The secret to peace on earth starts at home, in the daily give-and-take of our relationships. Barb Heil unpacks the radical power of forgiveness to give us peace, to bless others, and to open our hearts to all God wants to give us. Listen for practical ways to recognize and let go of unforgiveness and enter the new year with a clean slate.
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Have you ever thought that Advent longing is just as much God longing for us as it is us seeking for him? Gayle Somers shares the surprising things she discovered about what the Incarnation meant to God as she studied the Old Testament through Catholic eyes (hint: our bodies matter!). She also suggests a new way to approach the manger at Christmas.
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“All the mysteries of our Lord” are wrapped up in the ancient prophecy of Isaiah, said St. Jerome. Understanding this Advent prophet will enrich your journey to Christmas as you meditate on the Mass readings—as Debora Holiday explains in this episode. Learn why and expect to rejoice!
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Each gospel presents the coming of Jesus differently, and Luke’s telling stands out as an eyewitness account from Mary. Who was she? What can we learn from the details Luke gives us? Listen as Lavinia Spirito helps us understand the paradox and the scandal of the incarnation and proposes one particular scripture to help keep our eyes on Jesus as we wait and prepare for Christmas.
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Do you know more about Jesus, than you know him, yourself? Who Jesus Christ is and why it matters is at the heart of Mark’s gospel, which is highlighted in the liturgy this year. In this episode, Sarah and Colleen Vermeulen talk about their favorite parts of Mark as they highlight its unique features and invite listeners to consider their response to his good news.
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Do you every wonder what it means that Jesus is king? Our democracy gives us no point of reference to understand royalty, and church and state are separate. In this episode, Debora Holiday traces the idea of kingship throughout salvation history to help us welcome Christ the King into our hearts and lives.
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The story of Ruth and Boaz in the Bible is far more than a love story. In this episode, Kelly Anderson explores its deeper significance and the way it reveals a theology of Woman as vehicle of God’s blessing; a theology of married love as mutual self-giving that leads to joy and blessing; and its powerful message that God can bring light and life into the darkest situations.
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Do you struggle with reading the Old Testament because of the violent passages in it, including places where God appears to condone, encourage, or even be responsible for that violence? Tamra Fromm offers a framework for reading those passages and considers them in the light of Christ's teaching.
\n\nContent warning: Mentions of disturbing violence portrayed in the Old Testament, including the rape and dismemberment of the Levite’s concubine in Judges 19.
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When you are emotionally wounded, how do you find healing? After two divorces and suffering from relationships that never gave what she was seeking, Rose Sweet discovered the personal, persevering, powerful love of God. Listen as she tells her story and shares from scripture how God meets the five basic emotional needs of the human person — and gives three practical tips to help you move forward.
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Reading the book of Revelation may not be easy, but there is a blessing attached to it! Lavinia Spirito tells why it’s worth taking the effort and gives some suggestions for approaching the book so as to hear its good news and discover its practical implications for our lives.
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Do you ever find that a single word or phrase jumps out at you as you pray with Scripture, and wonder how to ponder it further? Allison Gingras, developer of Stay Connected Journals for Women, explains how she explores the meaning of individual words to come to a deeper understanding and connection to the Lord.
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If God’s word truly has the power to transform us, it will impact the way we treat other people—especially the poor and the marginalized, and even those we might not want to care for. Shannon Wimp-Schmidt, author of Fat Luther, Slim Pickin's: A Black Catholic Celebration of Faith, Tradition, and Diversity, dives into Catholic social teaching and shares what she has gleaned from Scripture about God’s heart for the poor and how that has impacted her personally.
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Are you looking for a way to pray with scripture? The “scriptural rosary” is a beautiful way to draw you deeper into the mysteries of the gospel and closer to Jesus and Mary. Susan Wallace tells how circumstances drew her into a relationship with the Blessed Mother and describes how praying the Scriptural Rosary helped slow down and deepen her prayer life. She and Sarah close the episode by praying a decade together, providing a model to follow.
