PODCAST · religion
Come Away By Yourselves
by Fr. John Grieco
"Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." These words of Jesus Christ are an invitation to personal and intimate prayer. The meditations offered in this podcast are intended to help the listener enter into his own prayerful relationship with God. By reflecting on scenes from the Gospel, on other passages from Scripture, and on the insights of saints and spiritual writers, we can strengthen our faith in Jesus and our love for God. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, "I have called you my friends." By regular meditation and dialogue with Our Lord in prayer, our life can be transformed into an ever deepening and loving friendship with God.
Episodes
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NEW Episode: Faith and the Infinite Power of God
God's omnipotence is a key aspect of our Faith in Him. God's infinite power helps explain the other mysteries of our Faith and is revealed especially in the Incarnation by the Archangel Gabriel. The name "Gabriel" signifies "the strength of God." Faith truly unlocks God's power on our behalf....
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[Rebroadcast] Our Constant Call to Holiness
"This is the will of God for you, your sanctification." With these words, St. Paul reveals to us the great potential of our Christian life. St. Josemaria was inspired by God to remind us of this universal vocation. We should always be confident about taking the next step in our spiritual life. It...
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(Rebroadcast) "Free to Love": The Point of Living Poverty
After the Rich Young Man goes away sad, Jesus tells his disciples twice that it will be difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God. The possession of riches comes with the danger of relying on them too much, seeking our happiness in them, falling into a kind of practical idolatry. The...
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[Rebroadcast] "I come to do your will": St. Josemaria and loving the will of God
Jesus tells us about two sons. One does his father's will after saying he wouldn't. The other says yes to his father but promptly disobeys him. Jesus, our model, does both: he says yes to the Father's plan and then carries it out. Loving God's will is essential to our Christian life. It is…
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Working for God
This Sunday's Gospel portrays God as a generous employer of many workers. What would it mean to work for God? Are we grateful for the work and people God has entrusted us with in our Christian life?
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[Rebroadcast] Like the Apostles
Like the apostles themselves, the life of the Christian is a call to be close to Jesus and to go out and spread the Good News. Holiness and apostolate are two sides to the same divine vocation. To be an apostle, however, we have to confront various obstacles which would keep us from sharing…
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Mary's Birthday: Humility and Trust
On September 8th we celebrate the Feast of The Nativity of Our Lady. THis is an opportunity to contemplate her humility and her radical response to God.
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Contemplatives in the Middle of the World: Identification with Christ
St. Josemaria described the potential of lay holiness in an interesting way. He said all Christians can and should be "contemplatives in the middle of the world." Holy Scripture and Church teaching reaffirm this high ideal. The Christian is intimately united, indeed identified, with Christ himself.
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Christ's Suffering (and ours?): Meaningful, Free, Loving
Sacred Scripture teaches us some clear lessons about Christ's suffering. His passion was redemptive and meaningful. It was freely chosen and accepted. It was all an act of divine and human love for us and for the Father. As Christians, Christ invites us to give the same meaning to our sufferings....
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The Assumption of Mary: Shining like the Sun in the Kingdom of God
The Assumption of Mary is a very special Feast in the Church. To gaze on Our Lady in Heaven is to contemplate something very beautiful and important. The marvel of her glorification speaks to us of the surpassing beauty of goodness and holiness as such. Our Mother's destiny in heaven and her...
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"Say 'Thank You!'": Reflections on Gratitude
Gratitude is a very important Christian disposition. God appreciates gratitude, as we all do. One of the four basic acts of prayer, gratitude should be a constant state of mind and heart. In addition to pleasing God, it also brings the soul joy and peace.
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"God Will Provide": Growing in Radical Trust
This Sunday's readings show as God as a generous provider. In the book of Isaiah, God invites the people to come to him for their food and drink. In the Gospel, Jesus feeds the crowds with the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish. God's providence is something we are called to place great...
