of life; getting out of bed on time, showing up to that planned workout, cooking the healthy groceries sitting in the fridge instead of firing up that food delivery app (again).

 

Because things fall in order when you?re living in order.

This consistency is often hidden? boring, even. It?s often anything but flashy. But there?s grace in these small, simple, hidden acts?they build our hearts and allow us to sacrifice ourselves.

What?s one thing you can do that will move you towards being holier, healthier and happier? Seriously? take a second. Bet something came to mind. Right?

 

Sometimes we overcomplicate the plan. When there?s a lot to change, or the change is going to be rough, it?s tempting to bail on starting. It?s easy to avoid doing the hard things, even the little hard things. Maybe especially the little things?but that?s how holiness happens. Choosing to do the small hard thing, for Jesus, over and over and over again.

 

You got this! With God?s grace, you can totally do hard things. That realization?that we're capable of persevering?gives us the confidence that we have what it takes to gladly do what needs to be done.

So stay simple. Keep the main thing the main thing. ?Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.? All of all three. Because keeping Christ firmly in the center of your life?the focus of all your energy and the motivation for all your choices?is the only sustainable way to live radically for him for a whole lifetime.

This week, we welcome a special guest for the first in a three-episode series: Jackie Mulligan of Reform Wellness.

 

?It?s ok to not be ok? and it?s also ok to want to be ok.?

 

God loves and accepts us as we are, in all the messiness of our weakness. And his love also draws us to renewal; to real change that leads to real holiness, happiness, and a life that?s abundant.

 

Life-changing renewal is possible and it?s what God wants for us. But it doesn?t happen by accident.

 

It takes intention. It takes risk. It takes very honestly asking yourself, But, really? how am I doing? If the answer demands an overhaul of your life, there will be temptation to put it off?don?t give in! Fight through that resistance. This is God?s initiative.

 

Because if you don?t, well, as a very honest friend of Fr Angelus? once told him, ?If they wrote a book about your life, this would be a really boring chapter.?

 

And a life that?s a little too safe and comfy and boring is an enemy of holiness. So let God change it. Let him change you.

We welcome a pretty special guest this week... Br Kolbe, of "He likes cars" renown!

 

Let's get right to it: interior poverty. Facing our own brokenness, weakness, failings. Not the first place we want to go, right? But here?s the thing? there?s no way around it. The ?secret? way to following Jesus is coming to terms with our poverty?with him, as he gives us the grace to be able to see it and not be overwhelmed by it. Getting to that place of emptiness allows him to fill us with peace and trust.

 

There?s a divine efficiency to poverty. The Lord can work more directly when we are depending solely on his grace and not on any false securities that get in his way.

 

It?s the only way. And that might not sound like good news, but that?s because we have worldly ears. Hear it this way: this only way is hard, but it?s with Jesus, he who brings sweetness to difficulty.

 

So go there. Don?t avoid your spiritual poverty?Jesus meets you there.

If you live community life well, if you live family life well, people are going to see your sins and weakness and failures. That can be a hard place. But if you can stay there, and people can stay there with you: that?s the good stuff. That?s the place of abundant fruit.

 

Real fraternity?the love of brothers and sisters?is powerful.

 

There can be a real infection in our hearts today that comes from experiences of rejection. We need spaces where we can rejoice in one another despite our weaknesses: moments of welcome and mercy that redeem our life experiences. 

 

This has to start somewhere. Where does this happen? In intentional relationships where we decide to have mercy on each other. 

 

People who keep choosing community, keep choosing to be patient with each other and have mercy on each other. To keep saying, ?yeah, it?s hard, but I?m here and I?m not going to leave you.?

?There are so many voices telling me I?m not good enough, not worthy of that love. And lots of voices saying that this kind of freedom doesn?t matter or isn?t possible. That I can?t experience true forgiveness or true healing or true conversion. That?s where the battle is fought.?

 

We hear a lot of voices. And the gift of prayer is a space where we can hear the one voice that matters. Blessed are those who root out the distractions in their lives, for they will know God.

