Episode Transcript
[00:00:06] Speaker A: Hello. It's April 27, 2025, the second Sunday of Easter.
Today we begin with a quote.
My days are not easy. They are hard but sweet, because Jesus is with me.
Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Poro, from an early age, believed her suffering served a greater purpose.
[00:00:42] Speaker B: She was born in Italy in 1936.
[00:00:45] Speaker A: And as a child contracted polio.
The disease left her with a limp and forced her to wear a back brace.
Despite her physical challenges, Benedetta excelled in the classroom.
[00:01:01] Speaker B: She dreamed of one day becoming a.
[00:01:03] Speaker A: Physician to help others.
Unfortunately, while studying medicine, she was diagnosed with von Recklinghausen's disease, an illness that gradually took away her hearing, sight and mobility.
[00:01:18] Speaker B: Hoping and praying for a miracle, Benedetta.
[00:01:21] Speaker A: Traveled twice to Lourdes, France, a site.
[00:01:24] Speaker B: Where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in.
[00:01:27] Speaker A: 1858 and where many healings have taken place.
[00:01:31] Speaker B: On her pilgrimage, she met a person who was miraculously healed.
She herself, however, was not.
Although it was disappointing that she had not been healed, she accepted the reality of her situation with grace, and her faith remained unshaken.
No longer able to pursue a medical career, Benedetta found new ways to help others.
Through letters, she reached out to those who were suffering, offering hope and encouragement.
Benedetta died in 1964 at the age of 27.
She was beatified in 2019.
Although she was not healed during her earthly life, it never caused her to lose faith.
She knew and believed there would be fullness of life in heaven.
Her witness continues to inspire others to trust in the Lord and remain hopeful amidst hardship.
Today is Divine Mercy Sunday.
[00:02:56] Speaker A: Doubting Thomas, Peter and Thomas had great difficulty when Jesus suffered and died. Peter denied Jesus. Thomas seemed to lose his faith. Peter and Thomas were hurt by Jesus suffering and death.
They had staked their lives on him, investing all their personal hopes and dreams.
Now they felt like fools, confused, afraid, hurt.
But neither gave up on Jesus. After the resurrection, it was Peter who ran to the tomb and who swam to shore when he saw Jesus standing there.
And Thomas looked at Jesus in the upper room and responded, my Lord and my God.
Peter and Thomas weren't the only ones who had given themselves wholeheartedly to Jesus and who were hurt and confused by his apparent failure.
Judas felt that way too. But he could never face Jesus or even the other apostles after his act of betrayal.
So Judas hanged himself.
[00:04:21] Speaker B: There is no one who hasn't been.
[00:04:23] Speaker A: Hurt by expectations of God that have failed.
[00:04:27] Speaker B: There is no one who has not had doubts.
[00:04:30] Speaker A: The difference is what I do with that hurt, confusion, skepticism and doubt.
I can't suppress them, deny them, or.
[00:04:43] Speaker B: Brood over them alone.
[00:04:45] Speaker A: I have to be able to go to Jesus in prayer or go to other believers like the apostles and say how I feel, just as Thomas did.
As long as I don't give up on the search, all is not lost.
Jesus will come to me as he went to Peter and Thomas.
Jesus doesn't come vindictively or angrily. He doesn't expect me to come crawling back.
He comes with open arms, just as he did with Thomas and Peter.