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Rebroadcast: The Cross and Transformation
"He who loves his life will lose it, he who loses his life for my sake will find it." Finding our true life, and our true selves, means handing ourselves over to Christ. Losing our lives for the sake of Christ is a transformative union with him. This takes work and an acceptance of suffering.…
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"Compassion on the Crowd": Charity and Understanding
Jesus doesn't just have compassion on others, he discovers motives for his compassion. Understanding others is an essential ingredient in loving them. This takes humility, patience, and the rejection of an evil, critical spirit.
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"Rejoicing in Heaven": The Joy of Contrition
Jesus' victory over sin is a great cause of joy in heaven and on earth. This victory only happens, however, insofar as sin is recognized and repented of. Paradoxically, therefore, the sorrow of contrition for our sins is simultaneously a great motive for joy at our reconciliation with God. Sorrow...
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"Go and sin no more": A More Decisive Conversion
Sin and evil are real. They are not playing games. To defeat them and be disciples of Christ, we need to take our Christian life very seriously. This takes resolute, decisive choices and clear thinking about good and evil, virtue and vice, love and betrayal.
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"Stay with us, Lord": Dwelling with Christ in Prayer
Jesus's presence in the Blessed Sacrament affords us a wonderful opportunity. Just as we spend time with friends and loved ones just to be with them, our mental prayer is an occasion of simply being present with Jesus. Jesus did this during his earthly life with various groups and individuals.…
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"Christian, remember your dignity"
This Sunday's readings remind us of so many important realities. We are God's people and precious to him. He has loved us in our sinfulness, before we merited any goodwill on his behalf. We are an apostolic Church chosen by name and invested with power to do good and proclaim the Gospel. Our...
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Jesus's Sacred Heart: His Divine and Human love for you!
The Sacred Heart of Jesus is more than a symbol. Jesus truly loves us with his heart. This love is fully human: emotional, warm, tender, encouraging. This love is fully divine: all powerful, infinite, eternal. To appreciate this love we need to live in it and pray about it. Let's "enter into the...
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The Feast of Corpus Christi [Rebroadcast]
On the Feast of Corpus Christi the Church turns her heart to Jesus's real presence in the Blessed Sacrament. A marvel of love, in the Eucharist the infinite enters the finite, the Creator his creation and the invisible the visible real. Adoration, devotion, and gratitude should mark our response…
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Silent Love, Silent Prayer [Rebroadcast]
The Bible often encourages us to a silent, receptive stance before God's reality and goodness. This kind of prayer takes recollection or composure of heart, which in turn requires some trust in God. Our distaste for quiet prayer can be rooted in an unwillingness to cede control or a fear of the...
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Pentecost: God's Spirit in our hearts
The Holy Spirit is God's gift to us. The Spirit dwells within each one of us in the state of grace. We should ask him for help and rely on his presence especially to live the virtue of charity. The fruits of the Spirit are the indications of his activity in our life.
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Growing in Knowledge and Love of God
"This is eternal life, that they know you the one true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." These words of Jesus reveal the importance of coming to know God more and more. We grow in this knowledge in various ways: study and spiritual reading, personal dealings with Him in our prayer life,...
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Mother's Day, Mother's Month
As we celebrate Mother's Day in the month of May, our minds and hearts naturally go to our Heavenly Mother, Mary. Devotion to Our Lady should be natural and heartful, as is our devotion to our own mothers. Mary is a great ally in the Christian life and May, Mary's month, is a great time to…
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"Offer it up!": Christian Spiritual Priesthood
St. Peter says we are a priestly people who offer spiritual sacrifices to God. What does it mean to have a "priestly soul"? How can we make our hearts altars of a burning love of God? How can we be mediators and peacemakers between God and men?
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Good Shepherd, Good Sheep [Rebroadcast]
The image of our Lord as Good Shepherd is a challenging one. It means that we Christians are sheep. Our pride and self-sufficiency naturally bristle at this image. Only with deep humility, and contemplating Jesus the Lamb of God, can we embrace being sheep and having a Shepherd.
