Season 1, Episode 12 – Striving for Justice and Peace

Discussion/Journaling Questions

1. Personal Reflection on Faith and Dialogue: Reflect on your own experiences with discussing faith, politics, or money. How has your approach to these conversations evolved over time? What role does faith play in shaping your perspectives on these topics? How can you foster more meaningful and respectful dialogues in your daily interactions?
2. Understanding the Baptismal Covenant: How do you interpret the commitment to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being”? How does this covenant shape your understanding of justice and peace in practical terms?
3. The Role of Inner Peace in External Justice: Consider the idea that striving for justice and peace begins within us. How do you cultivate inner peace and address personal challenges? How does this inner work influence your ability to contribute to justice and peace in the world?
4. Respecting Dignity and Understanding Differences: The episode touches on the importance of respecting the dignity of every human being, including in political or ideological disagreements. How do you approach conversations with those who have vastly different viewpoints from your own? What strategies can you use to ensure these interactions are respectful and constructive?
5. Reconciliation and Personal Growth: Reflect on a time when you had to reconcile a mistake or a misunderstanding. How did this process of repentance and amendment impact your personal growth? How can these experiences inform your ongoing efforts to strive for justice and peace in your life?
6. Embracing Grace and Mercy: The episode emphasizes the importance of embracing God’s grace and mercy rather than focusing on our own “rightness.” How can you practice humility and openness to others’ perspectives in your daily life? How does embracing grace and mercy influence your actions and interactions with others?
7. The Challenge of Living Out the Covenant: Bishop DeDe discusses the challenge of living out the baptismal covenant in a world that often seems contrary to its ideals. What are some specific challenges you face in living out your faith? How do you navigate these challenges while staying true to your commitments?
8. The Connection Between Faith and Actions: Consider how the teachings of the apostles and the principles of the baptismal Covenant inform your actions. How do you ensure that your daily actions align with your faith beliefs? What are some practical ways you can incorporate these teachings into your daily life?
9. Impact of Forgiveness and Love: The episode highlights the transformative power of forgiveness and love. Reflect on how forgiveness has played a role in your relationships. How can you better embody these principles in your interactions with others?
10. The Vision of a Flourishing World: Bishop DeDe speaks about the vision of a world where everyone flourishes. How do you envision such a world? What steps can you take in your own life to contribute to this vision and support the flourishing of others?

AI Disclosure: To support our small staff in their limited time, many of our episode discussion questions are first generated by AI and then edited and refined by staff members to be in line with our podcast goals and our diocesan vision and mission.