The Poco a Poco Podcast with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal

Episode 315 - Silence of Judgment
Have you ever caught yourself judging someone before you really knew the whole story? In this episode, the friars continue their series on holy silence by reflecting on the silence of judgment. They explore the difference between healthy discernment and rash judgment, and why our quick opinions about others can create so much noise in the heart.
Judgment often comes from places of hurt, insecurity, control, or the desire to fix what is not ours to fix. But Jesus invites us into a deeper poverty and humility, one that remembers we do not see the whole picture, we do not know the fullness of another person's story, and we cannot always see the hidden work of grace in their life.
The friars invite us to slow down, become curious, and surrender others more peacefully to the Father. As we grow in trust, we learn to see ourselves and others with more mercy, patience, and truth.
Join us as we learn to quiet the noise of judgment-and ask Jesus for hearts that are meek, humble, and merciful like His.
The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out?
You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you!
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Episode 316 - Silence of Union
What if silence is not just something we practice, but a place where God invites us to meet Him? In this final episode of the silence series, the friars reflect on the silence of union-the deeper "why" behind all the silence we have been talking about.
 The goal is not simply to talk less, think less, judge less, or strip everything away. The goal is communion with God. The friars explore how silence becomes a kind of mountain we climb with Jesus. Like the disciples at the Transfiguration, we cannot force God to reveal His glory, but we can follow Him, make space, surrender what distracts us, and receive the gift He wants to give. This is the promise at the heart of the journey: God desires union with us.
He wants to draw us into His life, transform us by His love, and send us back into the world more free, more present, and more able to lay down our lives in love.
Join us as we learn to see silence not as emptiness, but as an invitation to union with the God who gives Himself completely.
The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out?
You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 
🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 314 - Silence of the Body
Have you ever noticed how your body can make it harder to be still with God? In this episode, the friars continue their series on holy silence by reflecting on the silence of the body. They explore how our pace, movement, sleep, food, health, rest, and daily habits all shape the way we pray, love, serve, and show up to the present moment.
This conversation is not about treating the body like a problem. It is about learning to steward the body as a gift. When we move too fast, neglect rest, ignore our limits, or live constantly scattered, our bodies can carry noise that makes prayer and charity harder. But when we slow down, breathe, rest, and care for our bodies well, we create more space for recollection, peace, and deeper communion with the Lord.
Join us as we learn to bring our bodies into the silence of prayer and let even our daily rhythms become places where God can meet us.
The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount.
Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you!
🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 313 - Silence of Speech
Have you ever wondered how much of what you say actually leads to love? In this episode, the friars continue their series on holy silence by reflecting on the silence of speech. Speech is a gift from God, meant to build communion, speak truth, encourage others, give thanks, and bring life. But our words can also become noisy, filled with commentary, gossip, distraction, self-protection, or conversation that never really leads anywhere deeper.
The invitation is not to stop speaking, but to let our words become more intentional, more prayerful, and more ordered toward love. The friars reflect on how silence can purify the way we speak, helping us notice what our words are really serving: communion, connection, attention, or simply more noise.
This conversation invites us to ask where our speech may need greater custody, where we may need to fast from certain words, and where God may be asking us to use our voices to bless, encourage, and give thanks.
Join us as we learn to speak less from noise and more from love, and let our words become a place where communion can grow.
The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount.
Thinking about helping out? You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you! 
🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 312 - Silence of Self-Love
Have you ever felt like you had to prove yourself, protect yourself, or hold everything together on your own?
In this episode, the friars continue their series on holy silence by reflecting on the silence of self-love. They explore how pride, self-reliance, self-protection, insecurity, and the need to perform can create a lot of noise in our hearts. When we feel threatened, unseen, corrected, or afraid, it can be easy to turn inward and try to defend the self we want others to see. But Jesus invites us into something much quieter and freer, the poverty of being beloved sons and daughters.
We do not have to build a fortress around ourselves or work endlessly to be loved. The Father's love is already poured out, already steady, already "maxed out" for us. Join us as we learn to let go of the noise of self-protection and rest in the Father's love that tells us who we really are.
The Poco a Poco podcast happens because of many generous donors, including recurring monthly donations of any amount. Thinking about helping out?
You can give at https://spiritjuice.org/supportpoco. Thank you!
🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at https://www.pocomerch.com/