November 18, 2019
This week on the podcast we talk about the spiritual leadership of David. How David waited for so long, already anointed, and still mourned the death of King Saul even though they were enemies. This really spoke to us about holding the office in respect even if we know that the leadership is not perfect. The anointed of God still should be respected and mourned. It is a perspective that is lacking in today's culture. In the second reading we talk about how Paul points out Christ as the king of everything created, the levels of angels that are bad and good are subject to Him. We discuss the paradox of Christ's Justice and Mercy and how we should hold them together. We also focus on the correct interpretation of what Mercy really is verses the illusion of compassion. In the Gospel we talk about contemplating the sufferings of Christ and how they are the beatific vision.
November 14, 2019
This week on the Podcast we continue to talk about the last things. In the first reading we talk about Prophet Malachi and how his book condemns the offensive defiled sacrifices made in the temple since the return from exile. Malachi prophesies the destruction of the evil ones. In the second reading we talk about how St Paul exhorts us to work hard even if we think it is the end times. We need to keep from the idleness that brings about sin. In the Gospel we talk about the destruction of the temple in 70AD and how we are all called to be prepared for the end times in our day as well. Jesus tells us not to be terrified and persevere in order to save our lives, our spiritual lives.
November 8, 2019
This week on the podcast, we talk about the hope of the coming Resurrection through Christ. The first reading shows the seven sons suffering for their faith in front of their mother, who encouraged them to stand firm. Their witness, belief in the resurrection of the dead, and a life to come is an example of courageous faith. The blood of the Martyr is the seed of the church. We then go into talking about thinking in a meta context, and how to go about contemplation healthily. We talk about how a deeper reflection of the right way and wrong way to contemplate is needed.
October 31, 2019
This week we really dive deep into the beginning of the first reading. How the whole universe is a grain from the balance. How small we are in the relation to everything, yet how much God loves each and every one of us. We talk about thinking about God and thinking about thinking about God. We get a little meta. It goes into the experience of how to pray and how to slow down and think about life and how to make choices. In the second reading we talk about the warning from St Paul not to despair over those who cry out that the second coming is near. Do not be shaken, tend to the battle that is before you and do not sin. We didn't make it to the gospel this week, we spent our time on the first readings.
October 25, 2019
This week on the podcast we talk about the struggles of moving through the spiritual levels. One of the temptations of conquering your sins is to become judgmental of the process of others. We talk about having to be very aware of what is hurting us in sin to be able to fight it. How do we walk the line of proclaiming God's work in our lives and also not becoming prideful in that work. We talk about how hard it is to share successes with friends, but it is easy to find friends who will join us to complain about our struggles.
October 17, 2019
This week on the podcast we talk about the necessity of both the active and contemplative life. Moses holds his hands up for the success of those fighting the troops of Amelek, there are 2 groups in this situation, the contemplative prayer needed for success and the active fighters also needed for the same success. We talk about personal experience with prayer. In the second reading we talk about how we are charged with the mission to proclaim the gospel, teach and encourage those around us, which is only possible when we are connected to God with perseverance in prayer. In the Gospel we talk about how the unjust judge knew that he was breaking the great commandments, but was able to conclude that he should be good to the widow due to her perseverance. How much more will God who loves us perfectly, hear us and respond to our persistent prayer.
October 10, 2019
This week on the podcast we talk about the O word, yes the word that sends some into a fit of rage. Obedience. Our culture is a culture of disobedience, it is expected and sometimes even revered as some sort of secular virtue. This weeks readings go into having to be obedient to the Word in order to be healed, and then return in thanksgiving in order to be saved. Christ has the ability to heal us, but we have to be faithful and not walk away from Him in our restored state.
October 3, 2019
This week on the podcast we talk about the need for increase of faith. In the first reading we hear the cry of the Prophet Habakkuk that is also echoed in Psalm 13. This cry is followed by the response of the Lord to be patient and have hope for the coming fulfilment. In the second reading we talk about the gifts given through the Sacrament of Holy Orders of power, love, and self control. In the Gospel we talk about the request for the increase of faith and the requirements of service that will come with that increase.
September 25, 2019
This week on the podcast we talk about needing to be present to the poor. In the first reading we talk about how the Prophet Amos was talking about the leaders in the temple were abusing the items meant for serving God and set aside for His worship. It shows that they are unable to see the sign of the times because they will go into exile first. In the second reading we talk about how St Paul gives us the goals to strive for in a mirror image from the sins of the first reading. We should be striving for sanctification. In the Gospel we talk about serving the poor and being able to actually see the poor around us while being in such a comfortable culture. There is different ways to serve and love those who are in poverty and we should be seeking those out in our lives.
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September 12, 2019
This week on the podcast we talk about God's forgiveness and his rejoicing at our return to Him. In the first reading we revisit the story of Moses coming down the mountain and finding the people worshipping the golden calf. He reminds God of his promise to the Patriarchs to deliver them to the land that was promised. We talk about the hierarchy of sins, and how our culture would have a different one than the biblical understanding of the worst sins. In the second reading we talk about St Paul's witness in his own ministry and weaknesses that Christ could be strong in. We talk about His patience in our growth. Fr Ian goes in to deep territory when he talks about how different older priests treat younger priest, especially when they are perceived as rigid or conservative. In the Gospel we talk about the three parables of the lost sheep, the coin, and the prodigal son. At the end of the conversation Alanna makes the connection that the younger son is the sheep, and the older son is the coin. They were both lost, but the older son was lost in the house.
