In this episode of the Real+True Podcast, hosts Edmund Mitchell and Emily Mentock dive into the complexities of forgiveness as reflected in the Lord's Prayer. They discuss the importance of understanding the catechism's teachings on forgiveness, exploring common myths and misconceptions of mercy. The conversation includes practical advice for implementing forgiveness in daily life and how to understand forgiveness in relation to reconciliation.

(00:00) Edmund and Emily introduce the episode, focused on the petition "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us" from the Lord's Prayer. They discuss how this short but powerful petition invites deep reflection on common misconceptions around forgiveness.

(10:25) Edmund and Emily debunk the idea that forgiveness is just an emotional release, using neuroscience to show how it reshapes our brain’s response to anger and resentment. They clarify that true forgiveness doesn’t excuse wrongdoing but extends honest mercy while upholding justice.

(17:50) Edmund and Emily explain that forgiveness doesn’t excuse the wrong or erase the memory, but frees our hearts by letting go of demands on the offender. They note that reconciliation is valuable but only possible when both parties choose it.

(28:19) Edmund and Emily explore how forgiveness and reconciliation can diverge, noting that while full restoration isn’t always possible, we’re called to discern when to pursue peace and when to set healthy boundaries. They illustrate how “willing the good” of others—whether in marriages or teen friendships—lets us extend mercy even when relationships change.

(39:10) Edmund and Emily show that accepting mercy is strength, not weakness, and invite the prayer “Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” They close with a “forgiveness examine,” using Gospel truths and Ignatian visualization to lay resentments on the cross and embrace God’s healing.

(49:14) Edmund and Emily close by describing a powerful Ignatian-style meditation of visualizing your hurts placed on the cross and transformed by Christ. They encourage listeners to engage mind, heart, and the senses in prayer to unblock forgiveness and receive God’s mercy. Finally, they invite everyone to revisit earlier Catechism teachings on reconciliation and join them online at realtrue.org to continue exploring the faith.

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In this episode of The Real+True Podcast, co-hosts Emily Mentock and Edmund Mitchell unpack the meaning and significance of the petition 'Give us this day our daily bread' from the Lord's Prayer. They explore its implications for personal spiritual growth and trust in God's provision. They discuss common experiences of unanswered prayers and the importance of having faith in God's plan. They also highlight practical tips, including journaling prayers and fostering a missionary spirit of trust in God's generosity, are shared. Listeners are encouraged to bring their petitions to God with trust and to act as intercessors for others.

(00:00) Emily and Edmund introduce the episode topic, focusing on the Lord’s Prayer and highlighting the relevance of its petitions in modern life. This episode covers specifically the petition “ introducing intercessory prayer as a key topic of this episode.

(06:48) Edmund discusses how the "Lord’s Prayer" reminds us of community and intercession. Prayer isn't solely individual; it's communal, involving praying for others' needs. Emily affirms this point by referencing the Catechism, emphasizing intercessory prayer as central to Christian solidarity and collective spirituality.

(12:13) Edmund emphasizes practical prayer as integral to discipleship, exploring how believers handle requesting things from God and understanding unanswered prayers. The conversation stresses the need for realistic approaches to prayer that bridge the gap between spiritual expectations and everyday life challenges, encouraging practical faith expressions.

(15:19) Emily explores the challenge of genuinely trusting in God's will while avoiding prematurely accepting suffering without expectation. She encourages believers to maintain real faith that God will answer prayers meaningfully, underscoring reliance on divine provision rather than passive resignation to circumstances.

(22:23) Emily explains the concept of intercessory prayer teams, highlighting the Archdiocese of Detroit's initiatives. She describes these groups as spiritually gifted individuals specifically commissioned to pray for pastoral renewal and evangelization. The discussion underscores the transformative role such dedicated prayer teams have within church communities.

(34:52) Edmund illustrates the dynamic of prayer through the relatable metaphor of a child persistently asking a parent for treats. He reflects on the difficulty believers often face applying this familiar parental dynamic to their relationship with God, urging listeners to embrace authentic childlike trust and persistent communication with the Father.

(36:03) Emily concludes by encouraging listeners to revisit relevant Catechism sections and reflect deeply on the Lord's Prayer during personal and communal prayer, especially at Mass. She invites listeners to internalize the petitions' meanings and consider how they practically apply in their daily spiritual lives.

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Episode Description

In this episode co-hosts Edmund Mitchell and Emily Mentock dive into the fourth petition of the Lord's Prayer, 'Thy will be done.' They discuss teaching the importance of accepting God's will, especially in the context of suffering. The conversation explores how this petition impacts various aspects of ministry, emphasizing the need for practical applications and a fuller understanding of suffering in the context of God’s will. They discuss the way the catechism acknowledges and addresses the existence of evil and suffering, the significance of free will, and the importance of cooperating with God's plan prayerfully and with obedience. The episode also offers practical advice on how to approach and support individuals grappling with these emotionally-charged questions concerning God’s will and suffering.

Show Notes

00:00 In the opening of the episode, Edmund and Emily explore the petition “Thy will be done” from the Lord’s Prayer. They unpack the meaning of “will” through the lens of ministry, suffering, and spiritual discernment. Drawing from the catechism and Jesus' agony in the garden, they emphasize choosing God’s will with love, trust, and action—especially when facing challenges in ministry and discernment of our vocation.

07:48 Edmund and Emily explore the challenging question of how to reconcile God's will with the reality of suffering and evil. They reflect on free will, the catechism’s teaching (especially paragraph 309), and Jesus’ own suffering. They discuss how catechists and ministers can address questions of suffering with honesty, empathy, and theological clarity, helping others reconcile God's goodness with a broken world.

16:01 The conversation then begins to explore ways suffering is sometimes dismissed by well-meaning christians and how genuine compassion calls us to enter into others' pain like Christ did. They discuss emotional maturity, empathy, and the idea of “unconditional positive regard” in ministry, drawing on personal experiences, therapeutic insights, and the catechism’s call to unite our will with Christ’s through suffering and trust in God’s greater plan.

24:58 Edmund and Emily dive into the tension between God's mysterious, sovereign plan and our free will, using Scripture, the catechism, and examples from film and spiritual direction. They discuss how we’re all called to actively cooperate with God's will not as passive recipients, but as free agents choosing to trust in God’s plan, even amid uncertainty, suffering, or difficult discernment.

31:49 In the closing of the episode, Edmund and Emily reflect on practical ways to accompany others through suffering with empathy and compassion. They emphasize listening over fixing, respecting people’s emotions, and rooting ministry responses in Jesus and the catechism’s wisdom on suffering, obedience, and God’s will. They offer concrete tips like using the Stations of the Cross, the sorrowful mysteries, and stories from the lives of the saints to help people unite their suffering with Christ’s. The episode closes with a pastoral call for catechists to study the theology of suffering and compassionately support those they serve.

An OSV Podcasts partner. Discover more ways to live, learn, and love your Catholic faith at osvpodcasts.com. Sharing stories, starting conversations.