In this episode, we journey to the house of Loreto, a simple home where the Annunciation took place. We reflect on how God meets us in the quiet, ordinary places of our own lives and how He meets us where we are, no matter how isolated we may feel. We also explore Mary's free and wholehearted yes, given without a request for details, and consider where the Holy Spirit may be inviting us to trust and surrender in our own hidden spaces. As Advent is a time to rest in stillness, we talk about making room for God in our schedules, noticing His gentle invitations in the everyday, and allowing His Word to take root in us even when the fruits of our yes are not yet visible.

Heather's One Thing - Registration for Glory: Women's Gathering is open! Michelle and I would love to see you there!

Sister Miriam's One Thing - Live Dialogue with Pope Leo XIV and Teens at NCYC

Michelle's One Thing - Trader Joe's winter peonies

Next, we come to the House of Loreto, a humble home, walls worn by daily life, where the eternal interrupted the ordinary.

Here, a young woman listens and her "yes" ripples through all of time. This is the place of surrender, of saying yes to what we cannot yet understand. The Word takes root in the quiet soil of her trust.

Other Resources Mentioned:

• Litany of Loreto
• "The Annunciation" painting by Henry Tanner

Journal Questions:

• Where am I missing God's presence in the ordinary moments?
• What does God want to announce to me this Advent?
• Where have I said no to the Lord in the past?
• What parts of your life feel uncontrollable?
• How can I choose to surrender this Advent?

Discussion Questions:

• Where is the Lord inviting you to say yes?
• How has God interrupted and nudged you in the ordinary moments of life?
• Where is the Lord inviting you to surrender?
• How has God slowly unraveled His plan for your life?

Quote to Ponder:

"This is a serious warning cry: Surrender without reservation to the Lord who has called us. This is required of us so that the face of the earth may be renewed." (Edith Stein)

Scripture for Lectio:

"The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth…" (Luke 1:26)

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It's not impossible to be spiritually fed while fulfilling your mission to raise your family!

Chapters:

00:00 Small Town Catholic Living

01:15 Intro

02:24 Welcome to Loreto

03:28 Guiding Quote and Scripture Verse

05:02 God Comes in the Ordinary

08:14 In the Fullness of Time

10:15 God Invites Us to Respond to His Invitations

11:50 When We Feel Like We are Isolated

15:20 Saying Yes to God Even When We don't Understand

19:19 The Quiet Work of Faith

21:55 Will We Make Space for God?

26:35 One Things

Music used under license i94Cr0