Taste & See

Reflecting on Matthew 9:36–10:8 through Nicolás Francés's painting of the Twelve Apostles, this episode explores how God calls unique individuals into a unified mission for the salvation of souls. The apostles reveal that holiness is not uniformity but a beautiful diversity of gifts, personalities, and vocations united in Christ and His Church. Most powerfully, the episode highlights that the apostles became the answer to their own prayer for laborers, inviting us to recognize that God may also be calling us to become the answer to the prayers we offer today.

Reflection Questions:

1. In what ways has God made you unique for a particular mission?
2. Do you see yourself as irreplaceable in God's plan, or do you struggle to believe that?
3. What is one concrete way you can freely give this week what you have freely received from Christ?

Here's the link to “The Twelve Apostles" by Nicolás Francés: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WqP2IYdQsiQC9xIqdxLhX82kVm_ykVW4/view?usp=sharing

Here's the link to the Presentation to show for a group setting: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mn7S8do6tBg5PWbXqgQRknLcnZ8s_NTEEV90C9Olkso/edit?usp=sharing

Here's the link to the text of the meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZSc0mZgYGZZ2qxcd4u_n6U591E4VvZJCkjPIIPUgwO0/edit?usp=sharing

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Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here.

The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations.

Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music

Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

On the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, this episode reflects on Jesus’ teaching in John 6: 51-58 and a 15th-century German painting of the Last Supper to explore the mystery of the Eucharist as Christ’s true Body and Blood. Through the artwork’s symbolism, listeners are invited to see Christ as the divine Giver who blesses, breaks, and gives Himself for the life of the world, while recognizing themselves in St. John resting close to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The episode emphasizes that Christ enters our brokenness, nourishes us through the Eucharist, and calls us to believe that His Real Presence can transform our lives and lead us to eternal life.

Reflection Questions:

1. What stands out most to you about the German Last Supper painting?
2. What does the Sacred Heart devotion reveal about God's love for humanity?
3. If you truly lived every day as though you had received God Himself in Holy Communion, what would change?

Here's the link for "The Last Supper" by an unknown master German Artist: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pp-sBZPzjK2BvNBvY4rpeTErX_eBi1gb/view?usp=sharing

Here's the link for the Google Slides presentation with the sacred art piece and gospel to project for a group: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uGBMlObfSLXpSC-lZbOCtiM4JbWDVYy0CPj6V0IgZRs/edit?usp=sharing

Here's the link to the text of the meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-fjHanlTJdNxIl-xKOqs7V27V2MGCSuZgSbnRVBupL8/edit?usp=sharing

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Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here.

The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations.

Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music

Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

This episode reflects on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity through John 3:16–18 and The Hospitality of Abraham by Andrei Rublev, revealing the Trinity not as an abstract doctrine but as a divine communion of love that invites us into relationship. Through the symbolism of the icon—especially the open place at the table—the listener is encouraged to see themselves personally welcomed into the life of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, especially through the Eucharist and the Mass. The episode culminates in an examen that helps listeners reflect on God’s deeply personal love by placing their own name into John 3:16 and discerning how to respond more fully to God’s invitation.

Reflection Questions

1. When you hear John 3:16, what changes in your heart when you place your own name into the verse instead of “the world”?
2. In what moments recently have you experienced God’s love in a personal way?
3. Which Person of the Trinity—Father, Son, or Holy Spirit—do you find easiest to relate to? Which feels most distant? Why?

The link to the image of the sacred art piece "The Hospitality of Abraham" by Andrei Rublev: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hEZgSBjHe9_GuZwz_RcX4jP81ztN4b1w/view?usp=sharing

The link to the Google Slides presentation with the image and the gospel reading for those experiencing this podcast as a group: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Edd_-N4Ta_RrynzVBDkc84UUJx-tCtaFgVZzICeUSdY/edit?usp=sharing

The link to the examen: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X7bj_fK_n4L7IYAB58nPhOjWT6k5off1E8YVgRd8Ysk/edit?usp=sharing

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Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here.

The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations.

Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music

Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

This Pentecost reflection on John 20: 19-23 explores how the Holy Spirit enters into locked and fearful hearts, bringing peace, renewal, and mission, just as Jesus breathed the Spirit upon the disciples in the upper room. Through Félix-Henri Giacomotti’s La Pentecôte, the episode highlights Mary’s central role in moments of divine outpouring and emphasizes that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are meant not to be hoarded, but multiplied through loving service to others. Ultimately, Pentecost is presented not merely as a dramatic event of fire and power, but as a quiet invitation into surrender, silence, and openness to God’s transforming presence.

Reflection Questions:

1. What stood out most to you in the description of Giacomotti’s La Pentecôte?
2. Which gift of the Holy Spirit (wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord) do you most need right now?
3. What is one concrete way you can “open the locked doors” of your heart to the Holy Spirit this week?

The digital image of Giacomotti’s La Pentecôte: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1m8ojz6Q60iazgMx9aGlKr43i7SQAWkeB/view?usp=sharing

The Text of the Meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1dOlje2khBZiybRhB97SoXyDhilBvfGv5Amd8EkV6jZI/edit?usp=sharing

The link to the Google Slides Presentation to show for a group: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1iaLgzURZ0ZZSuHdYQM4XYvhvBlPxSyEH6pV-tCaA1yo/edit?usp=sharing

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Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here.

The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations.

Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music

Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

Using Rembrandt’s The Ascension of the Lord alongside Matthew 28:16–20, this reflection explores how Christ’s Ascension invites us to lift our hearts toward heaven while remaining rooted in His presence through the Church and the Eucharist. By returning to Galilee—the place of first love for the disciples—Jesus teaches us to revisit the moments of conversion where we first encountered His mercy so that His light can spill into our present darkness. Through sacred art and prayer, we are reminded that Christ ascends not to abandon us, but to bring our wounded humanity home to the Father and remain universally present through the Holy Spirit, the Church, and the Eucharist.