 

As baptized Christians, we are made for prayer. Everyone is called to open up Scripture, encounter Jesus, and live the Gospel.

 

We want to follow Jesus?and the way to follow Jesus is prayer. Our lives only make sense in the context of relationship with Him. And it?s only when we get rid of anything that is blocking or distracting or interfering with this relationship that our interior life can be what it?s supposed to be; an interior life that gives life new meaning.

 

This could be your breakthrough in discernment, too. It will transform discernment from a calculation to a chance to give yourself away in love.

 

To embrace sacrifice and boldly say to the Father, ?Lord, I give you permission to take what I?m not strong enough to give.?

 

Mentioned in this episode...

The Godsplaining Podcast

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/godsplaining

A Work of God by Vianney Vocations, now available for pre-order.

https://www.vianneyvocations.com/product/a-work-of-god/ 

Even when we?re actively trying to trust God in all things, there?s a constant temptation to take back control. To just do it ourselves. To bail out of surrendering to Him, and keep things from Him to try and ?make sure they get done.? We forget, over and over, that God takes initiative, does things, takes care of us. We overlook the ways He?s doing that right now.

 

What?s opposite that temptation? God?s constant invitation to let go, to trust, to forget about ourselves, to get over ourselves. To find that balance of letting God do everything while our fiat also provokes us to action.

 

SO.
If you want to live differently;
if you crave renewal, restoration, conversion in your life;
it?s possible. It?s real!
Most of all: it?s a work of God. 

This episode kicks off a new series moving through a collection of images and essays of the CFR community called A Work of God by Vianney Vocations, now available for pre-order.

Sometimes we need to stop and take a real look at what?s going on in our hearts and our lives. What has power in my life? Who has influence over me? And if God isn?t the first authority?by a mile?then it?s time to reorder. It?s time to get back to relationship with Him above everything else.

 

Because Jesus isn?t meant to be one priority among many. We can?t balance our pursuit of Him with other things, even good things. The only way to living intensely with the Lord?the only way to become a saint?is to accept sacrifice. It?ll cost you something, perhaps even a good thing that you?d really rather not give up. But it?s worth it. 

 

Living this way, with Christ, protects us from being tossed around in whatever storms are raging. (And it?s been a stormy year.) With Christ, the world and its storms no longer dictate our mood or determine whether we feel unsettled or unsafe. God alone is in control of our peace.

So if you?re sensing distractions or attachments or clutter in your life that are keeping you from God; if you?re holding on to one thing that?s actually holding you back from Him; if you?ve been thinking about letting go of something that?s keeping you from being all in with God? now?s the time. Drop it and return to God. Return to your first love.

Isaiah 25: ?The Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.?

We face suffering in this world; trials and hardships and pain that can leave us feeling so alone.

In Advent we wait to celebrate Jesus coming to us in the Incarnation, and for him to come at the end of time, when he will definitively wipe away all tears.

But he also comes to us today. Wherever we are, whatever we're feeling; he gently comes near to us and wipes away our tears. When we cry out to God, he hears us. He sees our suffering. He does not pass by or overlook us. Whether we?re publicly begging for him or privately weeping to him, each day can be a mini Advent in our hearts, welcoming the Savior who comes to us.

Our hope is sure. The Lord comes to comfort us, and we can experience that breakthrough in prayer, even today.

Let?s take an honest look at our expectations of God. Specifically, how our wounds and weakness can make us expect so little of him. The times when we feel threatened by others, insecure about ourselves, anxious about life?these are all fruit of a small heart with small expectations of what our mighty Father will do.

 

Jesus says he will come. So do we believe him? And when he comes to us?at Bethlehem, at Mass, every day?are our eyes open to see him?

 

Our hearts are meant to be bigger. Advent is a time for our hearts to expand with Christ?s own heart. Jesus shows us how to have joyful expectations and real confidence that the Lord has revealed his goodness throughout history, continues to work today in our lives and the lives of all those around us, and will continue to work in the future.

God has promised that he will come. Now?s the time to pray with filial boldness and be available to him, awaiting his promise with joyful expectation.

