Taste & See

4th Sunday of Lent | Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is one of Jesus’ most moving stories—one that speaks directly to our identity, purpose, and the loving embrace of the Father. In this episode, we continue our Lenten discernment series, Inner Wisdom, by exploring two essential questions that shape every decision:

✅ Who am I?✅ Why was I created?

Through the lens of discernment, we unpack how forgetting our identity leads us astray and how remembering it brings us home. Just as a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago must know both the starting point and the destination, we too must recognize where we are and where we’re going in order to discern well.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:🔹 How forgetting our identity leads to spiritual wandering🔹 The two foundational truths for discernment🔹 Why prayer is essential for knowing God’s voice🔹 The simple yet profound answer to why we were created
🛐 Take time to reflect with these three journal prompts:

1️⃣ When have I felt most deeply aware of my identity as a beloved child of God?2️⃣ Where in my life am I running away from the Father instead of running toward Him?3️⃣ What does "created for love" mean to me at the day-to-day level?

👉 Follow & Share!If this episode blessed you, leave a comment and share it with a friend who needs to hear it.

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 C

Are you stuck in endless discernment, afraid to make a decision? This episode of Taste and See explores Jesus’ call to bear fruit through decisive action. We break down the meaning of discernment, why God desires our choices, and how to recognize His voice.

🔹 What discernment really is—and what it’s not
🔹 Separating wheat from chaff: hearing God vs. the enemy
🔹 The danger of becoming a “perpetual discerner”
🔹 How to know if your decision is from God—by its fruits
🔹 Jesus’ parable of the fig tree and why it matters for your choices

God isn’t calling you to stay in indecision—He’s cultivating the soil around you, giving you the grace to act. Trust Him. Savor Him. Act with Him.

Journaling Questions:

• Where in my life am I hesitating to make a decision? What is holding me back, and how might God be inviting me to trust Him in this choice?

• What fruits have I seen from past decisions I’ve made? How did those choices draw me closer to or further from God?

• How do I recognize the voice of God versus the voice of fear or confusion? What patterns do I notice in how He speaks to me?

🎧 Listen now and step into the freedom of choosing with God!

Questions to Ask if There Are Good Fruits:

• What has happened to me and those around me because of the decision I made?

• Have I increased in faith, hope and love?

• Do I feel energized as I follow through on my decision?

• Is what I decided working, or would it be considered a failure?

• Have others increased in faith, hope and love?

• Are they affirming me in what I am doing, or is it causing frustration and division?

• Do I sense a supernatural fruitfulness in what I’m doing - beyond what I can do myself?

  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 C

How do you recognize God’s voice? How can you be sure it’s Him? In this episode, we reflect on the Transfiguration and explore the signs of God speaking in your life. I share a personal story from my discernment journey—where I wrestled with anxiety over making the “right” choice—until God revealed that discernment is more about receiving His gift than achieving perfection.

You’ll learn:
✅ How God speaks in ways that bring clarity and peace
✅ Why recognizing false images of God is essential to true faith
✅ Practical steps to trust, savor, and act on His voice

Key Takeaways:

🔹 Who is God? Love, mystery, self-giving.
🔹 How does He speak? His voice is beyond us, surprises us, and awakens our souls.
🔹 How do we respond? Trust Him, remain with Him, and act in love.

Journaling Questions:

1️⃣ When have you experienced God’s voice bringing deep peace and certainty?
2️⃣ Are there false images of God shaping your faith? How can you let them go?
3️⃣ How is God calling you to trust, savor, or act in love this week?

📌 Don’t miss this episode! Be more aware of God’s voice in your daily life.

🔔 Follow& Share - Instagram: @thetasteandseepodcast
Enjoyed this episode? Follow Taste and See and share with someone who needs to hear God’s voice today! 🙏✨

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 C

In this episode, we launch our Lenten series: "Inner Wisdom"—a seven-week journey exploring the principles of discernment for a happy and holy life. This week, we reflect on the temptation of Jesus in the desert (Luke 4:1-13) and learn to recognize the voice of the devil, resist his lies, and stay grounded in our true identity as God’s beloved.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• The Battle Within: Temptation often comes in moments of hunger, anger, loneliness, or fatigue (HALT - Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired).
• The Devil’s Tactics: He twists the truth, offers false reasoning, and gives counterfeit peace to lead us astray.
• Spiritual Warfare: Recognizing the devil is the first step to defeating him—Jesus shows us how through scripture, firm resistance, and trust in the Father.

