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In this episode, we conclude our series on the identity of Bride: Fruitful Love. We discuss the truth that love was designed to be life generating and to bear good fruit that will last. Although this occurs through biological children within family, it also applies to community and beyond the boundaries of biological ties in the discipleship of others. We also talk honestly about how tenderness, vulnerability, and intimacy are intertwined and what is needed to feel safe and open up. Our body has meaning and was made for an other. We all are invited to grow from brokenness to wholeness in our sexuality. This conversation has some mature content so please be sensitive to little ears listening.

Sister Miriam’s one thing - Our Listeners, Spirit Juice, and Michelle for her vision of the content from this series

Heather’s one thing - Best Ever Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Michelle’s one thing - Our listeners and everyone behind the scenes making this podcast happen

Discussion Questions:    

1. What stood out to you from this week’s episode?
2. In what ways can you see that love is fruitful in your life and the lives of those around you?
3. If you’re married, do you make space for intimacy in all of it’s forms within your marriage? What more can you do to make space for intimacy? If you’re not married, what is your ideal view of what intimacy should look like in marriage or the consecrated life?
4. “Every woman wants to be attended to and to be a partner on a great adventure”. Discuss your desire for this within marriage and/or relationship with Christ. How is this desire being met and in what ways are you still longing for this?

Journal Questions:

1. How are you responding to Christ’s invitation to intimacy in practical ways?
2. All of us are called to make disciples of all nations. Who might the Lord be asking you to disciple in the faith and journey alongside?
3. Ponder how you can support your married friends and be “for” their marriage. How have you participated in gossip and maybe disunity in your own marriage or of a friend’s?
4. Sex is holy and beautiful. Notice what this provokes in your own heart. Ask the Lord to bring healing to the areas in your life that need to be restored by this truth.

Quotes to Ponder: "Love is never something ready made, something merely given to man and woman. It is always at the same time, a task, which they are set. Love should be seen as something which is in a sense never is, but is always becoming. And what it becomes depends upon the contribution of both persons and the depth of their commitment." Saint Pope John Paul II, “Love and Responsibility.”

Scripture for Lectio Divina: “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner.” So out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; this one shall be called Woman, for out of Man this one was taken.” Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed. - Genesis 2:18-25 

This episode is sponsored by Soul Core.

SoulCore is an invitation to nourish body, mind and soul through prayer and functional movement. SoulCore began from a simple “yes” to an inspiration of the Holy Spirit and is a movement all its own. 

Engaging all of the senses, SoulCore incorporates scripture, sacred art, music, candlelight, and movement; a gentle path to grow in virtue and interior peace. Participants often say it feels like they’ve been on a “mini-retreat” after a SoulCore class. 

There are several ways to experience SoulCore. Live classes are offered across the country, as well as DVDs, Digital Downloads and an Online Streaming Studio, which offers a wide variety of Leaders and classes.

You can take advantage of their Online Streaming Studio FREE 14-day trial at soulcore.com/signup. In addition, SoulCore is extending a 20% savings to all Abiding Together listeners in their Online Shop (shop.soulcore.com)  Enter promo code: ABIDE20 at checkout. 

Discover the beauty and transforming power of the rosary. Visit SoulCore.com to begin your SoulCore journey today!