Sacred Healing 12:30

Moses suffered from an inability to control his temper. He killed an Egyptian, smashed the Ten Commandments to bits, and eventually forfeited the Promised Land. Like Moses, our anger may be justified, but our actions often lack self control. Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Josh C; Jane L; Linda B; and Alejandra E, for loving and lifting me! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on her method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) If you'd rather watch the video, you can do that here.  O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan – When you get angry, are you angry against the person rather than the offense?  Do you cherish a desire for revenge?  Do you have a hard time forgiving others?  Do you get angry easily?  Do you have a reputation for losing your temper?  If your answer is yes, then you likely have a problem with your temper.    I | Ignatian – When you place yourself in this narrative, which of Moses' angry episodes do you identify with most? Are you angry at those you serve, angry at injustice, or angry at experiencing the consequences of your actions? A | Augustinian –Moses' main difficulty was lack of balance. He was angry at the right things in the wrong ways. He broke the Ten Commandments, written by the finger of God Himself (Ex 32:16), after having spent forty days and nights talking face-to-face with God! When have you left prayer and launched into an angry outburst?  T | Thomistic – Take a look at this entry on anger. What do you learn about your own anger? V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) O Lord, must I fear Your wrath? Retribution is Yours by right! May I never dishonour Your Divinity, My soul seeking to maintain Your love. Shape my being into earnest kindness, A reflection of Your perfection. Grant me the grace of self-control, That I may not display any anger. Should I have such an outburst, Instantly remind me to seek redress, For such is offensive to You. Anger is Yours alone to avenge! Amen.+  . *Find out your prayer temperament with this quiz! LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Join me! 2020 Holy land pilgrimage, April 13-24 Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! Share the LOVE Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.   Read the Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.

Esau’s life is the story of a man who traded his soul for fleeting pleasure, and grew incensed when he experienced the consequences of his presumption. He sold his birthright, which included not only material benefits and family privileges, but spiritual blessings as well, for a single bowl of stew. “He ate and drank, and rose and went on his way” (25:34) without giving a second thought to what he had done. He did it, it felt good, and only much later did he come to regret it. . [Special note: Thank you for your patience as we worked through the logistics for being able to offer you the audio for the TV series; we are back on the regular every-Monday email schedule. If you have been largely clueless for the last month or more, please like the Sonja Corbitt Facebook page, where we keep you in the loop on the latest updates - including showtimes, online viewing, when the next email will arrive in your inbox, when the newest series will begin, what new books or study I've begin writing, etc.] Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Dahn W; Tami S; Lisa P; and James C, for loving and lifting me! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on her method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) If you'd rather watch the video, you can do that here.  O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan – The story shows that if you trade your soul to satisfy your flesh, you’ve made a bad deal. Do you eat because you're hungry, or because you're bored, or hurt, or something else? As you eat your next meal, or catch yourself in your next self-medicating habit, consider what you trade for it: health? sin? wasted time? wasted money? a bad example or reputation?  I | Ignatian – When you place yourself in this narrative, are you Jacob, the sneaky one, or Esau, the presumptuous one? When you imagine this exchange using all your senses, what feelings rise to the surface? When have you been angry like Esau for being tricked and/or presumptuous? A | Augustinian – Someone said the difference between school and life is that in school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test which teaches you a lesson.  Esau’s decision to sell his birthright to Jacob was like that. My guess is this wasn’t the first time the birthright had come up. Perhaps on other occasions Jacob had tested him: “Hey, Esau, what would you take for your birthright?” Had Esau said flat out, “It’s not for sale for any price,” that might have ended the matter. But maybe he left the door open a crack. Perhaps Jacob could tell the birthright just wasn’t very important to Esau. Maybe Jacob was shrewd enough to spot Esau's attitude, and used it to take the advantage. Possibly he waited for Esau to come in from the field famished. As his brother, Jacob should have gladly given Esau a bowl of soup. But instead he used it to take away Esau’s birthright. Where are you in danger of losing something priceless because of fleshly craving and presumption?    T | Thomistic – Here are four possible lessons from this passage on Esau and Jacob: 1. You will lose the greatest blessings if you fail to appreci­ate them. 2. Small choices can have drastic consequences. 3. The flesh makes things seem essential that really are not. 4. It is sin to grab the right things for the wrong reasons or in the wrong way. What area of your life is the Lord speaking to you about through these lessons? V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step.