Reflection Questions:

1. Why do you think beauty can help us encounter God more deeply?
2. What is your “Galilee”—the place or season where you first encountered God’s love?
3. What is one practical way you can “set your gaze upward” this week toward God and eternity?

"The Ascension of the Lord" by Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (c. 1636): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mQy9shxW-zStUoGzljasH6LbUEFlaknN/view?usp=drive_link

Meditation Link (you can copy and paste if the hyperlink is not available): https://docs.google.com/document/d/19V-ZW7RY0i_AaCalOs0bdDcEOyf0kcFvEaeruz0hTGk/edit?usp=sharing

Presentation Link for use as a group (you can copy and paste the link if the hyperlink is not available): https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1w03RXkHQwtOBFdFAbg-sqiv1CtC2M21hB0IjMDyHwJ0/edit?usp=sharing

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Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here.

The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations.

Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music

Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

In this episode on John 14: 15-21, Jesus promises that we are not abandoned but deeply loved children of God, given the Holy Spirit and His own presence so we are never left as orphans. Through His sacrifice and the gift of the Eucharist, He restores our identity as sons and daughters, healing the wounds of sin and separation. The call is clear: receive His love, keep His commandments, and live from your true identity rather than acting out of fear, shame, or spiritual orphanhood.

Reflection Questions:

1. In what ways do you still live or think like an “orphan”?
2. When you fall into sin, what is your immediate response—shame, hiding, or returning to God?
3. What is one concrete way you can live from your identity—not as an orphan, but as someone deeply loved—this week?

Here' the link to the text of the meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1K_wI_zZlX2Wrj_OCaWV2WKgrDlfzFIQO-ye5espsv_Q/edit?usp=sharing

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Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here.

The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations.

Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music
Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

In this episode on John 14:1-12, Jesus reveals that He is not just a guide but the Way itself—the only path to the Father, who is the true destination of our deepest longing. Through the image of pilgrimage, the reflection shows that without a clear destination, life becomes aimless, but with Christ, every step has purpose, even in suffering. By receiving His life, especially in the Eucharist, and living in His truth and forgiveness, we journey home to the Father who alone can satisfy the human heart.

Reflection Questions:

1. What does it mean to you that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life”?
2. What wounds or misconceptions might Jesus want to heal in your heart?
3. How can you more intentionally “walk the Way” in your daily life?

Here's a link to the meditation/examen: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1HH74cGCxuuOUqUBnnZUpAs8lze69oSFnXZB-ShUBWvk/edit?usp=sharing

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Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here.

The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations.

Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music

Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

In the gospel for next Sunday, John 10: 1-10, Jesus reveals Himself as the Good Shepherd who lovingly calls His sheep by name, invites them to recognize His voice, and leads them into abundant life. The episode emphasizes that God speaks not just through words, but through the “language of the heart”—a quiet, intimate experience of His presence that requires trust, vulnerability, and consistency in prayer. Like the bride recognizing her fiancé by touch, we learn to discern God’s voice by becoming familiar with His gentle movements in our hearts, even amid confusion, silence, and suffering.

Reflection Questions:

1. When have you felt like you clearly recognized God’s voice in your life?
2. How do you usually experience God in prayer—words, silence, emotions, thoughts?
3. How can recognizing the Good Shepherd’s voice help you bring peace or healing to others?

Here's a link to the meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tv60LQTv3ljliMz-p8KR1Lt3U1mQHdQwbt9SuJJsM3Y/edit?usp=sharing

Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here.

The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations.

Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music
Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

This episode on Gospel of Luke 24:13–35 reveals that the story of Cleopas and the road to Emmaus is not just a past event, but the very pattern of every Mass today. Just as the disciples encountered Jesus in their pain and recognized Him in the breaking of the bread, we too are invited to move from routine to real encounter with Christ in the Eucharist. The episode challenges listeners to approach Mass with renewed faith, seeing it as a living meeting with the risen Jesus who walks with us in our pain and transforms it into joy.Reflection Questions:

1. Where in your life right now do you feel like you’re “walking away” from something (like the disciples leaving Jerusalem)?
2. Why do you think the disciples didn’t recognize Jesus at first?
3. What would it look like to go to Mass as if it were your first, last, and only Mass?

Here's the link to the meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nbQ102_OpEyJxg8zNWaDP_qqF2la8XTF71tTwphmgmo/edit?usp=sharing

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Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here.

The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations.

Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music
Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A

This episode reflects on Divine Mercy Sunday through Gospel of John 20:19–23, revealing that the risen Christ enters our fear, guilt, and shame not with condemnation, but with the gift of peace through forgiveness. Through the powerful witness of Immaculée Ilibagiza, the episode shows that true Christian mission is not primarily about great external works, but about radical forgiveness that flows from receiving God’s mercy. Ultimately, it challenges listeners to become missionaries of mercy—receiving Christ’s peace in the sacraments and extending it to others, even when it costs everything.Reflection Questions:

1. What does Jesus saying “Peace be with you” mean personally to me right now?
2. What strikes me most about Immaculée Ilibagiza’s story?
3. Who is one person I need to forgive this week?

Here's a link to the meditation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ZC8FzEXTIEftzvjpQ1-8gC2TjwqgF-UkOPDfsLvkWTE/edit?usp=sharing

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Learn more about the mission of Paradisus Dei and its life-changing parish programs here.

The World English Bible is in the public domain and was used for all scripture quotations.

Intro music: "My Life (Main)” by Good B Music
Meditation Music: Reawaken Hymns Worship Pads - foundations in the key of A