S14 E11 - A Time of Renewal (Holy Week: Focus)

 

About This Episode

In this week's episode, we conclude our Lenten study on the book “A Time of Renewal” and discuss the theme of “focus”. We chat about our natural temptation to focus on our woundedness, why we should take action and invite Jesus into these places, and how our wounds can be transformed into signs of the resurrection power of Christ. We also talk about the crosses we bear and the importance of recognizing the little resurrections in our life. Friends, thank you for journeying with us this Lenten season. We look forward to seeing you again after Easter!

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Show Notes

One Thing We Love This Week:

  • Sister Miriam’s one thing -  Springtime!

  • Michelle’s one thing -  These Easter themed charcuterie boards! Option 1 Here. Option 2 Here.

  • Heather’s one thing -  Our team behind the scenes: Kate, Camille, and Kristina! We are so grateful for you

 

Announcement:

We will be taking a two week break for Easter beginning on 4/1/24. Season 14 will continue on 4/15/24!

 

Discussion Questions:    

  1. Where in your life are you seeking glory?

  2. Do I live like the Resurrection is a reality?

  3. When do you lose hope?

  4. Does the story you tell yourself about God align with God’s story (the Paschal Mystery)?

  5. What are the places of my heart that I don’t believe the narrative (of the Paschal Mystery)?

 

Journal Questions:

  1. What was hard for me?

  2. What were the graces and mercies I experienced?

  3. How have I grown?

  4. How can I make this week holy?

  5. What wounds do I bring to Jesus? What wounds do I simply “stare at”?

 

Quotes to Ponder:

How are wounds made glorious? By our deciding what we will do with them. Our Jesus turned his wounds into beauty, and there is not one of us who would say, “Oh, this should not be in eternity.” Our poor hearts thrill to the verity that he is always showing his wounds to the Father on our behalf. They are transformed now in glory. Likewise, there is a transformation that we too can make of our own little everyday wounds which sometimes seem so deep and so big and so insufferable to us. How do we transform them into glory? By looking at Jesus, by remembering his suffering which was turned into glory.
— Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 207
 
“This is Holy Week.” This is the sacred week. But Holy Week does not work, as it were, “ex opere operato”. The Church does not say that this is Holy Week, and therefore we automatically become holy in it. No, the Church says this is the great week of opportunity for growing in holiness; this is the week of tremendous graces. But how holy a week it will be for us is ours to decide.
— Mother Mary Francis P.C.C. A Time of Renewal. Kindle Edition. Page 213
 
In my deepest wound I saw your glory, and it dazzled me.
— St. Augustine
 

Scripture for Lectio Divina

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
— John 12:24
 

This episode is sponsored by:

Pearl & Thistle

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  • Cycle Prep - for parents and daughters to prepare for her first period, together!

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Pearl and Thistle founder Christina Valenzuela weaves together modern cycle science with insights from Scripture, tradition, and JPII’s Theology of the Body to give us the positive language to talk about cycles, periods, and fertility – even when it all may just feel like a confusing mess. 


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