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

Episode 297 - When One Door Closes...
What do you do when the plan you had suddenly falls apart?
In this episode, the friars reflect on the role of closed doors in discernment, those moments when something we hoped for, planned for, or tried to control simply doesn't happen. A missed flight, a changed plan, a lost opportunity, a relationship that doesn't unfold the way we imagined… sometimes reality interrupts us and invites us to listen more deeply.
Rather than seeing every closed door as failure, the friars explore how these moments can become places of surrender, curiosity, and trust. Not because every disappointment is easy or painless, but because Jesus is present even there. The Resurrection reminds us that no door is more closed than the sealed tomb, and even there, God was not finished.
Join us as we learn to trust Jesus in the detours, the disruptions, and the closed doors, and discover that what feels like an ending may become the place He begins something new.
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!
Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi: 
https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi
🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at
https://www.pocomerch.com/
Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints
https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home
https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page

Episode 296 - Revelation of the Resurrected One
Have you ever wondered why it can be so hard to recognize Jesus, even when He's right in front of you?
In this episode, the friars reflect on the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus, moments where those closest to Him don't recognize Him at first. From Mary Magdalene in the garden to the road to Emmaus, they explore the mystery of how the risen Lord reveals Himself: personally, patiently, and often in unexpected ways.
They unpack how Jesus meets people exactly where they are, in grief, confusion, doubt, and even ordinary moments and how those encounters change everything. This isn't just something that happened back then. It's a pattern that continues today. The same Jesus still comes, still pursues, and still reveals Himself in ways uniquely meant for each of us.
For those who feel like they've never had that "breakthrough" moment, this episode is a gentle reminder: the Lord is closer than you think, especially in the Eucharist, where the Resurrection is made present again.
Join us as we open our eyes to the risen Jesus and learn to recognize Him already at work in our lives.
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!
Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi: 
https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi
🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at
https://www.pocomerch.com/
Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints
https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home
https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page

Episode 295 - Who Did It Better?
Does it sometimes feel like the people who mess up the most end up closer to God?
As the friars wrap up their reflections on the Prodigal Son, they wrestle with a real and honest question: Did things actually turn out better for the one who left than for the one who stayed?
In this episode, they unpack the tension between comparison and truth. While the younger son experiences a powerful return, that doesn't mean sin is the better path. God can redeem anything, but that doesn't make it the plan. The deeper invitation isn't about having a dramatic story, but about entering into real relationship with the Father, right where you are.
They also reflect on the subtle danger of doing all the "right" things without ever truly encountering God, and how both sons are invited out of an orphan mindset and into deeper intimacy.
Join us as we let go of comparison and rediscover that the goal isn't a better story, but a deeper relationship with the Father.
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!
Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi: 
https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi
Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints
https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home
https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page
🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at
https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 294 - Be Merciful As Your Father
Have you ever wanted to forgive, but just couldn't seem to get there?
This week, the friars reflect on the call to "be merciful as your Father is merciful" and the real, often slow journey of forgiveness. They unpack the tension of holding pain while still being invited into mercy and how forgiveness isn't something we force, but something we receive and grow into over time.
Through the lens of the older son, they explore what it means to stay close to the Father, to "borrow" His heart, and to take small, honest steps toward healing, even when it's hard.
Join us as we discover how God meets us in our wounds and gently leads us into freedom, one step at a time.
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!
Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi: 
https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi
Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints
https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home
https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page
🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at
https://www.pocomerch.com/

Episode 293 - Older Son (Spiritual Sense)
Have you ever been hurt by someone and struggled with what forgiveness is supposed to look like?
In this episode, the friars revisit the older son in the Prodigal Son story, but now through a deeper, spiritual lens. Not just what he did, but what he felt. The loss, the frustration, the sense of being overlooked, and the real difficulty of being invited into forgiveness before you're ready.
They explore the complexity of the human heart, how joy and pain can exist at the same time, how past wounds resurface in present moments, and how God meets us not with pressure, but with presence. This conversation is an honest look at what it means to carry hurt, to wrestle with forgiveness, and to let the Father meet you in the middle of it.
Join us as we enter the older son's story and discover a God who doesn't rush healing, but walks with us through it.
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!
Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Rome and Assisi: 
https://www.ctscentral.net/travel-tours/an-immersive-franciscan-retreat-to-rome-and-assisi
Get your own copy of the Prodigal Son prints
https://spiritjuice.shop/collections/poco-a-poco/products/print-coming-home
https://visualgrace.org/coming-home-product-page
🛒 You can also grab your Poco a Poco Merchandise at
https://www.pocomerch.com/