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On the Road to Emmaus: Encountering and Confiding in Jesus
The two disciples' encounter with Jesus on the road to Emmaus teaches us so much about prayer and faith. Jesus walks with us whether we realize it or not. He is interested in what is happening in our lives and also in how it affects us. His presence in the dialogue of prayer, in the Eucharist and...
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Divine Mercy and The Peace of Christ
When he appears to his apostles on Easter Sunday, Jesus's first and consistent message to them is one of peace. The very presence of Jesus brings us peace as it did the fearful Apostles. Union with the person of Christ is also another source of peace. This is promised to us by Jesus himself…
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Impatient for Easter Joy!
Lent is over and with it comes the expectation of Easter Joy. Holy Saturday invites us to anticipate the joy and wonder of the Resurrection of Jesus. The Resurrection is a powerful reality that continues to give life and joy to the world and especially the Church.
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Jesus in Holy Week: Loving God's Will
As we enter Holy Week, we can ponder Jesus's fundamental motivation. Whether growing up in Nazareth or preaching throughout Galilee and Judea, whether acclaimed by the crowds or nailed to the Cross, Jesus is always doing one thing: fulfilling his Father's will. This is at the crux of our own...
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[Rebroadcast] Jesus on the Cross: the Reliability of God's Love
Jesus's death on the cross is the supreme revelation of God's love. St. Paul tells us that nothing will separate us from the love of God in Christ. Christ's death shows us how much he loves us and what the Father's love for Him, and for us, is like. This is a reliable love, upon which we can…
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The Mercy of God and the Wounds of Christ
In saving us from sin Jesus does more than relieve us of an unpayable debt. He actually pays the debt himself. He buys us back, redeems us, with the price of his precious blood. The wounds of Christ are thus mysterious sources of confidence and consolation for us, worthy of our continual...
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On Prayer and the Awesome Transcendent God
To pray is "to lift up our minds and hearts to God." Often, however, we lose a proper sense of the grandeur and awesome nature of God. Routine makes us used to prayer and God becomes something taken for granted, ordinary, and even boring. Reflecting on God's power and transcendence can spark us…
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[Not for kids] The Lenten Challenge: Deny Self, Take up the Cross
Jesus gives two clear conditions for following him: deny yourself and take up your cross each day. Lent is a clear invitation and opportunity to do this.
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[Rebroadcast]: Having a Happily Miserable Lent
Lent is a wonderful opportunity to find our peace, joy, and comfort in God. We do this by denying ourselves our usual sources of support, distraction, and pleasure. To be filled by God is to run the risk of emptying ourselves out of other things. This takes trust, courage and patience. God always...
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A Time for Conversion: Getting Ready for Lent
Jesus's time in the desert fasting and praying are a model for how to live Lent well. If we understand the opportunity that Lent presents us, we will be more engaged and committed in our Lenten practices. This will yield great fruits in our interior life.
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The Christian Impact: Salt and Light for the World
Jesus has high hopes for his Church in the world. We are to be salt and light, giving flavor, endurance, guidance and inspiration to the rest of the world. This takes a daily fight against our easy-going lukewarmness and a magnanimity of heart that moves us to serve and give good example to others.
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Conversions: St. Paul's and ours
Today we reflect on a unique feast day in the Church, the Conversion of St. Paul. Paul's conversion shows God's initiative in our lives and the great changes grace can work in a soul. St. Paul responds to God's entrance into his life in a powerful and exemplary way. His willingness to suffer for...
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On Psalm 2: Special Interview Episode
This episode is a joint effort with "Sons and Kings" a new podcast on Psalm 2. Jake Jakubisin interviews Fr. John Grieco about Psalm 2 and the Christian view of Human Nature. Listen to "Sons and Kings": https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/sons-kings-the-psalm-2-show/id1863578222...
