In this episode, we focus on the patron of the universal Church, St Joseph. Since Pope Francis has declared this as the “Year of St Joseph”, we desire to uncover the gift of this humble and faithful adoptive father of Jesus. We discuss Joseph as a tender, loving Father who shows us that God can use our frailty and weakness to bring about great things for the Kingdom. We consider how in the face of disappointment, Joseph chose to surrender and continue to give his daily fiat. We pray that you would allow Joseph to take you into his home as he does with Mary and be open to the healing God wants to work in your heart this year.

Sister Miriam’s one thing - Dear Father: A Message of Love for Priests - Catherine De Hueck Doherty 

Heather’s one thing - Recipe for baked black pepper ranch chicken fingers

Michelle’s one thing - Becket Wants to Be a Priest - Matt Regitz

Discussion questions:    

1. What struck you from this week’s episode?
2. How can we model St. Joseph’s love for the people dearest to us in our life - not as our possessions, but as gifts entrusted to us. Are you able to receive them with open hands and give them back to the Lord?
3. Where is God inviting you to practice obedience, acceptance, and surrender like St. Joseph?
4. How do you need to receive a redeemed experience of fatherhood through St. Joseph this year?

Journal Questions:

1. Joseph practiced obedience and surrender in the face of disappointment. What areas of your life is God asking you to surrender in the midst of disappointment?
2. How is God revealing a redeemed masculinity to you through St. Joseph? Take some time to invite him into any areas of woundedness around masculinity or ways men have wounded you. 
3. What does God want to reveal to you about His character through St. Joseph this year?

Quote to Ponder:  “When God wishes to raise a soul to greater heights, he unites it to St. Joseph by giving it a strong love for the good saint” — St. Peter Julian Eymard

Scripture for Lectio Divina -  Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus. - Matthew 1:18-25

Additional Resources:

• Consecration to St. Joseph: The Wonders of Our Spiritual Father Paperback – Fr Donald Calloway 
• Consecration to Jesus through St. Joseph: An Integrated Look At the Holy Family Paperback – Dr. Gregory Bottaro
• The Seven Sorrows and Joys of St. Joseph
• Patris Corde - With a Father’s Heart - Pope Francis
• Redemptoris Custos - Saint Pope John Paul II

Abiding Together Podcast 2021 Lenten Book Study Announcement:

The Abiding Together Podcast will be reading and discussing This Present Paradise by Claire Dwyer. You can find the reading plan, discussion questions and where to buy your book at www.abidingtogetherpodcast.com/this-present-paradise.

This episode is sponsored by the Given Institute Forum.

Are you a woman with a heart for mission and an aptitude for leadership? Come to the GIVEN Catholic Young Women’s Leadership Forum to develop your personal gifts and leadership skills and put them at the service of the Gospel! The GIVEN Forum will take place June 9th-13th at Catholic University in Washington DC and is open to emerging Catholic female leaders ages 21-30. You’ll receive faith formation, leadership development, and mentoring and leave with a concrete action plan that you’ll take back to the communities you love. The GIVEN Forum is the signature program of the GIVEN Institute, which seeks to raise up Catholic female leaders both lay and religious. The feminine genius is at the heart of the Church, and God has entrusted you with a gift only YOU can give, because of the gift that you are. Applications for the GIVEN Forum are now open! Visit www.giveninstitute.com to learn more about the Forum and apply today. Applications close on February 12th!