Vox Veniae Podcast

Vox Veniae Podcast

By Vox VeniaeReligion & SpiritualityChristianity
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Vox Veniae Podcast episodes

  • Hope of Restoration
    Weylin Lee reflects on the hope of restoration as we come to the end of this heavy year through the contemplative practice of Lectio Divina [Isaiah 61:10-62:3].
    Reflection
    In light of this past year, what are the things we hope for in this coming year?
    How might we be open to a new way of being?
    Resources
    Photos: Year in Photos (NY Times)
    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/year-in-pictures.html
    Lectio Divina
    https://voxveniae.com/lectio-divina/
    28 min
  • Mary and the Incarnation
    As we continue in the Advent season, Matt Inman reflects on the Christmas story from the perspective of Mary and how we are invited to be grounded and not overlook the divine in our lives [Luke 1:26-38].
     
    Reflection
    Where in your life does love tend to get overlooked in your life?
    What memory of Christmas sticks out to you as loving and intimate? How did love grow in your life to help make such a beautiful moment come into being?
     
    Practice
    Where do you find yourself managing acceptance and reflection in your life right now? Notice what stories and emotions come up for you.
    Pick an aspect of life you struggle accepting and work through Tolle's suggestion of doing on oof the three actions: 1. Remove it (let it go)  2. Change it  3. Fully embrace it (accept it)
    20 min
  • Advent: Revealed
    As we continue in the Advent season, Weylin Lee reflects on the things that God is and has been revealing about ourselves and others and God this past year [John 1:6-8, 19-23].
     
    Reflection
    What are the glimpses of divine light we have seen even in our moments of darkness?
    How might we live more from our authentic self and embrace who God has made us to be?
    What are the voices we are hearing that are crying out in the margins for God's justice and mercy?
     
    Practice
    Lighting candles. Gather some tea light candles. Remember the glimpses of hope and comfort and guidance that you experienced in darkness. Light a candle for each glimpse of comfort.
    Reflection of personal actions. Examine an action or choice or decision that involved other people. “Was I living out of my ego or was I living out of my rooted and fully loved authentic self?”
     
    MWG Discussion Questions
    What has this past year revealed to you about yourself and the world around you?  What was expected?  What was unexpected?
    What has been a glimpse of divine light in your experiences this past year?  How have you seen God’s comfort, guidance and hope in the moments of darkness?
    How has the pandemic removed the exterior layers that we tend to live from?  What parts of your authentic self has been revealed to you this past year?  How have you been holding the tension of living out of who God has made you to be?
    21 min
  • Comfort Ye
    As we continue in the Advent season, Nic Acosta reflects on what it means to experience the deep comfort that God promises [Isaiah 40:1-5].
     
    Reflection
    What kind of comfort do we long for?
    What would it take to live as though our lives are God’s home, and to consider God as the most hospitable, comforting host?
     
    Practice
    Compile a list of what God’s comfort means to you.  List reflections under one column for “What is comfort in God like?" and another column for "What keeps me from this comfort?
     
    Resources
    Song: Come On Up to the House (Tom Waits)
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFrqclcm8pU
    19 min
  • Training Our Eyes for the Coming
    As we start the season of Advent, James Alison reflects on what the Holy Spirit is seeking to prepare us in this season [Mark 13:33-37].
     
    Reflection
    What did Jesus mean by talking about a “coming” and then setting up a parable about a “going”?
    Why is it so difficult for us to understand the ancient Hebrew way in which the Prophet is not so much asking for some blanket forgiveness from God, but begging God to make possible a human way of finding ourselves able to forgive and be forgiven – even blaming God for God’s failure to do that so far?
    16 min
  • Even in the Midst
    Virginia Cumberbatch considers a reframing of what a radical and relentless grace is asking of us especially in the season we are living in [Ezekiel 34:11-16].
     
    Reflection
    How can you extend grace to yourself in this season and in reflection of this year, as a part of your healing?
    As we navigate discord, challenge one another in love, and continue to disrupt injustice to work toward shalom / equity what does active, radical grace look like this week and in the weeks to come for those I’m in community with?
     