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What keeps you from seeing the face of Jesus or hearing his voice? Pat Gohn describes how she found a deep connection with the “bent-over woman” of Luke’s gospel while she struggled to stand straight after cancer surgery. She tells how the woman’s experience with Jesus parallels our experience at Mass and suggests a way to prepare to receive his healing word more fully. She and Sarah reflect on the way Jesus seeks us out and calls us friends.
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Have you ever stopped to think about why Jesus called people who may have despised each other to be in his inner circle—and what effect that may have had on their ministry? Meg Hunter-Kilmer explains why she loves “Matthew the man” and how the radical power of grace transformed him and impacted the gospel that bears his name. Learn why we should care about all of the Old Testament references there, and why we might want to read a whole gospel when we hear it each Sunday at Mass.
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We can always turn to Mary, Our Lady of Sorrows in sorrows of our own—but we can also learn from other women throughout biblical history who bore sorrow with patient endurance, who endured with love and strengthened their children in the faith. Katie Cavadini brings several of those women to life and talks with Sarah about how they lived out the mystery of love and can help us do so, as well.
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If you’ve ever felt like God has abandoned you, or if what you’re going through causes you to doubt his care: lean into that “desert”! Sonja Corbitt learned from Israel’s experience in the wilderness that God uses such times to help us grow in faith and find true rest in him. Tune in to gain a new perspective on troubles and learn to overcome negativity so you can experience fullness and peace.
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Three years ago, Colleen Vermeulen and her husband decided to do something radical: read “the real Bible with all its words” daily with their young children. Following a pattern based loosely on the Liturgy of the Hours, their family prayer time is now grounded in Scripture and is feeding the kids’ growing relationships with Jesus. Listen to this episode to hear how they did this and why. Colleen gives four practical tips for reading the Bible with children and shares advice on everything from facing the fidgets to helping kids hear God speak to them.
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Christine Kelly Baglow shares her journey through scripture and prayer to deeper faith and the discovery of her identity in God—a journey that gave her a heart for young people and led her into lay ministry at a Catholic school. She also bears witness to the living power of Scripture while unpacking Isaiah 43, which has particular meaning to her.
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Do you sometimes wonder if God can use even you? Imagining Mary in the Annunciation helped Patty Breen see the “both-and” of life—the beautiful and the difficult, sometimes messy side of things that God enters and transforms with his Spirit. In this episode, she tells of the value of Ignatian meditation on Scripture and shares how seeing the humanity of women like Martha, Bathsheba, and Mary Magdalene gives her hope in following God.
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When Christianity is seen as just another narrative, how do we proclaim it is Truth? Scripture professor Tamra Hull Fromm describes her research into pre-evangelizing young adult “native nones” and shares insight from God’s approach to Moses and Paul’s address to the Gentiles in Acts 17. She also explains how to read the Bible in a Catholic way; why she loves the image of Scripture as food; and the value of the Old Testament to understanding the faith.
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Don’t be afraid of reading the prophets! Their lives and their messages still speak to us today. Scripture teacher Deborah Holiday shares how at a low point in her life, she felt Jesus prompting her to read Jeremiah—and found there the God who loves us and has a plan for good, even in hard times.
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In this repeat visit to the podcast, Heidi Hess Saxton tells how as a Catholic convert she came to know Mary as a mother and as “Seat of Wisdom” and reflects on Mary’s role in raising Jesus as he grew in wisdom and stature in her home. She also shares how Mary has helped her as a mother—and how her own mother came to know Mary, late in life, and what that did for their relationship.
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“I want more of this (Bible),” 13-year-old Cathryn Torgerson-Wade told herself, “This is good information for life!” It was decades before she acted on that desire, but growing up gave her a new perspective on Scripture and a fresh vision of God’s love. The biblical school director explains why the first books of the Bible are foundational and provide a path for reading that moves from meeting God to learning how he meets us in the day-to-day.
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What does it mean to be female, an athlete, and Catholic? Samantha Kelley, president of FIERCE Athlete (and a fierce athlete herself) shares wisdom from the Bible and the Catholic faith about female identity, competition, and running the race of life. Learn what biblical woman she thinks most exemplifies “fierce”—and pray with the scripture that both encourages and challenges her in the race.