Why does God put us in families with crazy people? Turns out there’s a good reason! Although all of us have Jerry Springer moments, “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:9). How do we deal with sibling anger properly so it doesn’t boil over to something even more dangerous and sinister? . Special note: Thank you for your patience as we worked through the logistics for being able to offer you the audio for the TV series; we are back on the regular every-Monday email schedule. If you have been largely clueless for the last month or more, please like the Sonja Corbitt Facebook page, where we keep you in the loop on the latest updates - including showtimes, online viewing, when the next email will arrive in your inbox, when the newest series will begin, what new books or study I've begin writing, etc.   Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Anne S; Diana C; Lynda S; Traci L'P; Christina Car; Tammy T; Christina Cav; Esther A; and Helen H, for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on her method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) If you'd rather watch the video, you can do that here.  O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan – Chances are you might experience what I call a pop quiz with a sibling or person in your family or church family in the next week or so.  How do you typically deal with anger? Consider taking it out on a pillow or tree limb, expressing all your pent up emotion as you enjoy harmlessly tearing something up. I | Ignatian – Use all your senses to imagine this conversation God had with Cain: "Why are you angry? Why has your face fallen?" What would you say to God about your own emotion?   A | Augustinian – Did you hear the Holy Spirit speak to you personally through this episode? What, specifically, does He want you to know or work on?  T | Thomistic – Science tells us that anger provokes a "flight or flight" response in the body. How does your body feel when you are angry? Can you feel that your anger is localized somewhere (an aching stomach; perhaps, a migraine?), or does it wash over you somehow? What does God want you to know about how your body expresses anger, even if you don't express it outwardly? V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Lord Jesus, there is anger in my heart and I cannot root it out. I know that I should calm down and offer the hurt and disappointment to You, but my emotion is running away with me. Help me to overcome this weakness and give me peace of heart as well as mind. Let me learn from this experience and grow into a better human being. Amen.+  . *Find out your prayer temperament with this quiz! LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Join me! 2020 Holy land pilgrimage, April 13-24 Share the LOVE Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.   Read the Transcript You can download a complete,

What sustains or energizes me? My job? My children or family? The good opinion of others? Some vision of success or position? Financial comfort or security? A pastor or other church leader? To whatever degree I am relying on anything other than Christ to sustain me, I am attempting to draw nourishment from a false vine.   Jesus is the true vine that sustains us as we grow in faith and bear eternal fruit. Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Celine E; Kathleen Y; Kelli K; Julie L; and Christine L, for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on her method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan – Take a walk outside and observe the living things that surround you. Does any one of these things exert effort to grow or bear fruit?  I | Ignatian – Use all your senses to imagine this conversation Jesus had with His disciples on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane where He will sweat blood as His Passion begins. Would they be passing through a vineyard on the way to the Garden that evening? Think about how many times Jesus used the metaphor of grapes and wine in this conversation. What is He saying to you?  A | Augustinian – When we work in a garden, we take pride in what we grow. Endless hours are spent making sure the soil is correct, we dig out the weeds, and prune the plants so that our harvest is healthy and abundant. When the word of God enter us and remains in us, God becomes our gardener. He enriches our soil (soul) with much needed nutrients, he removes all the weeds (sin) that crowd around us and stunt our growth, and he prunes off the dead leaves and branches that hinder our togetherness with Him and others. Sink back into your chair...take deep breaths...inhaling the goodness of God and exhaling the pressure and stress of your day. Bring yourself in His presence. Ask God for the grace you need to hear what He is saying to you today. What shape is your garden in today? How is God and His word tending to you? What dead leaves or branches need to be removed or pruned from you? What do you need to remove from our life that stops you from blooming into the person God wants you to be? T | Thomistic – μένω menō men'-o A primary verb; to stay (in a given place, state, relation or expectancy): - abide, continue, dwell, endure, be present, remain, stand, tarry (for), X thine own. a-bı̄d´: Old English word signifying progressively to “await,” “remain,” “lodge,” “sojourn,” “dwell,” “continue,” “endure”; represented richly in Old Testament (King James Version) by 12 Hebrew and in New Testament by as many Greek words. In the Revised Version (British and American) displaced often by words meaning “to sojourn,” “dwell,” “encamp.” The Hebrew and Greek originals in most frequent use are ישב, yāshabh, “to dwell”; μένω, ménō, “to remain.” How does the dictionary entry for "abide" add to your understanding of what Jesus meant when He said, Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing"? V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Jesus, You watered this tree with Your Blood. This Blood, by its warmth makes it grow,

