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Rebel Saints: Catholic Faith & Spiritual Growth Podcast for Christians

Catholic Gospel Reflection: The real Jesus vs. our expectations. | Holy Week (Year A)

Rebel Saints: Catholic Faith & Spiritual Growth Podcast for Christians

Are you following the real Jesus—or just your idea of Him? As we enter Holy Week, Nicole explores the shift from "Hosanna" to "Crucify Him," and what this collision reveals about Catholic faith, discipleship, and the cost of actually following Jesus beyond our expectations. In This Episode * Holy Week 2026: Navigating the transition from the triumphal entry to the silence of the Cross. * The Passion of Christ: Why the expectations of the crowd led directly to betrayal. * Catholic Spiritual Growth: Moving from a surface level faith to a real, sacrificial relationship with Christ. * The Liturgy of the Word: Breaking down the specific readings for Palm Sunday (Cycle A). * The Kingship of Jesus: Contrast between a political revolutionary and the Suffering Servant. Liturgical and Scriptural References * Gospel (Procession): Matthew 21:1 to 11 * Gospel (The Passion): Matthew 26:14 to 27:66 * First Reading: Isaiah 50:4 to 7 (The Suffering Servant) * Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 22 (My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?) * Second Reading: Philippians 2:6 to 11 (The Kenosis of Christ) * CCC 559 to 560: The Messianic entry into Jerusalem. Connect with Rebel Saints Rebel Saints is a podcast for restless hearts called to be saints. If your Lent felt messy, Holy Week is the time to start again. Subscribe for more reflections on the liturgical year. Support the Journey: Help other restless hearts find us! Follow: Hit the "+" or "Follow" button  Review: If you enjoyed this show, please leave a review. It’s the best way to help us grow. Connect with Rebel Saints: * Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/rebelsaintspodcast * Reflections: https://substack.com/@rebelsaints * Instagram: @rebelsaintspodcast * TikTok: @RebelSaintsPodcast * For exclusive content find us on Patreon: https://patreon.com/RebelSaintsPodcast * Write us: rebelsaintspodcast@gmail.com

About Podcast

There is nothing more punk than Catholicism. Rebel Saints is a Catholic podcast exploring Christian discipleship, spiritual growth, and Catholic theology for restless hearts trying to follow Jesus Christ in a modern world.

In an age of algorithms, anxiety, artificial intelligence, and endless scrolling, how do we live out our Christian faith? St. Augustine wrote, "Our hearts are restless until they rest in You." Sixteen hundred years later, we're still restless — we just have smartphones now.

Hosted by Catholic journalist, youth minister, and mother Nicole Olea, this show offers a fresh laywoman’s perspective on the ancient Church. Whether you are a cradle Catholic, a recent convert, a scripture seeker, or a skeptic, this podcast tackles the hard questions about faith and culture.

Through thoughtful interviews, compelling storytelling, Catholic Church history, Scripture reflections, and the inspiring lives of the saints, Nicole dives into what it actually means to build a daily prayer life today. The Church has outlived empires, revolutions, and pandemics. She isn't afraid of modernity, and you don't need a perfect life hack or another political hot take to find peace.

Maybe the most rebellious thing you can do isn't reinvent yourself. Maybe it's discovering Catholic spirituality and becoming the saint you were created to be. Restless hearts: You are welcome here.

Join the Rebellion: Connect with the Restless Heart Society!

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Rebel Saint - this podcast is for you!