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Have you wanted to hear God speak to you? Would you recognize his voice, if he did? Barbara Heil shares her story of conversion from a god-less childhood to Christian missionary evangelist and eventually to the Catholic Church—drawn by the voice of God in his word. Hear what she learned in the process about the power of Scripture and how to hear him speak.
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Has your life ever changed because someone asked you a question? Colleen Vermeulen tells Sarah Christmyer how two questions drove her to search for truth in scripture—leading to a relationship with Christ and into the arms of the Catholic Church. Colleen shares her journey and tips for why and how to read difficult scriptures like Paul’s letters.
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Are you so busy that you don’t have time for the Bible? Emily Jaminet explains that she went from drinking morning coffee on the go to having that first cup with Jesus every day. She found that putting him first brought peace and joy to her family life. Jaminet—executive director of the Sacred Heart Enthronement Network—also talks with Sarah Christmyer about how discovering Jesus’s Word through devotion to his Sacred Heart revitalized her faith.
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Does success in the world leave you empty? Teresa Tomeo tells Sarah Christmyer about her journey from secular broadcast journalism to Catholic author and talk show host, and explains why “life in the vine” is a great analogy for the Christian life.
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How can we respond to challenges and ethical dilemmas with goodness and trust? In this episode, Sarah Christmyer talks with Maria Morera Johnson—author of My Badass Book of Saints—about three pairs of women in the Old Testament: Potiphar’s wife and Susannah; Jezebel and Esther; and Lot’s wife and Martha. Learn how these biblical heroines and bad girls still speak to us today.
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In this episode, scripture teacher Ashley Crane talks with Sarah Christmyer about the gift Bible that made a difference in her life. Ashley identifies two powerful images of God in 1 John and also shares how motherhood taught her to rely on God’s love.
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Do you struggle to find God’s love in the Old Testament or to understand the difficult “dark passages”? Kelly Anderson offers compelling reasons to read the Bible, particularly the Old Testament. She and Sarah Christmyer also discuss Jael and Judith, two biblical heroines who kill their enemies. Kelly also shares the verse she considers the blueprint of her life.
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When is the last time you received “explosive power” from the Holy Spirit? Lavinia Spirito tells how she was lifted from the pain of a broken family and set on fire to pursue the Lord. She explains how Acts of the Apostles provides a blueprint for sharing the Gospel in our noisy world and a fresh vision for what it means to live by the Spirit. Lavinia also describes how she engages with Scripture and explains why Psalm 37:3-7 is a particular favorite.
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Sandy Wanzeck loved hearing Bible stories as a child. When she had children of her own, she began studying scripture so she could pass it on. Sandy tells Sarah Christmyer that she learned first-hand how the Holy Spirit uses spiritual gifts to build up the Church and describes how to recognize the gifts in your own life. She shares how her favorite Bible verse helps her find peace.
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Do you know how much you are loved even when you can’t feel it? Martha Fernandez-Sardina talks with Sarah Christmyer about why she started sharing messages of God’s love with others. These simple, spontaneous gestures not only speak of God’s love, but also demonstrate it. Martha also tackles the difficult question of how we can be sure of God’s love even when our circumstances make us doubt or forget.
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Pat Gohn and Sarah Christmyer discuss how Pat came to know Mary as a spiritual mother only after she became one herself. Pat also explains how she came to rely on Mary as intercessor in her struggle with breast cancer and in learning to mother her children.
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Meg Hunter-Kilmer brings the Woman at the Well and Mary Magdalene to life in this week’s episode about the radical love that Jesus has for us. Meg also tells Sarah Christmyer why “his pierced hands” has a special meaning for her. Join us as we also pray together with a scripture passage that speaks of the Lord’s love.
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How can you have a meaningful encounter with women in Scripture—even those who have no voice? Elizabeth Tomlin and Sarah Christmyer talk about several “silent” women written about in the Bible, including Priscilla, Miriam, and Dinah, and what we can learn from them. Elizabeth also explains how she reads scripture to be transformed and challenged in her faith.