Up-Hill, BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI Does the road wind up-hill all the way?    Yes, to the very end. Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?    From morn to night, my friend. . But is there for the night a resting-place?    A roof for when the slow dark hours begin. May not the darkness hide it from my face?    You cannot miss that inn. . Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?    Those who have gone before. Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?    They will not keep you standing at that door. . Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?    Of labour you shall find the sum. Will there be beds for me and all who seek?    Yea, beds for all who come. Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Trish F; Janet L; Matt M; Jennifer D; and Viviana V, for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book and/or videos based on her method, How to Pray Like Mary. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Look intently at these pictures of the Shroud of Turin and the 3D image made from it. Can you imagine this Man saying these words to you? "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Can you imagine what death feels like?  I | Ignatian - Take a close look at these pictures of the Shroud of Turin and the 3D image made from it, and read the details of his height and weight and other physical features. While in the Holy Land it was proposed to us that Jesus had deeply dark, almost brown-red hair. Can you imagine what He looked like, what His voice sounded like? Using all your senses in turn, imagine Jesus washing your feet, predicting His imminent death, and then uttering this week's I AM statement to you, directly.  A | Augustinian - Jesus was a real man of flesh and blood. He had chest hair. Does studying these pictures of the "man of the shroud" change the way you hear Him say, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life"? Is it hard to imagine believing a man of flesh and blood to truly be GOD? T | Thomistic - Recently, a 3D image was made from the Shroud of Turin that depicts "the man of the shroud." Read through this article, keeping in mind that He said, "I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life." What does this statue and article tell you about Jesus' meaning in saying this? V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Eternal God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life for all creation; grant us grace to walk in his way, to rejoice in his truth, and to share his risen life; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. + Amen. . *Find out your prayer temperament with this quiz! LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in How to Pray Like Mary and based on Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Join me! 2020 Holy Land Pilgrimage, April 13-24 Share the LOVE Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.  

Up-Hill, BY CHRISTINA ROSSETTI Does the road wind up-hill all the way?  Yes, to the very end. Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?  From morn to night, my friend. . But is there for the night a resting-place?  A roof for when the slow dark hours begin. May not the darkness hide it from my face?  You cannot miss that inn. . Shall I meet other wayfarers at night?  Those who have gone before. Then must I knock, or call when just in sight?  They will not keep you standing at that door. . Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?  Of labour you shall find the sum. Will there be beds for me and all who seek?  Yea, beds for all who come. Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Trish F; Janet L; Matt M; Jennifer D; and Viviana V, for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on her method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan – Look intently at these pictures of the Shroud of Turin and the 3D image made from it. Can you imagine this Man saying these words to you? “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Can you imagine what death feels like? I | Ignatian – Take a close look at these pictures of the Shroud of Turin and the 3D image made from it, and read the details of his height and weight and other physical features. While in the Holy Land it was proposed to us that Jesus had deeply dark, almost brown-red hair. Can you imagine what He looked like, what His voice sounded like? Using all your senses in turn, imagine Jesus washing your feet, predicting His imminent death, and then uttering this week’s I AM statement to you, directly. A | Augustinian – Jesus was a real man of flesh and blood. He had chest hair. Does studying these pictures of the “man of the shroud” change the way you hear Him say, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life”? Is it hard to imagine believing a man of flesh and blood to truly be GOD? T | Thomistic – Recently, a 3D image was made from the Shroud of Turin that depicts “the man of the shroud.” Read through this article, keeping in mind that He said, “I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” What does this statue and article tell you about Jesus’ meaning in saying this? V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Eternal God, your Son Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life for all creation; grant us grace to walk in his way, to rejoice in his truth, and to share his risen life; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever. + Amen. . *Find out your prayer temperament with this quiz! LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Join me! 2020 Holy land pilgrimage, April 13-24 Share the LOVE Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.   Read the Transcript You can download a complete,

