In this week's episode, we talk about the theology of communion. Our desire for communion with others is very good and comes from God Himself. In fact, our ache for community is an ache for eternity. God desires to bring us into an eternal communion with Him and the community here on earth points towards this in a small way. We discuss what happens when we experience a broken community, the challenges faced in building community, and how community changes throughout the seasons of life.

Heather's One Thing - My art on the "They That Hope" podcast mug (add photos to website)

Sister Miriam's One Thing - Best Ever Crock Pot Roast Recipe

Michelle's One Thing - Every Sacred Sunday Mass Journal

Announcement:

Order your Abiding Together shirt in our shop today!

Journal Questions:

How have I been wounded within community? How have I been healed through community?
In what ways are my friendships free, total, faithful, and fruitful? In what ways are my friendships not free, total, faithful, and fruitful?
What kind of friend do I need to tend to my heart?
What kind of friend am I to my friends' hearts?
How have I withheld belonging from others?

Discussion Questions:

How has your need and capacity for community changed over the years?
How can you extend belonging to people in your community?
What lies isolate you from entering into friendship?
How is God inviting you to cultivate and receive community?

Quotes to Ponder:

"God is love and in himself he lives a mystery of personal loving communion. Creating the human race in his own image .... God inscribed in the humanity of man and woman the vocation, and thus the capacity and responsibility, of love and communion." (CCC 2331)

"The person who loves their dream of community will destroy community, but the person who loves those around them will create community." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community)

Scripture for Lectio:

"And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common; and they sold their possessions and goods and distributed them to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they partook of food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." (Acts 2:43-47)

Sponsor - CORDA:

Connect with the saints through scent with CORDA's handcrafted 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 when you're placing your order, don't forget to enter code ABIDINGTOGETHER to save 15% on everything, now through the end of the year. Thank you for supporting this Catholic small business!

Timestamps:

00:00 - CORDA

01:23 - Intro

02:15 - Announcement

02:42 - Welcome

04:23 - Scripture Verse and Guiding Quotes

05:47 - Initial Thoughts

08:41 - The Desire for Communion is Good

13:39 - Community Takes Work

16:36 - Learning How to Love

18:04 - Identifying the Lies

24:34 - Understanding the Wounds of Others

29:00 - One Things

S15 E5 - Theology of Communion