🔥 Personal Story: I share a time when I felt unworthy and ashamed at a high school reunion—believing the devil’s lies about my success. But God had a different plan.

📖 Scripture Weapons Against Temptation:

• “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
• “All things work for good for those who love God.” (Romans 8:28)
• “Even if a mother could forget her child, I will never forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15)

✍️ Journal Questions for Reflection:

1. Where do I notice false reasoning or false peace in my life?
2. What are my most common moments of temptation (HALT - Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired)? How can I invite God into those moments?
3. How does knowing my identity as God’s beloved child give me strength to resist temptation?

🎧 Listen Now! Don't forget to follow and share if this episode blesses you!

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 C

In this episode of Taste and See, we reflect on Jesus’ words in Luke 6:39-45 and the truth that we are created out of the abundance of God's love. Too often, we struggle to receive words of affirmation, brushing them aside instead of letting them penetrate our hearts. But what if these words are meant to remind us of our infinite dignity and our irreplaceable role in God’s creation?

I share a powerful conversation with a friend that helped me see myself through God's eyes—not as an accident, but as an outpouring of His abundant love. Just as God spoke creation into being, we are invited to co-create with Him through the love we pour out into the world.

Tune in as we explore:
🔹 Why words of affirmation can be difficult to receive
🔹 How God's love overflows into creation—and into our lives
🔹 What it means to find love in all things and recognize our dignity as subjects of love

💡 Reflection & Journal Questions:

1. When was the last time someone affirmed you? How did you receive it?
2. Where have you seen God’s creative love at work in your life this past month?
3. How is God inviting you to overflow with love in your relationships and daily life?

🔔 Subscribe & Share
If this episode spoke to your heart, consider following, rating, and sharing with a friend who needs encouragement today!

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 C

📖 Gospel: Luke 6:27-38

Why does Jesus tell us to “love our enemies, lend expecting nothing back, and offer the other cheek?” At first, these words may seem counterintuitive or even weak, but they reveal a profound truth about friendship, happiness, and intimacy with God. In this episode, we explore how true friendship forms through shared actions, how loving as God loves brings us closer to Him, and why mercy is the key to our own happiness.

Through the moving story of Aaron, a man trapped in the wounds of his past, we witness the transformative power of forgiveness and the freedom that comes when we embrace God’s mercy.

🔹 The connection between friendship and doing the same thing together
🔹 How God calls us to love our enemies as He does
🔹 Mercy as the pathway to true happiness and intimacy with God
🔹 The life-changing impact of forgiveness

1️⃣ How does loving your enemies draw you closer to God?
2️⃣ What past wounds or grudges might God be inviting you to surrender in mercy?
3️⃣ How does the story of Aaron challenge or inspire your understanding of forgiveness?

🎧 Listen now and reflect on how God's mercy invites us into deeper friendship with Him!

💬 Join the Conversation: Have thoughts on this episode? Share them with us on social media @thetasteandseepodcast

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 C

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time | Luke 6:17, 20-26 | The Beatitudes

In this episode ofTaste and See, we dive into Luke’s Beatitudes, focusing on Jesus’ promise:"Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh." Through personal stories of sorrow, friendship, and reunion, we explore how our weeping on earth points us toward the joy of heaven. Christ is near to the brokenhearted, and in the Eucharist, He fulfills every hunger, every longing.

💡Key Takeaways:

• Weeping on earth is not the end—heaven is the promise of joy.
• Jesus Himself knew hunger, poverty, and sorrow.
• The Beatitudes are not just promises for the future but invitations to be blessed now.
• The Eucharist is the fulfillment of the Beatitudes: Christ gives Himself as our food, our joy, and our King.

📖Journal Prompts for Reflection:

1. When have you experienced sorrow that later turned into joy?
2. How does knowing Jesus experienced grief change how you approach your own struggles?
3. Where in your life do you feel poor, hungry, or weeping? How might Christ be present in those moments?
4. What does “poverty of spirit” mean to you? How can you embrace it in your daily life?
5. How does the Eucharist satisfy your deepest longings?

🙏Prayer for the Week:
"Lord, in my poverty, hunger, and sorrow, remind me that I am not alone. You have walked this path before me, and You promise me Your kingdom. Help me to trust in Your presence, even when I weep. Let me hunger for You above all things. Amen."