Augustine once said that if Jesus had not designated Lazarus by name, rather than simply saying "Come forth", every dead and buried person would have risen at the command. "The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many" (Matt 27:52-53). Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Deb B; Cloe R; Julie L; and Marcus R, for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book and/or videos based on her method, How to Pray Like Mary. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Visit a cemetery and pray for the faithful dead there as they wait in "sleep" for the Resurrection.  I | Ignatian - Using all your senses in turn, imagine you are Mary or Martha at the scene, witnessing the resurrection of Lazarus, your brother. Now that we have explored five of the seven I AM statements, how do you feel when the Pharisees convene a council to strategize how to kill Jesus? What are your thoughts?   A | Augustinian - What in your life needs Jesus's resurrection? Where could your prayer and faith use more of the life that Jesus promises us in this I AM statement?  T | Thomistic - Read through what the Fathers wrote on John chapter 11. What new insights do you gain?  V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. And may the souls of all your faithful departed in the mercies of God rest in peace. + Amen. . *Find out your prayer temperament with this quiz! LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in How to Pray Like Mary and based on Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Join me! 2020 Holy Land Pilgrimage, April 13-24 Share the LOVE Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.   Read the Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.

Augustine once said that if Jesus had not designated Lazarus by name, rather than simply saying “Come forth”, every dead and buried person would have risen at the command. “The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many” (Matt 27:52-53). Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Deb B; Cloe R; Julie L; and Marcus R, for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on her method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan – Visit a cemetery and pray for the faithful dead there as they wait in “sleep” for the Resurrection. I | Ignatian – Using all your senses in turn, imagine you are Mary or Martha at the scene, witnessing the resurrection of Lazarus, your brother. Now that we have explored five of the seven I AM statements, how do you feel when the Pharisees convene a council to strategize how to kill Jesus? What are your thoughts? A | Augustinian – What in your life needs Jesus’s resurrection? Where could your prayer and faith use more of the life that Jesus promises us in this I AM statement? T | Thomistic – Read through what the Fathers wrote on John chapter 11. What new insights do you gain? V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Eternal rest, grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. And may the souls of all your faithful departed in the mercies of God rest in peace. + Amen. . *Find out your prayer temperament with this quiz! LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Join me! 2020 Holy land pilgrimage, April 13-24 Share the LOVE Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.   Read the Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.

