Cup o' Joe

The Gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Easter - John 21:1-19Yes, this title could easily have been The Reclamation of Peter. Because really, that's what it's about. And, of course, if it's about him, it is also about all of us. Jesus, using Peter, has something to teach us all. But there's something tucked within the story that can easily be missed if we are not paying attention. And that something is too important to let slide. The disciples, post-resurrection, had to learn to see Jesus differently. He didn't look like he used to. If that was true for them then, it's true for us now too. And if we miss this, we may miss Him. As we move toward the end of this podcast run (w/ the last episode posting June 6), once again I can't thank you all enough for the feedback that you have given. I'm humbled as to where this has been taken and my prayer is that this Word that we uncover every week finds a lasting home within each and every one of us. Have a question or comment? Shoot me an email at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for Divine Mercy Sunday - Acts 5:12-16; John 20:19-31How would it feel to you to go around for the rest of your life with an adjective attached to your name that seemed to denigrate you? I don't think any of us would like that. And yet we still refer to Thomas as Doubting Thomas. But really, Thomas wasn't a bad guy at all. He had courage. And more importantly, he knew what he needed to grow in his faith of the Risen Christ. Can we say the same about us? What is it we need today in order for our faith in this incredible miracle to grow?As we move through this Easter Octave and season, we keep Pope Francis and the upcoming conclave in our prayers. May those involved in the conclave open their hearts minds, ears and eyes to the presence and invitation of the Spirit in their selection. And thank you to all of you for continuing to listen to and share this podcast. I'm incredibly humbled. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the Easter Vigil - Romans 6:3-11; Luke 24:1-12We celebrate the culmination of the Life of Jesus of Nazareth and our own hope this day. The stone has been rolled away! The tomb is empty. We are invited to look in and, like Peter before us, we are amazed! But what, exactly, does this day mean to and for us? How are our lives different because of it? Special thanks to all of those who have helped make this podcast a reality - and even more so, thank you to all of you who continue to listen, share and rate it. I'm humbled and grateful for your presence. Have a question or a comment? Send them my way at pdjoezenk@gmail.com Happy Easter!

Readings for the Feast of Palm Sunday - Isaiah 50:4-7; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 19:28-40We know the pattern. And on this Feast of Palm Sunday, this is the one we don't like to hear nor talk about. But it's half of the Pascal Mystery. Christ has died. Now if we were just talking about an historical event, that wouldn't be so hard. Jesus did it for all of us and you and I just get to bask in the fruit of God's great act. That's not a Catholic thought, my friends. For we Catholics, we participate in this action. We are another Christ, baptized into this same mission and if it's true for Jesus, it's true for us, too. That's what makes this part so hard. Death is a reality - in our world and in our life of faith.Special thanks to all those who have made this podcast a reality (you know who you are!) - I cannot thank you enough. And thank you to all of you for listening and sharing this podcast. I'm beyond humbled. Have a question or a comment? Feel free to reach out at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 5th Sunday in Lent - Isaiah 43:16-21; John 8:1-11You know how some people have a face for radio? You get to listen to a voice made for silence for a lengthy bit of time today - but, thanks be to God, the readings are worth it. It can often be easy for us to fall into the trap of seeing God merely as someone who has acted in the past. In doing so, we miss the beauty and the opportunity of God's action right here, right now in our midst. God is not an event of the past, but a dynamic presence in the Present. And he invites us to set aside those past notions and move into a new space - if only we have the courage to imagine and perceive it. Special thanks as always to Shamus, Bridget and Mandy, without whom this podcast would even be a thing. And mostly, thanks to you for listening, for rating, for recommending this podcast. I am continually humbled at the places it has gone and that is all because of you. And yes, thank you for your patience during these past months when the drop schedule has been uneven. I'm hoping that we are beyond that now. Fingers crossed. Have a question or a comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the Fourth Sunday (Laetare Sunday) of Lent - Joshua 5:9a, 10-12; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32Readings don't get much better than this. They both focus upon and celebrate God's goodness and presence within our circumstances. But they also remind us that there is work to do. There is a journey to take. We need to come to our senses. During this 40 day movement of penitence and simplicity, fasting, almsgiving and prayer, we come up for a moment of relief. A breath of fresh air. We already live within the vision. We just need to go that final mile. Special thanks to all of those who have made this podcast what it is - those who helped vision it and create it into being, and those who have walked w/ me in many and various ways along the path. I am grateful. I'm most grateful, however, for you who continue to listen and share this with others. Thank you for your trust. