Father and Joe 388: Understanding the Promises of Christ: Building Trust and Relationships

12/03/24 • 21 min

In this episode of Father and Joe, Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks dive deep into the promises of Christ and their transformative power in our lives. Reflecting on the profound truth that "heaven is being in perfect relationship with everyone," this discussion highlights the essence of God’s love, forgiveness, and constant presence in our lives.

Father Boniface eloquently reminds us:

"Jesus promises really always to forgive and to have mercy. He promises always to be with us. I will be with you always to the end of the age."

The conversation centers on how Christ’s promises are eternal truths designed to guide us, console us, and draw us closer to Him. Yet, as Joe notes, it’s often our own trust issues or subconscious fears that block us from fully receiving God’s grace:

"It’s not God letting us down; it’s our own hesitations and resistance that keep us from trusting in His promises."

Through heartfelt reflections and relatable examples, this episode delves into:

The universal need for relationships and how they mirror our connection with God.
Overcoming subconscious fears of being unworthy of love or mercy.
Healing wounds of trust to build a deeper relationship with Christ.
The significance of seeing ourselves as gifts to God and others.
Practical steps to grow in trust, openness, and relationship with God.

Father Boniface beautifully explains that:

"Jesus really does love us. He wants to lead us to green pastures, rescue us, stand up for us, and bring good things into our lives."

Joe emphasizes the importance of conscious effort in growing trust and relationships, stating:

"We naturally create big moments in our minds, but every one of these is an opportunity to grow in trust and love with God and others."

This episode offers powerful insights into how trusting in God’s promises can improve not only our faith life but also our relationships with others. Whether you’re navigating personal challenges or simply seeking a deeper connection with God, this conversation will inspire you to open your heart to His grace and promises.

👉 Join us on this journey of faith and transformation. Please share this episode with someone who might need these words of encouragement, and don’t forget to leave a written review to help others discover this uplifting message.

📧 We want your feedback! Let us know how these conversations have impacted you by emailing us at [email protected].

🙏 Let’s grow together in trust, faith, and love.

#FatherAndJoe #FaithJourney #CatholicTeachings #TrustInGod
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Father Boniface eloquently reminds us:

"Jesus promises really always to forgive and to have mercy. He promises always to be with us. I will be with you always to the end of the age."

"It’s not God letting us down; it’s our own hesitations and resistance that keep us from trusting in His promises."

Through heartfelt reflections and relatable examples, this episode delves into:

The universal need for relationships and how they mirror our connection with God.
Overcoming subconscious fears of being unworthy of love or mercy.
Healing wounds of trust to build a deeper relationship with Christ.
The significance of seeing ourselves as gifts to God and others.
Practical steps to grow in trust, openness, and relationship with God.

Father Boniface beautifully explains that:

"Jesus really does love us. He wants to lead us to green pastures, rescue us, stand up for us, and bring good things into our lives."

Joe emphasizes the importance of conscious effort in growing trust and relationships, stating:

"We naturally create big moments in our minds, but every one of these is an opportunity to grow in trust and love with God and others."

📧 We want your feedback! Let us know how these conversations have impacted you by emailing us at [email protected].

🙏 Let’s grow together in trust, faith, and love.

Previous Episode

Father and Joe 387: Rebuilding Family Bonds: Why Relationships Matter for Your Spiritual Journey