What if the Name of God is the sound of breathing? What if that is the basis of His being both the Door and the Great Shepherd? Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Melissa M; Patricia P; Brooke E; Michelle S; Teresa D; Carolyn W; Celine E, for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on her method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) All of the prayer personalities and temperaments - Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic - are included in the exercise this week.  (Read about those in my newest book, How to Pray Like Mary, in the right margin.) Watch the video, then proceed to this LOVE the Word exercise from Ignite chapter 4.  _ Late morning on the shadow side of the distant mountain, the air is already so hot the horizon undulates for miles, when just hours ago the barrenness was so frigid he’d shared breath with huddled animals. He can smell burnt dirt and grass under the harsh odor of either himself or the pissing goats. Pathetic animals are goats and sheep. Always falling into a crevice or ravine; always running away when you call them; always hungry and thirsty; always head-butting and locking horns; always wandering around in every direction at once; never know where the hell they’re supposed to go; always bleating for something. The wide-open silence is so penetrating he hears his fingernails scratching against the woolen-felted skull of an ewe that nuzzles and nibbles against his fingers. He strokes her upturned face. His stomach growls as the wind blows hot air and sand from a long distance up his flapping tunic and rattles the few dried weeds, but all he feels as he leans against his gnarly staff, looking out over the remote wilderness, is useless. Stupid. Once the educated, accomplished, prodigious Prince of Egypt, but now exiled. A stinking fugitive goat herder. Named to be a deliverer of his Hebrew people, but washed up now. Finished. Abandoned. Punished. If anyone knows he deserves this grit rather than a silver spoon in his mouth, it’s him. He’s been out here in the “desolate places” of Mt. Horeb, on the run, for forty years, the coulda-beens replaying over and over in his mind. People used to bow to him. But now, not even the sheep hear his voice. There’s nothing left of that life. It’s all been completely stripped down, cut off, and excised out here in the desolation. Ah, well, the same acute sense of righteousness that once provoked him to murder assures him he deserves this life-sentence. If you can’t run with pharoah’s chariots, then get thyself to the desert, is his attitude as he catches sight of a flame leaping up out of the distant heatwaves. Is the sand on fire? he thinks, and then feels stupid again. There’s not enough vegetation to burn. But it’s definitely fire. Must be a dittany shrub. Those scraggly bushes burn themselves out in a minute’s puff, so his attention wanders. He watches without seeing it, and wonders about his mothers back in Egypt, one his Hebrew birth mother, the other his Egyptian adoptive mother. Is she ashamed? Angry? Alive? He stabs the staff into the dirt and kicks at the dust he raised. Where is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob out in this forsaken wilderness, this vast open sky, this yawning abyss? Where? Nowhere. He turns to collect the animals and herd them to shelter for the evening, but the light from the fire is oddly brighter in the growing gloom, and a shiver warns him when he still sees the clear outline of stems and stubby leaves inside its distant glow. Intrigued, now,

He who keeps the gate, keeps what the gate protects. _ Woops! After recording, I somehow exited my editing software before I saved the last segment, and it made me so mad I just produced this show with three segments without re-recording the last twelve minutes. Heads-up that this show is shorter. Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Agnieszka T; Carmen D; and Diane S, for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on her method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Consider that you can also be a type of "door" for someone into the Faith. Sometime this week, make a point to share your faith with someone you know does not have faith or is not Christian. I | Ignatian - Using all your senses, imagine yourself as one of Jesus's sheep, coming in and out of the sheepfold each morning and evening. How do you interact with one another? A | Augustinian - For whom are you responsible as a type of shepherd? Spend a few moments praying for their protection from the thief and robber of souls. T | Thomistic - Do a little reading, here, on Holy Doors. What insights do you gain on Jesus as The Door? V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) O Jesus, we know you are gentle and that you gave your Heart for us. It was crowned with thorns through our sins. We know that even today you are praying for us so that we will not be lost. Jesus, remember us when we fall into sin. Through your most Sacred Heart, make us all love one another. Cause hatred to disappear among men. Show us your love. We all love you and we want you to protect us with your Heart of the Good Shepherd. Come into each heart, Jesus! Knock at the door of our hearts. Be patient and persistent with us. We are still closed up in ourselves because we have not understood your will. Knock continuously, O Jesus, make our hearts open to you, at least in remembering the Passion you have suffered for us. + Amen. *LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Share the LOVE Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.   Read the Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.

