258 Jesus Patiently and Persistently Pursues You

Transcript Speaker 1: After trying my case, the Romans wanted to release me because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty. But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation. This is the reason, then I have requested to see you and to speak with you. For it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains. Speaker 2: Welcome back to Scripture for your inner outcasts. Today is May 23rd, 2026, Saturday of the seventh week of Easter. Today we are joined by Monica, an adventurer in holiness with her resilient Catholics community and a beloved daughter of God. Speaker 1: Today's first reading is from acts 28. And what jumped out at me were verses 18 to 20. After trying my case, the Romans wanted to release me because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty. But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation. This is the reason, then I have requested to see you and to speak with you. For it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains. Paul's words the Romans wanted to release me, but the Jews objected. Really speak to my inner exiles, particularly those finally ready to heal. I have a young exiled part who is growing in courage, and she loves it when my regulated inner self invites her to come sit in my lap and share with me what's on her mind. When I read in verse 18, the Romans wanted to release me. My little exile sees the potential for something new to be released from her burden, and joyfully acknowledged by the rest of my internal system. And then comes verse 19. But the Jews objected, and here's the wah wah of some of my protective parts weighing in. No, there's a reason why we've cast you out. We don't want to see or hear you. You might feel a similar tug of war going on within you. The deep hope that you can be filled with light and joy, a glimpse of freedom, only to have it ripped away by internal accusations. But then I read in verse 20, I have requested to see and to speak with you. This is myself. It tells my little exile that she is worthy of being seen and heard, and has a unique and Irreplaceable gift to bring joy. Here's the beautiful reality. My self is not giving up on pursuing my little exile in love and hope. Just as Jesus patiently and persistently pursues each hurting and rejected part in our internal system. Speaker 2: If you're enjoying the content of this podcast, then the Resilient Catholics community might be a good fit for you. We're open to new members only three times a year, and the June cohort is going to open up right around the corner in preparation for the June cohort, which is named after Saint Mary Magdalene. We will be hosting an informational meeting on Tuesday, May 26th, 2026 from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time. There's a link to join the Zoom in the description of today's show. And if you can't make it live, there will be a recording posted for you to view. Speaker 1: Let's end with our invocations. Our lady, our mother, Untier of knots. Pray for us. Saint Joseph, pray for us. Saint John the Baptist, pray for us. Speaker 2: Hey everyone. It's producer Elizabeth here. And I just want to say on a personal note that I joined the Resilient Catholics community by souls and hearts myself in March of 2022. I was in the Saint Bernard of Clairvaux cohort, and I just want to say that in my four years of membership, it has really, really helped my mental health, my internal integration, and above all, it has enabled me to love myself so that I can actually love God and love others. If you'd like to hear my own fuller testimony about this program, as well as the testimony of many other members of the program, you can follow the link in the description of today's show. Thanks for tuning in, and I hope to see you again tomorrow.