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 3rd Sunday in Lent - Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15; Luke 13:1-9Lots of time spent in this podcast on the first reading which is so good. Moses and the Burning Bush. Yeah, kind of an important reading - but there is so much there. Moses thought he was in a place where he couldn't be found. A bush is burning but not consumed. Moses makes a conscious decision to go nearer. The ground is holy. Every one of these points has something to say to you and I. And I haven't even talked about the Gospel yet! Time is short. We can't afford to walk by those moments of encounter in our lives any more.Special thanks to Bridget, Shamus and Mandy, without whom this podcast wouldn't even be a thing. And thanks to all of you - for your patience as I work through this annoying problem with my host feed but also continuing to listen and share. I'm so grateful. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the Second Sunday of Lent - Genesis 15:5-12; 17-18 Luke 9:28b-36Most of the time, we go through life asleep. This is not a put down, it's simply the truth. We sleep walk through our days, our months, our years, our lives. But there are those days when the scales fall from our eyes, when we have the wherewithal or the ability to break through the cloud and we awaken. The veil parts and we see. They are mountaintop experiences and we realize the imminence and greatness of our God. And as long as we are able to remember, our lives are no longer the same. Until we get drowsy again. This weekend, our readings invite us to waken to the glory and humility of the Almighty One.Special thanks to Bridget, Shamus and Mandy, without whom this podcast would be a thing. But most of all, thanks to all of you. Because of your listening, your rating, your sharing, people all over the world have joined in. I'm so humbled and grateful. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 1st Sunday of Lent - Deuteronomy 26:4-10; Luke 4:1-13We hear the same story every 1st Sunday of Lent, with the only difference being whose version it is. The story is the Temptation in the Desert and this year, we get Luke's perspective. And like so many of the Gospel stories, we can read them and think of them merely as stories that happened to Jesus all those years ago, showing us His wisdom, strength and confirming Him as God's Beloved. But we would be selling the Gospel short if that's how we hear it. The stories may be about Jesus, but they are our stories, too. Jesus is the pattern and shows us the way. We walk in His footsteps. Special thanks, as always, to Shamus, Bridget and Mandy - for without them this podcast wouldn't be a reality, and it wouldn't sound like it does. Mostly, thanks to you - for continuing to listen (especially during this time of not knowing when the podcasts will be dropped into your feeds!) and share them with others. I'm grateful and humbled. Have a question or a comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 1 Corinthians 15:54-58; Luke 6:39-45Listen, we all know that death is incredibly difficult and traumatic. So what, exactly, is Paul talking about in 1 Corinthians and how can he make such a claim? We then turn once again to the Gospel and Jesus's Sermon on the Plain, where Jesus invites us into another death of sorts. And where we are invited is no easy journey.Special thanks to Bridget and Shamus, without whom this podcast would not sound like it does or operate as it does. And thanks to Mandy, without whom this podcast would even be a thing. Mostly - thanks to all of you for listening, sharing and rating this pod. I'm humbled at your trust and at the places this podcast has gone. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; Luke 6:27-38The Kingdom of God is not like the kingdoms we create as humans. And if we try to fit our understanding of God and the teachings of the Kingdom into our current mode of thinking or our current structures, they just won't fit. And if we force them in, they are no longer the teachings of Jesus. They become made in our image, because we would rather have our agendas dictate the outcomes. We do it all the time. And it's tragic.Special thanks to Bridget and Shamus - for setting me up in this space and making it better than I could have done on my own. And thanks to Mandy for the inspiration. Mostly - thanks to all of you for continuing to listen, share and rate this podcast. I'm humbled and grateful. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Jeremiah 17:5-8; Luke 6:17, 20-26Jesus invites us down to a level place and shares a hard truth with us. And for many of us listening, it's a time to take a look in the mirror and see which side of the truth we've been living within. But as with all things God, there is a fork in front of us today and we can choose which road we take. Special thanks, as always, to Shamus and Bridget - to whom I owe much in this podcast. I also need to thank Mandy for her inspiration with the whole idea. Of course, I'm most grateful to all of you for listening, rating and sharing this pod. I'm incredibly humbled. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8; Luke 5:1-11In today's readings, we hear about the call of God. But, thankfully, it doesn't just focus on the action of God. It focuses on the ones God calls - their thoughts, their response, how they see themselves and how they see God. And the more things change, the more they stay the same. The people we see, the barriers that are placed between God and their response, sound so familiar. They are us. If that is true - and it is - then what will be our response?Special thanks, as always, to two of my children - Shamus for helping me set up this whole project and Bridget for providing the music we hear as we enter and exit. I'm grateful for their support - and yours! Without your listening, rating and sharing this podcast, it wouldn't be what it is. Thank you - I'm humbled and honored. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com.