All the “lights” of the Old Testament symbolized the light of God’s authoritative presence in his Word through the institutional priesthood. Jesus fulfills them all as High Priest and Word of God. By filling the “lights” with the power of salvation, he carries the lampstand forward into the New Testament Church, where Jesus is the center of all the light emanating from the historical, institutional priesthood in the heavenly tabernacle, as we see him in Revelation 1:12-13. Because God commanded it as part of their duty on his behalf, separating the priesthood from teaching and instruction in the Law would have been unthinkable to the Jewish mind. Certainly, God was not preventing the people from learning, praying, or studying the Law on their own; he was protecting them from doctrinal error and preserving them in unity. The priesthood was the office of authoritative judgment for the people, a way of justice for them. The prophets saw that this would be so in the Messianic Kingdom as well (see Ezekiel 44:23-23). Can you see how a priestly, magisterial body on matters of faith and doctrine was God’s idea? Now as then, they are anointed at ordination with a special discernment charism. Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Gerard O'R and Chris C, for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Take tour of your home with your eyes closed as though you were blind. What does it mean to you that the light of truth comes to us most fully and completely through the Church? I | Ignatian - Aside from the historical, Jewish context of "light", St. John places this I AM statement in the context of Jesus forgiving the adulterous woman in John 8:1-12. Imagine you are present at the scene as one of the would-be stoners. Imagine with all your senses that Jesus has written the Ten Commandments in the dirt before you, and challenged you to throw a stone if you, yourself, have never mortally sinned. What does this mean to you, now: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” A | Augustinian - Are there Catholic teachings, either in Tradition or Scripture, that you "don't agree with"?  What has God said to you about Catholic teaching through this show? T | Thomistic - Spend a few minutes, here, researching light. What correlations can you make between light as temporal and spiritual energy? Do these connections speak you you in any way? V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Jesus, Light of the World, For the many who have followed you today through the darkness of temptation, confusion, depression, sin, doubt, or pain, you are the promise of an eternal dawn. We give thanks for all that has been given to us through you, and we ask for the grace to be your faithful disciples. May we praise you all the days of our lives and throughout eternity. + Amen. *LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Share the LOVE

You didn't get an email last week because I was on vacation with my family, which was something of a surprise, as we expected to only be gone the 4th of July weekend. Instead we enjoyed the whole week together. This week I am interrupting our usual programming for a little treat: a show Marcus Grodi and I did last week on memorable scripture verses. Take a listen. We will resume the I AM statements next Monday. Thank you to my newest Friend of the Show, Gerard O, for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) Every FIAT temperament gets the same Observe step this week: Maybe you do not have an anger issue, but what is your issue? What is your emotional vomit? Have you had a recent pop quiz? The S-T-O-P acronym works for all sin. Where is God speaking to you about your out-of-control behavior? How is your behavior related to your wounds? What about the desires of your heart? What has God said to you about that today? V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Jesus, I trust in You! + Amen. *LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Share the LOVE Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.   Read the Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, when it becomes available, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.

Throughout history, bread has been the basis of physical nourishment for all people. Because it was such a basic staple, God used bread in many forms and ways in the Old Testament to prepare His people for the fulfillment of them all: the Bread of Life. Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Amy O and Nicole S, for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - Cook a meal for someone or volunteer in a soup kitchen this week, conscious that you are nourishing them as God's hands and feet. I | Ignatian - Make a point this week to have a bit of your favorite bread. Think of the preparation that went into your being able to eat it. What does it smell, feel, look, and taste like. Does it make a sound as you bite or chew? What do you discern about Jesus' Bread of Life discourse as you meditate? A | Augustinian - Every meal and every Eucharist you eat comes, in some way, from God's hand. What does that mean for you? T | Thomistic - Take a look at the guidelines for Eucharistic bread and wine in the following Church document, Redemptionis Sacramentum (Chapter III.1). What do you learn?  V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) You Who have willingly given me Your Flesh as food, Who are a burning fire to the unworthy, do not consume me. No, my Creator; rather penetrate into my members, all my joints, my organs, and my heart. Burn all my iniquities like thorns; cleanse my soul, make holy my thoughts, make firm my knees and my bones as well. Illumine my five senses and make vigilant my entire being with the fear of You. Watch over me always; shield and protect me from every deed and word which corrupts the soul. Cleanse me, purify me, and put me in order; adorn me, give me understanding, and illumine me. Show me to be the dwelling of Your Spirit alone, and not the dwelling place of sin; so that when You enter into the home of Your communion, every evil doer and every passion will flee from me as from fire. As intercessors I bring to You all the saints, the chiefs of the bodiless hosts, Your Forerunner, the wise Apostles, and moreover Your immaculate and pure Mother; accept their prayers, my compassionate Christ, and make Your servant a child of light. For in Your goodness You alone sanctify and enlighten our souls, and to You, our God and Master, as is right we send up glory every day. (Saint Symeon Metafrastes) + Amen. *LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Share the LOVE Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.   Read the Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you. Photo Credit James Coleman, Unsplash