Where do you feel most "at home"? When are you most free to be yourself? Ultimately, our hearts can only fully experience this  through a deep relationship with Jesus Christ. He's the one who settles our insecurities and gives us the sense of belonging which we crave.

If you're feeling a sense of exile, of not feeling seen and known and loved... maybe it's time to discern if that's due to trying to make your home in other places. As Henri Nouwen pointed out, sometimes we know we have a home, we just don't choose to live there.

Let's choose home! Let's decide to live there. Because that's where we belong?and if we're not home with the Father, it's very difficult to find home in the world.

Today's episode continues with Blessed is She?s Advent Devotional, Maranatha.

Also recommended (thanks Fr Angelus): Advent of the Heart: Seasonal Sermons and Prison Writings, 1941-1944 by Fr Alfred Delp, S.J.

Advent is here! In these days leading to Christmas, we all have the chance to look at the places where we need Jesus to break in and bring light and hope.

In this week?s episode:

We start our 4-week exploration of Blessed is She?s Advent Devotional, Maranatha Recommendation from Fr Angelus: Advent of the Heart: Seasonal Sermons and Prison Writings, 1941-1944 by Fr Alfred Delp, S.J. Martin Jernberg (instagram: @martin.jernberg), Mike Kearney (instagram: @atmikekearney) Advent and Lent have similarities. Consider this: St Francis fasted before both Easter (during Lent) and Christmas (during Advent). Do you struggle to get ?into? Advent? Fr Mark-Mary is publishing a book with Ascension Press, set for release in March 2021. Fr Mark-Mary talks about praying maranatha (?Come, Lord Jesus!) in a particular situation as an example of how we can invite the Lord into our lives. The ?recipe? for Jesus to come: embracing our poverty. Jesus doesn?t always come with the remedies we hope for?He comes with himself. The world before the advent of Christ needed a Savior; it was broken, lost, dark. Christ brought healing, purpose and light to the world, and He wants to do the same for our world, now; for our lives. We don?t have to wait for the ?big? things to happen before we involve God; He wants to enter into the ordinary, everyday things with us. The Church has set aside holy, consecrated times like Advent as a gift for us. Jesus not only wants to come, but also wants us to ask, even beg, for Him to come. Servant of God Marcel V?n, in prayer, hears Jesus say to him, ?It brings joy to me to hear you call my name.? Jesus has a desire to hear us cry out to Him. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel? one of the greatest Advent songs, right? Reflecting on the experience of Megan Hjelmstad (instagram: @positively__imperfect) of longing for children after a hysterectomy, and how so many of us can relate to that suffering of longing. Megan feels the Holy Spirit invite her to pray for Our Lady?s intercession to conceive Christ in her life so that she might bring His light into the world. When we?re consumed by our suffering, we need to let God break in. We need to turn away from ourselves and to the Lord, and let Him work. Fr Innocent talks about struggling with depression in high school and feeling the pressure as a varsity athlete, even while appearing totally fine and happy on the outside.  This depression and experience of anxiety leads to a profound Eucharistic encounter. Healing is made possible through hope. Your Advent season can be real and concrete. What are areas in your life that are barren and burdened and in need of Christ?

Peace on the outside comes from knowing God on the inside.  This week we discuss the Prince of Peace who is Christ crucified.  Through the cross, Jesus has made a way for us to have peace with the Father in this world.

Peace WITH God will bring the peace OF God. Jesus promised peace in our hearts. So, we remain in His presence.  It?s in Him alone that you can find real peace?

In this week's episode we talk about the reality of our heavenly Father. The God of heaven and earth is passionately pursuing you right now. No matter how close you are to him, he is knocking on the door of your heart, asking to come in and meet with you once again. He?s not knocking just to fix you. He?s not knocking just to make you do something for him. He simply wants to meet with you. He simply wants to love you.

