The Poco a Poco Podcast with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

Latest Episodes:

The Father's Blessing Sep 08, 2021

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Episode 73 - The Father's Blessing

Affirmation feels different when it's public, out loud and in front of everyone—as at the Baptism of Christ and the Transfiguration, where God audibly affirmed Jesus as his beloved Son.

That affirmation becomes the foundation that allows Jesus to be free; to weep and be compassionate and angry, to be a revelation of the heart of God.

The hearts of the sons and daughters of God long to hear the Father speaking a blessing over them—a blessing that allows them to flourish and give of themselves unto death. This authentic flourishing comes from the grace of knowing who they are.

The Father is consistent in his message. Are we consistent in our response?

The Tears of God Sep 01, 2021

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Episode 72 - The Tears of God

You see a different side of someone when you see what makes him or her cry. Seeing a person weep, and knowing why—the thing he or she cares about so deeply as to be moved to tears—is a deep insight.

Lazarus. Jerusalem. Sin.

Jesus weeps at these.

That tells us something important, for a man who weeps in the face of suffering is a man who loves deeply, who is profoundly affected by what is happening. It's deeply personal. He's not far away or abstract.

He wants to cry with us. He wants to mingle his tears with us.

Think of your suffering; the situations that bring tears to your eyes for yourself or your loved ones or even for those you've never met. Now, if you need to, pray against any idea of a disinterested or stoic God. Accept permission to grieve. Let the Lord weep with you.

Jesus Receives You As a Gift Aug 25, 2021

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Episode 71 - Jesus Receives You as a Gift

"Nobody has ever been for me like this before."

That's the difference it can make to receive someone as gift.

Jesus looked at the disciples and thanked the Father for the gift of them. He looked around at the faces of people he loved and received each of them and all of them as a gift. In their goodness and brokenness, even in times that didn't feel quite as much like gift.

The Son is always receiving from the Father; the Father is always giving. And so for each of us. The Father always wants to bless us. During all the joys and the sorrows of our lives, our constant refrain can be "Father, they're your gift to me."

The Last Words of Christ Aug 18, 2021

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Episode 70 - Last Words of Christ

Jesus always chose his words carefully. There was great meaning and intention behind each word, part of which we can only begin to understand by listening carefully.

How much more, then, should we pay attention to Jesus's very last words? The ones he painfully uttered as he was dying on the cross?

What do these words reveal about the heart of God? Jesus's whole life was about the Father's business, and his last words begin and end with "Father."

Meditate on these words—let them tell you the truth about God, and about your relationship with him. Let Jesus restore you, a son or daughter, to the Father.

Let the prayer of Jesus inspire you; let him teach you to pray.

A Father And Son Moment Aug 11, 2021

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Episode 69 - A Father And Son Moment

There's an intense vulnerability to letting people into your most tender moments. Allowing someone to witness a private, cherished part of life is no small thing, and being a witness to one of these moments is an honor.

There's a particular part of Jesus's life for which we get to be these witnesses only a few times: his experience of prayer. In these rare instances, we are privileged to see him as he sees the Father look upon him with love and delight.

Teach us to pray. When the disciples saw Jesus pray, that's what they asked him. They were totally captivated by the sight of him rejoicing in the presence of the Father.

Scripture invites us to be witnesses to this only a few times, but Jesus constantly experienced the Father looking at him with love and delight. We can, too, if we look to the Father.

Let the prayer of Jesus inspire you; let him teach you to pray.

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

House of Prayer Not Den of Thieves Aug 04, 2021

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VIDEO episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9P586wY2HI

Episode 68 - House of Prayer, Not Den of Thieves

Sometimes we need someone to fight for us. To respond forcefully to injustice in our lives. Jesus does this, as he did in the temple—He's not afraid to clean house.

The Divine Physician heals us, though the medicine isn't always tender and gentle. The medicine that's needed is tougher, and the only way to remove obstacles and create space for him to heal.

And doesn't that teach us a new approach to our sin? We should feel strongly about it, not accept a pattern of sin as "the way it is." Time to stop compromising or settling with our sin and reject it. Intensely.

Some things are worth fighting for.

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

The Compassion of God Jul 28, 2021

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Episode 67 - The Compassion of God

Compassion; it means "to suffer with." Recall those times when you've been suffering, alone, and someone has come into that isolation with you. It's powerful!

Now… don't skip the fact that God became man so he could suffer with us. God is the prodigal son's father, spending every day looking at the horizon with longing even though his son hurt him in such a concrete and direct way.

Want to be a more compassionate person? It's really hard to love and accept others without first being able to love and accept ourselves. First, get to know God's compassionate heart for you—then you'll be able to show true compassion for others and have the grace to respond to a person in need.

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

The Heart of God Jul 21, 2021

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Episode 66 - The Heart of God

This episode starts a new series: The Heart of God. The Sacred Heart.

This is a series about the goodness of God—not only the reality that he is, but that he is good, with a human face and a human heart that rejoices.

A deeper encounter with his heart; that it may be the remedy that heals the wounds of our hearts.

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

A Prophetic People Jul 14, 2021

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Episode 65 - A Prophetic People

We're called to be prophets. Real, recognizable prophets in our day to day. How does that hit you?

What does your life look like? Do people around you see it and think, This guy's living it. He communicates in the depths of who he is that Jesus is alive and he's real and he's risen from the dead and this means something for us. He's a prophet.

We have to live provocative lives—lives that provoke people to ask questions. We can't be shy about it.

At the same time, we have to be the first to ask questions, always quick to be interested in someone, to genuinely listen in a way that makes him or her feel undeniably heard.

In this episode, we discuss many aspects of living a prophetic life.

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

The Art of Sacrifice Jul 07, 2021

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Episode 64 - The Art of Sacrifice

To sacrifice is to make holy. Most of us are given enough suffering in this world that if we were to offer it fully and freely to the Lord, that would be enough. We need only to accept—well—the penances that life gives us.

Any additional sacrifices—ones that we choose—should be chosen carefully; intentionally, and after checking in with someone else, and always looking toward freedom.

We sacrifice to seek always greater freedom to be totally given again to the Lord.

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!

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