In this deeply insightful episode of Father and Joe, hosts Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks tackle a pressing issue that affects countless Americans: the growing disconnect within families. Recent surveys reveal that over 50% of Americans feel a sense of dread or disinterest when it comes to seeing their family, particularly between adult children and their parents. This troubling trend of family disintegration isn’t just a societal issue—it’s a personal one. How do we heal broken family bonds, especially during the holidays or challenging seasons of life?
Father Boniface draws on his Catholic perspective and personal experiences to shed light on the importance of family, no matter how difficult those relationships may seem. As he notes:
“Heaven consists of a perfect communion of love between all persons. And that includes the people that you’ve canceled in your life.”
The episode explores powerful motivations for working on strained relationships:
Spiritual Growth: Healing family bonds isn’t just about earthly peace—it’s preparation for eternal communion.
Self-Reflection: Relationships can reveal deeper issues in our own hearts, providing opportunities for personal growth.
Evangelization: By reaching out to family members, we may be the catalyst for positive change in their lives, too.
Joe also brings up the unique challenges of modern life, such as long distances, time constraints, and past grievances that may hold us back. Yet, as he highlights:
“You can’t have incredibly negative relationships in one part of your life and consistently be amazing in another. Your relationships blend together, just like food coloring in icing.”
This episode isn’t about glossing over genuine pain or abuse in families. Father Boniface acknowledges that there are times when boundaries are necessary for healing. However, for most of us, the call is clear: Rebuild. Reconnect. Forgive.
Some of the key takeaways include:
The Importance of Effort: Loving someone takes work. But every act of love, no matter how small, has eternal value.
Addressing Fears: Reaching out might feel vulnerable, but as Joe says, “It’s amazing how much your life gets better by talking about something that might not even be perceived the same way by the other person.”
Practical Steps for Reconnection: Instead of seeing family gatherings as a burden, view them as opportunities to strengthen bonds, share love, and heal wounds.
If you’ve been struggling with family relationships, this episode is for you. Use it as an invitation to extend grace, understanding, and kindness to those closest to you—even when it’s hard.
“No act of love is ever lost. This life really consists in making acts of love in one form or another.” — Father Boniface Hicks
Don’t let past misunderstandings hold you back. Start the journey toward healing today. And remember, the effort you put into family relationships now will echo into eternity.
📢 We Want Your Feedback
In episodes 383 and 384, we introduced specific drills to help you improve your relationships. If you’ve tried these, we’d love to hear about your experiences! Send your feedback to [email protected].
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Next Episode

Father and Joe 389: Facing Life's Toughest Questions: Faith, Family, and the Moral Dilemmas of Life and Death

In this heartfelt and thought-provoking episode of Father and Joe, Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks tackle one of life's most challenging and deeply personal experiences: navigating fear, uncertainty, and moral dilemmas during a medical crisis. As Joe shares his personal journey of emotional and spiritual turmoil after receiving a distressing letter about his wife’s pregnancy, Father Boniface provides guidance, wisdom, and insights grounded in faith.
The conversation begins with Joe reflecting on his reaction to the emotionally-charged letter and the subsequent weeks of waiting for clarity. “I don’t even know if the way that I handled it and addressed it was right, fair, proper, sinful, or amoral,” Joe shares, admitting his struggle to reconcile worry and faith. For three agonizing weeks, Joe was forced to confront one of life’s most difficult questions: What would I do if faced with choosing between the life of my wife and our unborn child?
Father Boniface offers clarity and hope, diving deep into the principles of moral theology, the importance of intention, and the concept of choosing the greater good without embracing evil. He explains:
“You can never choose evil for any reason. You may choose the lesser good or the greater good, but you can never choose an evil. If two people are drowning, your intention must always be to save both, even if circumstances limit what you can achieve.”
Through this meaningful conversation, Joe and Father Boniface also explore:
The overwhelming nature of medical bureaucracy and the stress caused by legal disclaimers, which often lack empathy and perspective.
The moral principles behind life-and-death decisions, including the “principle of double effect.”
How faith, trust, and relationship with God can guide us in moments of uncertainty.
The importance of involving trustworthy, morally grounded individuals in difficult decision-making processes.
Joe’s story sheds light on the raw emotional and spiritual challenges that many families face, especially during pregnancy, and highlights the need for compassion, communication, and trust in both faith and relationships.
This episode invites all of us to reflect on how faith shapes our responses to life’s toughest moments. As Father Boniface reminds us: “Ultimately, what you want in these moments is not a blanket statement or pre-made decision. You want a relationship with someone you trust—someone morally well-formed and clear-minded—to guide you through the storm.”
Tune in to discover how faith, moral principles, and trust can transform anxiety into peace, even in the most difficult situations.
Tags:
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