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S16 E8 - Jesus and the Jubilee: Chapters One and Two
In this episode, we continue our Lenten book study and focus on chapters 1 & 2. We reflect on how God originally designed us in the Garden of Eden, how the lies and idols we invite into our lives strip away this identity, and how the Jubilee is a time of restoration. We also dive deep into the biblical significance of the ten plagues, why tearing down our idols is a painful process, and the beauty of hoping for a good not yet seen. Heather’s One Thing - The Festival of Praise at Franciscan University and the song Fall Like Rain Heather’s Other One Thing - Ascension’s Holy Bible – The Great Adventure Catholic Bible, Second Edition Premium Sister Miriam’s One Thing - Those who live in Lafayette and attended an event at the University of Louisiana Sister Miriam’s Other One Thing - Jean Valjean: Bought with a Price (a scene from the 1998 Les Miserables with Liam Neesen) Michelle’s One Thing - Her recent trip with family to the Dominican Republic Jesus and the Jubilee Reading Schedule: March 10th: Chapters 1 & 2 March 17th: Chapters 3 & 4 March 24th: Chapters 5 & 6 March 31st: Chapters 7 & 8 April 7th: Chapter 9 & Conclusion April 14th: Epilogue and Preparing for the Triduum and Easter 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 can I embrace freedom, family, and fullness this Lent? What is the Lord inviting me to this Lent? What gift is He trying to give me? What does the Holy Spirit want to co-create with me this Lent? What idols do I sense the Lord destroying in my life? Discussion Questions: How are you approaching a Jubilee Lent differently? What is taking up more room in your life than it needs to? How do you see Lent as a season of hardship versus a season of restoration? How can you press into prayer, fasting, and almsgiving to open yourself up to freedom this Lent? Quotes to Ponder: “The Story of the biblical jubilee does not begin with Leviticus 25, the first chapter where the institution is mentioned. The jubilee is at its heart an act of restoration, which means it recreates and reestablishes a situation that existed beforehand. And what is that situation? It’s the Good Creation!” (Jesus and the Jubilee, John Bergsma, Page 9) Scripture for Lectio: “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31) Sponsor - Into the Deep: A Lamp & a Light is a Scripture prayer journal for women that walks you through the movements of lectio divina with prompting questions. The journal provides 40 pre-selected Bible passages for you that are ideal for imaginative prayer. Then, you’ll have 40 blank pages where you can choose your own passages. If you have wanted to pray with Sacred Scripture but aren’t sure how or if you feel like you need a guide, this Scripture journal can help you go deeper in your personal relationship with the Lord. If you are in need of hope, perseverance, direction, joy, or faith through God’s unfailing Word, A Lamp & a Light is for you. You can get one for yourself, your mom, sister, and friends for 10% off at intothedeep.co with code ABIDE10. Timestamps: 00:00 - Into the Deep 01:34 - Intro 02:27 - Welcome 04:30 - Back to the Garden 08:38 - Our Need for Jubilee 10:22 - What is Taking Up Room in Our Hearts? 12:10 - Approaching Lent Differently 14:19 - Five Identities 16:10 - Restoring what was Lost 18:31 - A Glimpse into Full Restoration 20:41 - Self-Reliance vs Communion 22:38 - The Ten Plagues 24:26 - Spiritual Slavery 25:53 - God is Trying to Help You 27:30 - Continual Conversion 28:30 - Hope and Patience 31:35 - One Things
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S16 E7 - Our Need for Jubilee with Dr. John Bergsma
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: CORDA translates the stories of the saints into scents, and handcrafts those scents into gorgeous Catholic candles. Each candle scent is directly inspired by different saints and aspects of the faith, and is made with clean coconut wax and a beautiful, modern design. Be sure to sign up for the CORDA Fan Club, too: it’s free and an awesome way to earn points that you can redeem for free products, gift cards, and free shipping. You can join the club and explore CORDA’s gorgeous Catholic candles (and 3,000+ reviews!) at cordacandles.com. And don’t forget to enter code ABIDE15 to save 15% on everything, now through May 31, 2025. Thank you for supporting this family owned, Catholic small business! 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
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S16 E6 - Spiritual Mentorship: Being Formed in Jesus
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
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S16 E5 - Happy 8th Birthday!
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: Discover the beauty of integrating faith into your everyday life with The Little Rose Shop. Our Morning Offering Prayer Mug the perfect companion for your morning routine, allowing you to start each day with a heartfelt prayer, focusing your thoughts on Christ. Plus, explore our Quiet Books collection, including the Mass Quiet Book, Rosary Quiet Book, the Where is Jesus Quiet Book, and Wrapped in Mary’s Mantle Quiet Book. These engaging books are designed for babies and toddlers, making it easy to introduce them to the wonders of faith in a quiet and interactive way—perfect for adoration or Mass. As a special treat for Abiding Together listeners, use promo code ABIDING15 for an exclusive 15% discount at checkout. Enrich your spiritual journey and bring the joy of faith into your home with The Little Rose Shop. 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
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S16 E4 - Journey to Nazareth
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) Sponsor - CMF CURO: Embrace the Wholeness God Desires for You Are you looking for a community of Catholics that is open to Christ’s healing love, prays together and is striving for excellence in spirit, mind and body? We know it can be hard to find that. That’s why CURO offers its Belong, Thrive and Share communities. As a listener of Abiding Together, we’re excited to offer you a free session of Catholic spiritual direction or personalized wellness coaching. We’re confident that you’ll love your time with our trained and experienced coaches and spiritual directors. Our members can’t stop saying how grateful they are to grow closer to Christ, form new habits and progress in virtue. If online is your thing, then check out the Belong wellness portal with a free 30-Day trial. It’s designed to help you learn your strengths, discover areas to grow in, and lets you sync with your smart device to seamlessly track your progress towards your goals. To sign up or learn more just visit: cmfcuro.com/abiding. 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
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