Moses dares to ask God - the Creator of all that is - His Name, and God condescends with the most beautiful tenderness to accommodate his servant's sincere request. What might He grant me of His secret treasures if I only ask with love? Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Rosemary L (a long-time FOTS, but thank you for the bump!), and Bonnie S (gonna see you soon, Bonnie!) for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) Please do not attempt these exercises until you've heard the show. They won't make sense if you do otherwise. O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - What's your favorite charity work? Your preference does not matter, because your very next neighbor is God reminding you that he or she is your real charity: that every single person and circumstance is somehow willed and loved by Him and is worthy of your love and service. I | Ignatian - You're used to feeling and imaging with your senses. So every single thing you encounter in this very moment, feel and sense it all - focus on the next five minutes- and then remember it ALL exists because God wills it/him/her/. A | Augustinian - Everything you experience in every moment is allowed to exist because God wills it. Minus the sin in every encounter, how do you see Him differently? T | Thomistic - Read the full teaching from the Church.  V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Praise and eternal glory to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Paraclete through all ages. + Amen. *LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Share the LOVE Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.   Read the Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?' Then I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (Isaiah 6:8). _ Please forgive the weird sound issue; it is resolved halfway through the second segment. _ This is the last show of the series. I will be taking a few week's break for Holy Week and to prepare for the next series. Blessed Triduum to you. Thank you to my newest Friends of the Show, Denise; Jennifer; and Mary. Thank you for loving and lifting me! Bible Study Evangelista is now available on the Laudate app! LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary's own practice: lectio without the Latin. L - Listen (Receive the Word.) O - Observe (Choose one or more of the following personality approaches to connect the passage to your life and recent events.) F | Franciscan - To whom can you go this week to share Jesus and your faith? I | Ignatian - See yourself in Isaiah's narrative, above. God is calling  you to mission by virtue of your baptism. What does He want you to do? A | Augustinian - Imagine the Lord sitting knee-to-knee across from you, looking at you intently, saying to you the words from Isaiah 6:8, above. T | Thomistic - What do your new knowledge of the prophets throughout this series tell you about the corruption in the Church? V - Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.) Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O - Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin. E - Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!) Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love only what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me so, O Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. + Amen. . *LOVE the Word® exercises are offered according to FIAT: the four personalities, or "prayer forms," explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, and Thomistic: FIAT! These prayer forms correspond to the Myers-Briggs personality types. Series Preview I. The Summons - History A. Isaiah’s call B. History of the Book of Isaiah C. History of God’s people’s corruption D. Corruption causes disunity II. The Separating – First Isaiah A. Public scandal and corruption B. Idolatry C. Corruption causes public disunity D. Assyria and Samaria E. Samaritans and Protestants F. Protestants and Catholics G. The “unclean” (Is 35:8) H. Judas III. The Sifting – Second Isaiah A. Private scandal and corruption B. Hypocrisy C. Corruption causes private disunity D. Babylon and Judah/Jerusalem E. Two types of Catholic F. The “fool” (Is 35:8) G. David H. Peter 1 IV. The Straightening – Third Isaiah 1 A. Survival B. Sorrow C. Solution D. Salvage E. Strengthen F. Safety (Is 35:9) V. The Sending – Third Isaiah 2 A. Salvation (Is 35:9) B. Celebration (Is 35:10) C. Stages Pray for Us The pilgrimage is sold out. Plan to go next year! Share the LOVE Share the LOVE on the Facebook community. Tell me your #LOVEtheWordtakeaway for this week's show.   Read the Transcript You can download a complete, word-for-word transcript here, courtesy of Dora Donovan who does our transcripts for you.