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Do you need healing from a deep inner wound? Sonja Corbitt talks with Sarah Christmyer how she found healing meditating on Christ’s Passion. Learn how Jesus can lead us along a redemptive path from suffering to peace, and pray together with the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary.
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Why was it mainly women who found strength to stay by the Cross? On this week’s podcast, Sarah Christmyer and Lisa Cotter discuss the unique giftedness of women. A Catholic speaker and author of Reveal the Gift. Lisa explains how she finds time to read the Bible, shares her favorite Bible hack, and reveals how her favorite scripture passage strengthens her when things get tough.
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It’s never too late to seek out God’s plan for your life! Denise Gustafson tells how she gained God’s peace in a trying time and found herself journeying in new directions when she sought to follow the Lord. She also shares her love for the Old Testament prophets and her assurance of God’s providence and care.
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In this week's episode, Sarah Christmyer talks with Laurie Manhardt about how she was overwhelmed by God’s loving care at a critical point in her life. Laurie's experience breathed life into scripture and launched her into sharing it with others through a new Catholic Bible study program called Come and See. Laurie shares her love of John’s Gospel and the verse that helps her find rest.
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A Holy Land pilgrimage brought the Gospels to life for Heidi Hess Saxton, challenging her to release an old burden of bitterness. She was inspired and encouraged by Psalm 107. Heidi and Sarah talk about how to pray with sacred images as they reflect on the gospel story of the woman who was healed when she touched Jesus’s garment.
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Can Scripture really set our hearts on fire with the love of God? Katie Cavadini talks with Sarah Christmyer about how she loves helping college freshmen at the University of Notre Dame discover that the Bible speaks to them. Katie explains how listening often starts at Mass, and she says that knowing the story is key to being set on fire.
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When Sonja Corbitt asked the Blessed Mother what she wanted Sonja to know about her, Mary tenderly revealed her own method of prayer and the way pondering scripture fosters a love for the Word who is Jesus and his Word that is scripture. In this episode, Sonja explains how her healing charism sprang from applying scripture to her life. She shares her favorite verse and demonstrates, using the Sunday gospel, how to pray the Word like Mary.
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When Allison Gingras began reading the Bible, the Lord spoke to her heart, freeing her from anxiety and unforgiveness and waking her to the beauty of her Catholic faith and practices. In this episode, Allison shares how she finds value in scripture nuggets, why random reading suits her ADHD, and how she discovered a spiritual lifeline for her deaf child in sacramentals.
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What do spiritual vitality, understanding difficult Bible passages, and radical faith all have in common? A relationship with Jesus grounded in scripture, according to Shannon Wimp-Schmidt. The author of Fat Luther, Slim Pickin's and cohost of the Plaid Skirts and Basic Black podcast talks with Sarah Christmyer about renewing our parishes, finding relevance in ancient texts, and learning from biblical women who live on the outskirts but who make radical choices to trust in God.
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Does being in nature lift your soul to God? Lisa M. Hendey, founder of CatholicMom.com, explains that since childhood, both the Bible and the natural world have instilled a sense of the sacred within her. Our call to care for one another by caring for the world around us springs from scripture, Hendey says. She believes that nature can open a door to conversations with those who are away from the Church.
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Did you know that some of the first prayers in the Bible were prayed by women? Gayle Somers talks about the rich tradition of feminine prayer in scripture and finding a heart-to-heart connection between Eve and Mary and the women who come in between. Gayle shares how the stories of these women helped her navigate pain and find God’s loving hand in her life. We will also pray together a prayer of Judith.
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Have you always wanted to read the Bible but couldn’t get started? Meg Hunter-Kilmer, author of Pray for Us, tells Sarah about her experience reading the Bible as a teenager. Meg said she now reads the entire Bible every year, no matter what! She also shares her all-time favorite scripture verse.
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The Living the Word Bible Podcast begins January 19!
\n\nJoin Sarah Christmyer and special guests every week to share in conversations with women who love and live God's world.
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