🔗Resources & Next Steps:

• Gospel Reading: Luke 6:17, 20-26
• Reflect on Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
• Attend Mass and reflect on how the Eucharist fulfills Jesus’ promise in the Beatitudes.

✨If this episode blessed you, please rate, review, and share! Your support helps others discoverTaste and See and deepens our journey in faith together.

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 C

In this episode, we reflect on Luke 5:1-11, exploring the profound truth that God meets us at our lowest points. Drawing from real-life stories and the dynamic of Simon Peter’s encounter with Jesus, we unpack the 4 Steps of Fruitfulness: trying our best, encountering our powerlessness, surrendering, and experiencing fruitfulness. Whether it’s in love, vocation, or personal struggles, the blessing of powerlessness reveals God’s power made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

We also share a meditation from the perspective of John the Beloved Apostle, offering a heartfelt narrative that brings the Gospel to life. Through it all, we are invited to cast our nets one more time, not because of our own strength, but because Jesus asks us to.

Key Themes:

• The blessing of powerlessness

• How God meets us at rock bottom

• Vulnerability vs. insanity: casting the net one more time

• The dynamic of love, life, and discipleship

• God’s power perfected in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Journal Questions:

1. Where have you experienced the feeling of hitting rock bottom in your life? How did God meet you there?

2. In what areas are you still trying to rely on your own strength instead of surrendering to God?

3. What does it mean for you to “cast your net one more time” in your current season of life?

Call to Action:
Consider where Jesus might be asking you to trust Him with one more cast of the net. It could be in relationships, your vocation, or areas of personal growth. Allow His invitation to move you beyond your exhaustion, fear, or doubt, trusting that He is already there, waiting to fill your nets.

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 C

In this episode, we reflect on Luke 2:22-32 and the Presentation of the Lord, diving deep into the heart of Mary and Joseph's journey of faith and obedience. Why did Mary, who was without sin, undergo purification? What does this teach us about humility, trust, and the purpose of God’s law?

We also share insights from a 30-day retreat, exploring how God's law and Church teaching open our eyes and hearts to love. Finally, we take time for an Examen of January 2025, offering prompts to see God’s presence in our lives, seek forgiveness, and prepare our hearts for February.

Key Themes:

• The Presentation of the Lord: How the humility of Mary and Joseph paved the way for us to see God.
• God’s Law as Freedom: Church teachings aren’t constraints but keys that free us to love radically and live authentically.
• The Role of Sacrifice in Love: How saying “no” to lesser things prepares us for greater love and deeper joy.
• Monthly Examen: Reflect on moments of gratitude, light, and opportunities for growth in January 2025.

Reflection Questions:

1. Why do you think Mary chose to undergo purification, even though she was without sin? How does her obedience inspire you?
2. How have you experienced God’s law or Church teaching as a source of freedom in your life?
3. What are the "lesser things" you feel called to sacrifice to prepare your heart for a greater love?
4. Reflecting on January, where did you feel God’s presence most clearly? What opportunities for love did you miss?
5. How can you respond more lovingly to God and others as you step into February?

Resources Mentioned:

• Luke 2:22-32 – The Presentation of the Lord
• Leviticus 12: Context for the purification ritual
• The Beatitude: “Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8)
• St. Thomas Aquinas on love: “To love is to will the good of the other.”

Takeaway Challenge:
Spend 10 minutes this week journaling about one way God’s law has helped you love more freely. Consider incorporating the monthly Examen into your routine to stay attuned to God’s presence in your daily life.

Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who might benefit from its message. Let’s journey together toward greater love and freedom in Christ!

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 C

In this episode, we reflect on the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time and dive into Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21. Together, we explore:

• Who is Jesus?
  Discover Jesus’ identity as the Spirit-filled, anointed Messiah sent to proclaim good news.

• What does He offer?
  Jesus doesn't offer a 401k with health benefits, but instead He offers Himself.

• Why do we need Him?
  Without Him, we remain captives to sin and blind to true love. With Him, we find purpose, hope, and joy.

Through a personal story of faith and provision, we witness how Jesus meets us in our poverty and provides for our deepest needs.

Key Takeaway: Jesus, the Provider, calls each of us by name, offering His love and life for our salvation.

Reflection Questions:

1. Who is Jesus to you personally?
2. How has He provided for you in moments of need?
3. What does it mean for you to embrace His good news today?

Listen now and discover the richness of how "He Offers Himself to You."

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 C