August 27, 2019
In this weeks podcast we talk about Humility and the connection with generosity. In the first reading we talk about the need to be humble in order to find mercy with God, and the almsgiving that atones for sins. In the second reading, Alanna says Sion but she means Sinai. We are able to approach God in the new covenant in a way that was not possible in the old covenant. We talk about how uncomfortable it is that God humbles himself so much in the Eucharist, especially allowing himself to be abused in the reception of Himself unworthily. We talk about the power of Christ in the Eucharist no matter the setting you receive Him in. In the Gospel we talk about striving towards a positive goal, humility and generosity for the service of God but also for the future in the resurrection.
August 20, 2019
This week on the podcast we talk about Isaiah sharing with the tribe of Judah what their mission is in exile. While veiled, they are being sent to all the ends of the earth to share their faith and prepare the way so that the Gentiles can recognise Christ when he comes. In the second reading we talk about being disciplined in the faith in order to persevere. In the Gospel we talk about how we will only be strong enough to enter the narrow gate if we are disciplined in the faith and against sin.
August 14, 2019
This week on the podcast we talk about leadership that is inconsistent in their decision making. The king showed no real backbone and changed his actions based on who was causing problems for him. This is not what real leadership looks like, we are called to look at this and recognize the failings of weak leaders. In the second reading we talk about needing to be strong in the faith, no waffling and leadership weakness will endure the race. In the Gospel we talk about how we are divided in accepting the peace of Christ, not by countries, but in extremely intimate relationships. We are even at times divided in our own selves between "who I was" and "who I am" after a conversion or a vocation adjustment. Integrating the love and peace of Christ fully into yourself is needed for the next phase of growth in the spiritual life.
August 6, 2019
This week on the podcast we talk about remembering the faith of the Patriarchs of Salvation History. The faith of Moses, and the Israelites when they faced Passover. In the second reading we talk about the faith of Abraham, in his waiting for the promises and his willingness to sacrifice the promise received. In the Gospel we hear Christ giving us a parable with the example of what faith should look like. Being obedient to the will of God and being ready for whatever is coming. He then talks about leaders who fail to be prepared and fall into abuse. These are readings that directly address our times, be ready and prepared for what is coming.
July 30, 2019
This week on the podcast Fr Ian and Alanna start out with 2 different perspectives on Ecclesiastes and how to go about reading it and the possibilities of approaching this particular book of Scripture. We have a good disagreement that ends in the same outcome, we just take different routes to get there. The second reading we talk about how we are called to seek what is above and to have heavenly goals so that what might seem like vanity is storing treasures in heaven. In the Gospel we talk about the reality that we are not in control. Hoarding materials, and spiritual gifts will harm you in the end, they are to be given to build up the community.
July 16, 2019
This week on the podcast we talk about service through suffering. In the first reading Alanna connects the symbolism of the story to the symbolism of the New Testament. Service in suffering under the "tree" brings forth fruit, and new life. Abraham serves God with a good and ordered attitude and does not complain to the Lord. His service through the suffering brings forth the announcement of the upcoming birth of Isaac. In the second reading we talk about St Paul and when he talks about the sufferings that are lacking in Christ. We discuss what that really means mystically and how we are to participate in it. Specifically we focus on praising God in the midst of our sufferings. In the Gospel we review the story of Martha and Mary, and we touch on the active vs the contemplative life. What was really happening in this story and why did Jesus respond to her in this way? We also touch on how physical busyness can lead to spiritual sloth.
July 10, 2019
This week on the podcast we talk about the Good Samaritan. In the first reading we talk about how Moses is telling the Israelites that the answer is not in a far off place, it is in their hearts, given to them by God. To please follow the laws and statutes, in order to avoid the curses just laid out before them. In the second reading we talk about the primacy of Christ and how he is the first, Uncreated, and of the New Creation. The Gospel we talk about Augustine's Allegory of the parable of the Good Samaritan.
July 5, 2019
This week we talk about the readings for the 14th Sunday. In the first reading we talk about the imagery of the comforting mother that Isaiah gives us and how it prefigures our comfort being delivered from the Blessed Mother, and also our Mother the Church. In the second reading we talk about boasting in the cross of Christ. Living in Christ and bearing your sufferings has more to do with your salvation than whether or not you have been circumcised. In the Gospel we talk about how Jesus sends out the 72 elders to go out and harvest for the Lord the prepared "crops". We are both the labourers and the crop. Jesus is giving a lesson also in how to take rejection, and also how to handle rejoicing in success.
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June 25, 2019
This week on the Podcast we talk about Discipleship and zeal. In the first reading we talk about how Elijah throws his cloak over Elisha while he is farming. This seems quite strange to our ears, but it is a call to discipleship that Elisha would have understood in his time. Elisha was allowed time to slaughter and cook the oxen and feed his people before leaving, he destroyed the temptation of ever looking back from this choice to follow Elijah. In the second reading we talk about how the political climate resembles the words of St Paul when he says if you keep biting at one another you will soon be devoured by one another. We have to be careful to not destroy each other. In the Gospel we talk about how, again in a moment of zeal, James and John are clearly wrong. The teaching this week tells us that there will be groups of people who will not welcome us because of Christ, and we are to keep moving forward and not bring down destruction upon them.
June 20, 2019
This week we discuss Gods love. Through the gift of the Body and Blood of Christ. Fr Ian talks about the thought of earning God's love as a motivation for working harder and digging deeper in life. Alanna reminds everyone that technically you can not earn God's love because He loves us perfectly from eternity and cannot love us any more than He does now. It was an interesting conversation thinking about what motivates people to work hard for their sanctification. We talk about the Priesthood of Melchizedek and the sacrifice of thanksgiving using Bread and Wine that continued through the temple eras of Judaism. We talked about the Jewish concept of remembrance in the Exodus Passover liturgy, that ties into the meaning of Christ's command of the liturgical remembrance of the Eucharistic celebration. And finally we talk about the feeding of the 5,000 as a prefigurement of the Sacrament of the Eucharist, which is also a communal meal.
