This weekly podcast offers an in-depth study of the lectionary readings for Sunday Mass. We explore the Biblical, literal, and historical context as the foundation for spiritual and moral application.
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As we now, from a liturgical standpoint, begin to focus on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Father and Annie discuss the Sunday readings about the costs - and rewards - of discipleship.
Father and Annie look at the readings in a Christocentric fashion - first focusing on who Jesus is in order to understand Peter's mission (and ours) as the "overseer" who fortifies the city against the enemy.
Father and Annie, in looking at God's words through the Prophet Isaiah, discuss what it actually means to be part of the family of God and how "foreigners" are able to become part of that family.
Father and Annie look at the message given to both Elijah in the first reading and to Peter in the Gospel: To have faith in God, even when there is chaos all around.
Father and Annie explore the story behind the prophecy in Isaiah 55 with the call to "come to the water." In connecting that to the multiplication in the Gospel passage, we come to better understand the Eternal Covenant of the Trinity.
Father and Annie discuss the importance of Solomon in salvation history as the one who builds the Temple. And they unpack how Solomon prefigures Christ, who continues to speak of the Kingdom in parables.
Father and Annie take a tour through salvation history to understand the Kingdom of God through Solomon's words in the book of Wisdom and Jesus' "agricultural" parables.
Father and Annie discuss what the promise given by God through Isaiah would mean to the people of the time as they witnessed the faithlessness of their leaders - and, in light of the Gospel and in the light of Pentecost - what it means to be 'good soil.'
Father and Annie discuss the similarities between the people receiving the prophecy of Zechariah and those hearing from Jesus in the Gospel. Jesus came to bring true peace and freedom, which we have by living according to the nature we receive at baptism.
Father and Annie, in light of all the readings this weekend, stress the importance of hospitality in the life of a Christian, who is baptized into Christ. By loving one another, we 'worship' God who is present in our brothers and sisters.
Father and Annie discuss the readings in light of Pentecost a few weeks ago. God calls his people to speak the truth. Just as it happened to Jeremiah, Jesus says that we can expect persecution, but we should not be anxious.
Father and Annie discuss what it means for the Israelites to be a kingdom of priests, and what is the nature of true sacrifice - and how all of what God promises in this regard is fulfilled in Christ and his Church.
Father and Annie discuss why "Trinity Sunday" would be celebrated on the Octave of Pentecost. They unpack what it actually means to "see" God, and how we come to know - and how we are to radiate the glory of - the most Holy Trinity.
Father and Annie unpack what it means to be obedient to Jesus' commandments, and how the Last Supper discourse doesn't just prepare the Apostles for the crucifixion, but also prepares us liturgically for the Ascension and Pentecost.
Father and Annie discuss what "glory" means and how that applies to the life and death of our Lord, and our lives as Christians reborn in baptism. With this, they look at the early Church and the importance of living together and serving the community.
Father and Annie discuss the context from the Gospel of John and the book of Ezekiel, which are important for understanding what Jesus is saying in the Good Shepherd discourse in John 10 - and how that relates to the baptism Peter calls for at Pentecost.
Father and Annie discuss what's going on when Jesus appears to the disciples on the road to Emmaus and how important it is to know the scriptures to be able to entrust yourself in faith to the Lord.
Father and Annie unpack all the layers of what happened on Palm Sunday with Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem where he will - eventually - be enthroned on the cross.
Father and Annie head to Bethany for the raising of Lazarus and discuss how Jesus fulfills the prophecy of our first reading in Ezekiel - and how that made the Pharisees even more determined to kill him. Holy Week and the Cross are now in full view.
Father and Annie discuss this weekend's Mass readings in light of the themes of anointing and illumination. We learn why David is chosen to be anointed king, and how the healing of the blind man is an 'act of creation' on the part of Jesus.
Father and Annie study the typology of the Rock which Moses struck for the Israelites, and how St. Paul could say the Rock was Christ. They connect it to the Samaritan woman at the well, and her coming to understand the nature of the water Jesus offers.
Father and Anna discuss why we would be hearing readings about the calling of Abraham and the Transfiguration early on in the Lenten season. And they unpack how we must trust in the Lord and his grace to continue our journey to Jerusalem for the passion.
Father and Annie unpack what is going on in the Garden of Eden at the moment of the Fall, and it's importance in understanding our redemption. They discuss how Jesus' fasting in the desert actually "tempted the tempter" and brought man victory over Satan.
Father and Annie look at the readings for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time in light of the upcoming season of Lent, which begins in just a few days. And they explore what it means - what it looks like - to have the Law of God written on our hearts.
Father and Annie unpack the Jubilee themes that run through the first reading in Isaiah 58, and discuss how those themes frame what it means to be 'salt of the earth' and the 'light of the world.'