In this week?s episode:

Blessed is She podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/blessed-is-she  Abiding Together podcast https://www.abidingtogetherpodcast.com/  Want to send a sticker for Pro the donkey? Address: St Joseph Friary 523 W 142 St New York NY 10031 Isaiah 9:6: Father Forever (Alternate translation: Everlasting Father) Why is Jesus called ?Father forever?? Rembrandt?s The Prodigal Son  Parables Referenced: The Prodigal Son The Lost Sheep The Good Samaritan The Father?s desire to be a friend to sinners. Fr Innocent tells a personal story of searching for a friend who has recently died. The Holy Spirit moves our hearts to seek out His sons and daughters. How the Father pursues us and longs to be with us forever; for eternity. St Francis of Assisi?s example as someone who seeks the forgotten; being with the forgotten always reminded St Francis of who the Father is and of his own mission. God always pursues the forgotten. Mission gives us experiences of the Father. Seeking the lost and the broken not only gives us a chance to love and serve others, but also gives us privileged insight of how God loves us as well. Hosea 11; reread this passage and replace Israel with your name. God is drawing each of us out of exile. Fr Innocent talks about how sometimes Jesus is our safe space. We say, ?ok, I just want to stay with Jesus.? And he asks us, ?How?s your relationship with the Father?? Jesus is not satisfied just revealing Himself. Jesus doesn?t want to keep the Father hidden away. Our inheritance is not an orphan spirit of insecurity. We have an everlasting Father who pursues us. Referenced Books by Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis: Fire of Mercy (Vol. I, II, III), The Way of the Disciple Upcoming episodes will feature Blessed Is She?s Advent Devotional Maranatha. Order it now if you want to use the resource with the podcast: https://blessedisshe.net/product/maranatha-advent-devotional/ .

This week we discuss the title, "Mighty God" and the way in which God shows his might by making himself small, by forgiving us, by coming to us in the Eucharist.  God is great and omnipotent but he chooses to become small to us so we can respond to Him in love. He made himself fragile to give us his strength. He became vulnerable so we could finally open our hearts in love, without fear. He is with you. He is for you. And he is enough.

Are we fascinated by God or merely interested?  God wants His creation to be fascinated with Him and His ways. In this week's episode we talk about what it means to put aside our worry and to trust in the Wonderful Counselor.  The truth is this: If we are fascinated with anything in life other than Jesus then we don?t really know Him intimately!  If  we allow ourselves to be captivated with Him and seek Him more, then we will experience a heart consumed by and filled with God!

In this week's episode Fr. Angelus talks about his favorite Icon, Our Lady of Tenderness and how Our Lady teaches us how to surrender everything that keeps us from loving Jesus with all we have. Through her example Our Lady teaches us how to have hope in seemingly hopeless moments, and what it means to really be seen by the Father.  We uncover how Mary desires to mother us in our poverty so that we can go before Christ fully alive.

As the Father sent me, so I send you.  In this week?s episode we talk about the real share that we have in Jesus's own mission and the urgent need to bring Jesus to the world. God uses our gifts and talents to touch the people that God brings into our lives. God is not waiting for somebody else. God want to use you.  No matter what our vocation in life God calls us to mission.

The Holy Spirit, who worked in and through Christ during his life on earth, now works in and through us. In this week?s episode we discuss how the Holy Spirit wants to move in our lives. Just as the Spirit enabled Christ to bring glory to his Father, so now the Spirit enables us to glorify both the Son and the Father.  The Holy Spirit can help us greatly, but only if we let it.  

We look at Jesus and the Samaritan woman with an emphasis on they way in which Jesus thirsts to love her.  We also mention Mother Teresa's relationship with the thirst of Jesus and how important it is for us to know that God thirsts for our love.  We're wanted and pursued by God.

Our first guest!  Our long time arch nemesis, Michelle Benzinger from the Abiding Together Podcast, joins Fr. Innocent and Fr. Mark-Mary to talk about tangible grace for tangible trials, seeking first the Kingdom of God lest you go about your day spiritually hangry, and praying when there's no time to pray.  Also, we learn about Fr. Innocent's cheap shot on Fr. Mark-Mary and his failed tinkerbell charade. (N.B. by "arch nemesis" we mean dear friend, source of inspiration, mentor, and much loved.)