    Resources
    Song: Love is a Miracle
    https://youtu.be/MRkZj0UoK4A
    16 min
  • Loving Nearby Neighbors
    Judy Peterson reflects on how Jesus invites us to love our nearby neighbors with whom we have conflict with [Luke 10].
    Reflection
    You are sheep and not a wolf. How would you approach your nearby neighbors with whom you have conflict differently if you believed not only that you are sheep, but also that there is a Good Shepherd involved?
    How might you consider letting Jesus turn your "Fire" into "Woe"?
     
    MWG Discussion Questions
    Who are the nearby neighbors in our lives that we have conflict with?  Who do we hold a grudge towards and how holds a grudge against us?  What is the source of the conflict that comes between us and our nearby neighbors?
    When Jesus invites his disciples not to take any possessions with them as they are sent out, what would it look like practically for us not to take our ideologies, theologies, and loyalties to defend when we interact with others?  How might that impact our conversations?
    If the one who shows mercy is a true neighbor, what would showing mercy look like with our neighbors we have conflict with?  How might we begin to break down barriers that have been put up over time?  How can we rely less on their response and more on our invitation to love and extend peace?
    31 min
  • Tragic Gap

    Weylin Lee reflects on how we are invited to live in the gap between what is and what could be, especially in a divisive season and political landscape [Psalm 70].

     

    Reflection

    • What is our lament in this current moment and season?
  • How are we moving away from or toward God’s active presence as we live in this gap?

    • Resources

      1. Book: Healing the Heart of Democracy (Parker Palmer)
    • https://smile.amazon.com/Healing-Heart-Democracy-Courage-Politics/dp/1118907507/ 
      1. Book: Prophetic Lament (Soong Chan Rah)
    • https://smile.amazon.com/Prophetic-Lament-Justice-Troubled-Times/dp/0830836942/ 

     

    MWG Discussion Questions

    1. What is your tendency towards expressing lament during moments or seasons of struggle and challenge?  How has your personal or faith upbringing impacted your practice and approach to lament?
  • How do the images of consolation (moving toward God’s presence) and desolation (moving away from God’s presence) provide a framework for discerning your internal movements during times of distress?  How might you describe what a movement of consolation has looked like in your own life?  How about a movement of desolation?
  • How would you describe the tension between effectiveness and faithfulness as you have seen it in your own experience?  What might a practice of faithfulness look like for you right now in this moment and season of your life?
    • 20 min
  • All Saints

    On All Saints Day, Scott Erickson reflects on how we connect to God through our vulnerabilities and the shame we house in our bodies [Luke 7:36-39, 44-50].

     

    Reflection

    • In what ways do you feel on the outside of a religious gathering?
  • In what ways are you “seen” by Jesus?

    • Resources

    • Book: Honest Advent
    • https://smile.amazon.com/Honest-Advent-Awakening-God-Us/dp/0310361877/ 

     

    13 min
  • Invitation to Love

    Weylin Lee reflects on how Jesus reminds us to center ourselves and our lives around love especially in these divisive and heavy times [Matthew 22:34-40].

     

    Reflection

    • In this current season, what would it look like to shift from being right to being more loving?
  • How might you practice fully loving both your neighbors and yourself?

    •  

    Spiritual Practice

    • Put on a lens of love. Take out our lens of judgement, or comparison, or critique. Use a lens of love to soften our gaze towards people.
  • Explore love with playfulness. Incorporate playfulness in how you engage and connect with God this week. Consider the different ways God has made you to express love and care.

    •  

    Resources

    Video: Ted Lasso

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u7EIiohs6U  

     

    MWG Discussion Questions

    1. What are the tensions we experience when we explore whether it’s more important to be right or be more loving with certain people in our lives?  How are those practices opposed to one another and how might they be in alignment with each other?
  • What does it mean to us when we hear that God invites us to love with all our heart, soul, mind and strength?  If we adopt a more playful posture and perspective, what might be some expressions of love that we have not considered before?
  • How have you experienced loving your neighbor and loving yourself?  How might one come at the expense of the other and how has that looked like in your life?  Which of these practices might you need to lean into more this current season and why?
    • 22 min

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The work of the people. Our weekly rhythm of being together as a larger community to worship and confess, to engage scripture and prayer, to celebrate eucharist, and to be sent back into the city with…