Listen to “Wilderness in the Everyday”, the 4th episode of the new audio retreat for Lent 2024.
Come with us to revisit two poignant stories from the Gospel of Luke and explore how, through the compassion of Jesus Christ, two people were delivered from the wilderness of their own lives.
This five-part series will accompany you through the coming weeks of Lent – look out for a new episode every Sunday!
If you haven’t already, sign up for the St Augustine’s College newsletter to get new episodes and resources straight to your inbox every Sunday.
When you live in isolation, a crowded street may as well be a wilderness
In the last episode of this audio retreat, we looked to the wilderness within. This week, we reflect on how isolation, rejection, and physical or mental illness can turn one’s own community into a lonely wilderness.
To guide us through this difficult topic, we turn to the Gospel of Luke to hear the stories of two people delivered from the wilderness of their very existence; the Demoniac of Gerasene and the unnamed bleeding woman.
Both of these figures live a life of suffering and isolation, excluded from their communities and existing in a state of perpetual wilderness. It’s fitting, then, that the person who should heal them and bring them back into the bosom of their people is Jesus Christ.
In this episode, we explore how perhaps more than anyone else, Jesus understands the pain of living together yet apart from one’s fellow man – and how it’s possible to feel lonely in a room full of people.
How to listen to this audio retreat episode
To listen to this episode of the Lent audio retreat, follow this link to the YouTube version of the episode or listen directly using the YouTube player below.
Alongside listening to the episode on YouTube, you download the audio in MP4 format and listen on your phone or computer.
If require additional accessibility resources to enjoy this audio retreat, you can download the transcript for this episode. You can also use the subtitles/closed captions on the YouTube video.
There is no right or wrong way to listen to this audio retreat. You can listen to it as many times as you like, by yourself or with others.
Resources for prayer and reflection
To accompany you on your audio journey, you can download helpful visual and written resources, designed to help you along in your reflection and prayer.
Although it’s not necessary for you to use the downloadable resources to enjoy this audio retreat, it can add a greater dimension to your reflection and prayer.
Look out for new episodes and listen to previous week’s audio retreats
This is the 4th episode in a five-part series. If you want to listen to earlier episodes or take this audio retreat from the beginning, follow the links below:
- Listen to Episode 1: “Encounters in the Wilderness”
- Listen to Episode 2: “Elijah and Hagar”
- Listen to Episode 3: “Esther and Jacob”
Each Sunday of this Lent season, we’ll be releasing a new episode of this audio retreat. To ensure you receive the next episode straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter.
If you’d like to listen to more audio retreats, you can explore some of our previous series and take a prayerful audio journey with Chris Chapman, Harriet Johnson and a number of special guests.