We take a look at two ways to live: The way of Simon the Pharisee (boring!!, empty, vanilla) and the way of the sinful woman who bathes the feet of Jesus with her tears.  Her love is desperate.  Her love makes others uncomfortable. But, her love is real!  Her love is beautiful. 

Why does she love the way she loves and lives the way she lives?  She knows she's a sinner in need of the savior, and the savior is within reach.  Let's love lavishly people!  Let's live like sinners in need of a savior who know where to find him!

We take a look at the story of Bartimaeus. One major theme is the way in which a blind person feels very vulnerable in the world and has a lot of fear/anxiety because of it. If we go about life without faith, it's like we're walking the streets of NYC blind. Faith gives us absolute security, it allows us to see who we are and that God's with us.

Have you ever noticed how ?going for a walk? helps to calm you down when you are stressed?    God wants to walk with us before He works through us. Our daily encounter with Him becomes our training ground for a life that is rooted and grounded in love.  In this week's episode we talk about how to allow God to walk with us in the midst of our mess. God is always trying to draw us closer to him.  He wants your life to be transformed into a joyful relationship with him regardless of the circumstances we live in. Teach us Lord to walk with you!   Invite God to walk with you in those hard places so that we can be fully alive.     

Could God be prompting you to leave the boat -to take a radical break from your routine to get some rest and enjoy silence, so you can hear God?s whispers and hear his nearness again?  In a culture where the world wears busyness as a badge of honor, how can we live in God?s stillness?  This week we explore how Christian rest comes from living from our identity and sharing in Christ's own rest -because he knows the Father.

Sometimes it takes greater faith and courage to admit we?re tired and we need to reassess why we?re doing what we?re doing. God welcomes soul searching. He loves being with us on that intimate journey.

What does a good movie, our desire for the best job, and that perfect picture we just posted on Instagram have to do with each other?  None of these things is wrong in itself. But when we begin to allow the things of the world to control us, we miss out on the joy of God's call for deeper intimacy in our hearts.

In this week?s episode we discuss the battle for our hearts which is also a battle for our time.  We want to learn to pray well because that's how we give God authority over our lives.  But part of praying well is stepping away from distractions, even good ones.  

God calls us to transform our half-hearted, distracted, disconnected prayer life into a vibrant, meaningful, intentional way of communicating with our Father.

Grounding their discussion in Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis's book, The Way of the Disciple, the friars take a look at the battle of prayer. This is the principle place where we battle for grace, where we battle to receive the truth of our identity and the riches of our identity. But it takes work! It's hard!

The good news is, with God's grace, we're capable of hard things! May this episode encourage us all to be renewed in our commitment to prayer!

God has spoken, but he wants the Word to continue to echo through you! The Word became flesh, dwelt among us and revealed to us the heart of the Father. But the Word mission is not complete! In this week?s episode the friars take a look at how different saints have heard the Word, been transformed by it, then echo it by their lives.. becoming a living word; And God wants to do the same through you! Take a listen to learn what in the world this all means and looks like.

Prayer is like oxygen; we can't live without it. If you're not praying, you're dying. Prayer is not optional in our lives but it's essential.   Prayer is our lifeline to God, and with it, lives are changed for eternity!  God invites us into an intimate relationship with Him.  Prayer is your relationship with God if we are living without prayer, we are living without God.  As with any relationship, we need to put in the desire, effort, and time to seek intimacy and seal that bond that involves finding intimacy with God in the midst of our everyday busy lives. 

This close, intimate, personal relationship that you can enter into with the Lord will be the door opener that will change the course of your entire life forever. The journey is there for all who are willing to step into it!

Blessed are the peacemakers! Peace comes from knowing your identity, but also knowing who God is.  Knowing who you are and Whose you are changes everything.  God is the only One who knows the depth of your struggle, and therefore He is the only One who could offer the exact reassurance of peace we so desperately need to hear.   Are we confident in our spiritual inheritance as children of the Father?  God promises us that if we stick with Him, He will give us peace that surpasses all understanding.