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The Sermon on the Mount: Challenged and Comforted by Jesus
The Sermon on the Mount is at the heart of Jesus's preaching the Kingdom of God. Jesus presents us with a demanding challenge to live a truly holy life. At the same time, however, he assures us of God the Father's love and constant care.
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[Rebroadcast]: The Baptism of Jesus
The Baptism of Jesus speaks to us of his incredible humility. Without being a sinner, Jesus plays the role of one by letting himself be baptized by John the Baptist. Humility unlocks our ability to love God and others. It protects our peace and joy.
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The Light that Leads to Christ: Feast of the Epiphany
The Magi follow the light of a star to reach Bethlehem and worship Christ. We too must be aware of the lights that God sends us to bring us closer to Jesus. These lights vary in nature and appearance. To be constant in following the light that is Christ, we also need to be aware of other lights...
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[Rebroadcast] A Mother for God
Christmas puts before us the Virgin Mary loving and caring for her Divine Son. It's a scene that we can enter into in our prayer and in our life. Jesus says that we too are "his mother" insofar as we do God's will. God allows Mary and all of us to love him in the Christ child just as He has…
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Mysteries of Mary
Closing in on Christmas we contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation. Mary's humility and openness to God's plan are inspiring and truly mysterious. She offers us a recipe for our own life as Christians: attentiveness in prayer, humility based on contemplating God, and readiness to do His will.
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God and Love for Little Things
In the Incarnation, the Infinite God becomes finite, limited, even small. The Word is made flesh and begins his earthly life as an infant, as a little thing. In the spiritual life, little things are also a dwelling place of God. Little deeds, ordinary tasks, and everyday moments are all...
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Advent Goals: Conversion, Preparation, Onboarding
Advent is essentially a time of preparation. To prepare for Jesus is to make our souls and lives more welcoming places for him to arrive. This entails conversion, confession, a real change of heart and mind. The changes that Jesus can bring about in our lives and in the world are truly…
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[Rebroadcast] Advent: A Time of Patience and Hope
Advent is a time of patience and hope. Both of these virtues entail waiting. Waiting for God is sometimes very difficult, especially in trying situations. Our faith in Jesus, who is God with us and faithful to his promises, bolsters our ability to wait for him with joyful hope. Our faith…
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Christ the King: Power and Patience
Christ's supreme manifestation as King will come when he returns to judge the living and the dead. Until then, we have to remain patient with his will for us. Jesus uses his power to serve others and he hides his power in order to suffer for sin. At times, we might naturally wish for him to...
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(Rebroadcast) Living well, Dying well
Jesus often calls us to vigilance. We know neither the time nor the hour of his second coming and the time of our own death is certain but unknown to us. The best preparation for our judgment is found in discerning and doing the will of God.
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Towards a More Certain Faith
Our Faith should give us great confidence in God. Waiting around for a feeling of confidence, however, rarely ever works. Rather we should treat our Faith more like the robust Truth that it is. Faith is just true, whether we feel like it is or not. This feeling dependent view of faith ends up...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
"Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." These words of Jesus Christ are an invitation to personal and intimate prayer. The meditations offered in this podcast are intended to help the listener enter into his own prayerful relationship with God. By reflecting on scenes from the Gospel, on other passages from Scripture, and on the insights of saints and spiritual writers, we can strengthen our faith in Jesus and our love for God. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says, "I have called you my friends." By regular meditation and dialogue with Our Lord in prayer, our life can be transformed into an ever deepening and loving friendship with God.
HOSTED BY
Fr. John Grieco
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Come Away By Yourselves have?
Come Away By Yourselves currently has 395 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Come Away By Yourselves about?
"Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." These words of Jesus Christ are an invitation to personal and intimate prayer. The meditations offered in this podcast are intended to help the listener enter into his own prayerful relationship with God. By reflecting on scenes from...
How often does Come Away By Yourselves release new episodes?
Come Away By Yourselves publishes regularly with 395 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Come Away By Yourselves on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Come Away By Yourselves?
Come Away By Yourselves is created and hosted by Fr. John Grieco.
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