Readings for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord: Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 2:22-40Continuing my shameless ripping off of the titles of famous songs (and this time, my apologies to Bob Seger), we hear a familiar story that sounds so wonderful at first listen. A couple presents their child in the Temple and people come out of the woodwork to proclaim his title, mission and ministry. Who wouldn't be consoled by that? If only Simeon would've stopped halfway through. But he didn't. He looks directly and Mary and Joseph and tells them what lies ahead for them, should they continue to move forward. Yet they do. They steel themselves and walk into the future. Our faith invites the same from us. It's not all duckies and bunnies. Special thanks to my daughter, Bridget Zenk, for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thanks to my son, Shamus, for setting me up on this host and helping me figure all of this technical stuff out. Of course - thanks to you, as always. Thanks for listening, for trusting, for passing it along, for rating. I'm humbled and grateful. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time - Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10; Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21My apologies to Billie Eilish on stealing the name for this title. But I just had to. It works too well. Today we hear about beginnings in the Gospel, and new beginnings in the first reading. And both take tremendous courage. It takes courage to own up to our mistakes and attempt to begin again. And it takes courage to accept the mission for which we were born and to live it out even in the midst of others questioning us. As followers of Jesus, we are called not to be women and men of perfection, but rather to be women and men of courage, both individually and as a people. Special thanks, as always, to my daughter Bridget for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. I'm so proud of her. And special thanks to you for continuing to listen, rate and share this podcast with others. I'm humbled and grateful. Not sure why it didn't post last week and I'm hoping this one does - but I'll continue to work on it. As always, questions/comments can be sent to me at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Isaiah 62:1-5; John 2:1-11As a Church, we step out of the Privileged Time of Advent and Christmas, and begin this short season of Ordinary Time between now and March 5, when we begin Lent on Ash Wednesday. And so in this Year C where we hear from Luke's Gospel, what do we hear today? Out of the Gospel of John, of course. Yeah, I don't get it either! But it's a good one and worth hearing - The Wedding Feast at Cana. Today we talk about hope and despair, light and darkness, life and death. In a word, we talk about the paschal mystery. It's the pattern all around us.Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to you for continuing to listen, share and rate this podcast. I'm amazed at the people and places that have encountered it. Thank you. Have a question or a comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord - Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22;It's odd, right? Just last week Jesus was an infant receiving gifts from the Magi. And here he is, all grown up and being baptized. And we are still in the Christmas season. How do we put this all together? I'm glad that you asked. Because it really all does fit. This season points to where we stand right now.Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you for continuing to listen, share and rate this podcast. I'm humbled at the places it's gone and for the notes I've received. Thank you for your support. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the Feast of Epiphany - Isaiah 60:1-6; Matthew 2:1-12We've heard these readings before. Like family and close friends, they can become so familiar, we don't see or hear them anymore. We already have them figured out. But God often comes through the unexpected. Like Luke, who had the first acknowledgment of Christ's role be proclaimed by shepherds, Matthew also has the outsider as the first to reveal Christ's Lordship. But Matthew goes one step further. He invites "new-agey" nature-reading foreigners to be the ones to actually see. And when they come in contact w/ the religious elite of the time, they are seemingly patronized and sent on their way. More crack pots coming through. And those elites missed what was right in front of them. As always, special thanks to my daughter, Bridget, for her creating and performing of our intake and outtake music. And continued thanks to all of you for inviting me into your lives - at least your headphones and car stereos. I'm humbled and honored. If you like the podcast, I invite you to rate it and/or pass it along to someone you think would also enjoy it. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Gospel Readings for the Feast of the Incarnation of our God (Luke 2:1-14) & the Feast of the Holy Family (Luke 2:41-52)I know - a double shot of the Gospel on this episode. Couldn't be more appropriate. This week, we simply marvel in the humble, audacious and bold love of our God. There is nowhere that God would rather be born this day than in your life and in your circumstances. Yes, this was a gift for those living 2000 years ago. But, as the angel reminds the shepherds, it is also a gift for all people. That includes you and I. So let's just take some more time and reflect on what a gift it is. Oh yeah - and why not talk about the Holy Family while we are at it??Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. As always, thank you to you for listening. This is episode 700. I was never sure it would get past episode 7. I'm humbled and blessed. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the Fourth Sunday in Advent - Micah 5:1-4a; Luke 1:39-45Finally! Mary takes center stage and Bethlehem is mentioned. Just not in the way we might think. The former has to do w/ someone else's birth and the latter w/ a prophecy. But at least we are getting somewhere. Just where, however, are we going? Down. That's where. Into smallness. Because that's precisely where God desires to reside. Not in Rome or Greece. Not in the Temple or the halls of Herod. And to explain, we look at the story of Gideon. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And as always, thank you to you for listening. I'm in awe and so humbled. May God be with you this Christmas season and always. Have a question or a comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 3rd Sunday in Advent - Zephaniah 3:14-18a; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18The Third Sunday in Advent is commonly referred to as Gaudete Sunday, a Latin word meaning "rejoice!" And each of our readings invite us to do this very thing, w/ Paul pleading for us twice in the first sentence. So why? What is it we rejoice about? As an expectant mother rejoices at the life that grows within her, so we rejoice at the nearness of our God. And if the God of the Universe is so overcome with love for you and I this day that He is willing to dance before us, perhaps we can give ourselves a bit of a break and accept the fact that maybe, just maybe, we are lovable and worth the dance. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And continued thanks to all of you for listening to and sharing this podcast with others. I'm sincerely humbled. Have a question or comment? Feel free to send it my way at pdjoezenk@gmail.com Blessed Advent, my friends.

Readings for the Second Sunday in Advent - Baruch 5:1-9; Luke 3:1-6I won't speak for others but only me. And for me, it's easy to read the Scriptures and see the love of God working in and through others in a different time and place and think "I wish God would still act that way now." But I think I miss the mark. God does still act. God is still working in and through others - including me. And you. In the Gospel of Luke we begin hearing the adult story of Jesus this week, and Luke sets it in a specific time and a specific place. Not just "out there", but in reality. God still does that. He is still specific to our time and our places. And God is still present in our reality, our experience, our geography today. Right now.Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to all of you for continuing to listen to this podcast and share it with others. I'm incredibly humbled. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the First Sunday in Advent - Jeremiah 33:14-16; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36We begin our new liturgical year with readings that sound an awful lot like the readings from last weekend, the close of our last liturgical year. Why, exactly, is that? Even more importantly, these readings which were speaking to particular situations back in the time of Jeremiah and Jesus continue to speak to our time and our individual lives. We hear readings of hope and reality. And the best part? I have a guest speaker w/ me today as my co-host is none other than my daughter Bridget!Special thanks to that same Bridget ("co-host") Zenk, for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And special thanks to all of you for continuing to listen and share this podcast with others. I'm so grateful and humble. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the Feast of Christ the King - Daniel 7:13-14; John 18:33b-37This weekend, we celebrate the Feast of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. But it would be a tragedy if we only reflect upon this once a year. Who is Lord of our life today, this very moment? It's not an exercise in guilt, but one of choice and it's one we have to make every day. And just what kind of a kingdom did this King point to anyway?Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composing and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you for continuing to listen and share this podcast with others who you think would benefit from it. I'm humbled. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Daniel 12:1-3; Mark 13:24-32As we draw nearer to the end of the Liturgical Year, our readings darken and we hear readings of The End of Time. And that is w/ purpose. Our liturgical calendar is rooted in time and time, indeed, is linear - moving toward an end point. But there's more. Time is also cyclical. As individual human beings and as all things created by God, we experience ends within our lives, multiple times. And those feelings can upend us, leaving us in darkness and feeling alone and unmoored. Our readings today remind us that there is hope, even there, if we have but eyes to see.Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to all of you for continuing to listen and share this podcast. I'm so incredibly humbled. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - 1 Kings 17:10-16; Mark 12:38-44The heroes of our readings today are two women who literally have nothing. Nothing, that is, but a faith that you and I would be wise to give everything we have to gain. We all know that we are called to be women and men of faith. But just what does that mean? It's not belief. It's even more than trust. It's having the courage to enter darkness and trust that our God waits for us on the other side. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to all of you for listening to this podcast and sharing it with others. I'm so incredibly humbled. Have a question or a comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time - Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Mark 12:28b-34Sometimes it's easy to feel overwhelmed. Scripture is so thick, there are so many books and sometimes the answers can even seem to contradict one another. How do we know who or what to listen to? Today, we hear readings of summation. Call it our Cliff Notes edition. Moses summarizes the Law. And then Jesus summarizes the Gospels. They give us the One Thing that grounds us and around which we are to revolve. And throw in a City Slickers reference for good measure because, why not?Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to all of you for continuing to listen and recommend the podcast. I'm truly humbled. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Jeremiah 31:7-9; Mark 10:46-52At first glance, this Gospel reading looks like just another story where Jesus heals a blind man. But this is not just any old healing. We'd all be blessed to be as blind as Bartimaeus. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to all of you for continuing to listen and share this podcast with others. I'm incredibly humbled. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Isaiah 53:10-11; Mark 10:35-45Martin Luther once invited us all to "Sin boldly!" He must have been thinking about James and John in today's reading. They are bold - make no mistake about it. And they are 180 degrees off-base in their assumptions, which were the foundation of their request. They sought glory. They had no idea what glory was. And so Jesus made sure to set not only the two of them, but all of the disciples, straight on what glory consisted of - which meant tipping everything that they thought they knew upside down. As if that wouldn't be enough for a podcast, let's also do a quick unpack of the theory of the atonement. That's a light subject, no? Perhaps that's why this one went a bit long...Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to you for your continued listening and sharing of this podcast. I'm so grateful and humbled. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Wisdom 7:7-11; Mark 10:17-30This weekend, we get to have a mirror held up to us. The good news is - it's not entirely a bad thing. There are parts of this mirror that actually have us looking good. But other parts, not so much. The best part? Jesus looks at us in love and names these things, inviting us out of them and into relationship with Him. But the question is - what are we willing to give up for that relationship. The author of Wisdom would tell us that nothing is more important - not power or riches or health or even light itself. And while that sounds good, when the rubber meets the road, what are we willing to set aside? We are the only ones that can answer that question.Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to all of you for breaking open God's Word alongside of me. I'm honored and humbled. Have a question or a comment? Send it my way at pdjoezenk@gmail.com.

Readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Genesis 2:18-24; Mark 10:2-16This one is a bit more lengthy, but how does one talk about sin quickly? So often when we think about sin, we think about something much smaller than the reality. We think of the outer showings but pay little attention to the inner reality. The readings this weekend don't give us that option. We may think that they are only speaking to us about marriage and divorce. I think that they are about something much more than that. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to you for continuing to break open God's Word along with me - and thanks for sharing this podcast with others around the globe. I'm beyond humbled. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Numbers 11:25-29; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48It's so easy to get caught up in titles and degrees and membership. I'll listen to this person because they carry the right credentials but not someone without them. I'll follow this person because they belong to the same group as I do, but not that person who doesn't. It's so common we don't even notice it. And it's been going on for a long, long time - at least so our readings show us today. Thankfully Moses and Jesus cut through the blindness. The Spirit of God is radically free and She will go wherever She will go. And far from upsetting us - this is something to be celebrated. And you know what? Let's throw in two quotes from Abraham Lincoln just for good measure. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to all of you listeners, for continuing to break open God's Word alongside of me and for sharing it with others. I'm humbled. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Mark 9:30-37Jesus picks up on the same topic that he ended with last week - if we are to be a follower of His, it leads to Jerusalem and the cross. This is the second time of three times that Jesus will make these statements to his disciples. Why so often? Because it goes against everything our culture and those voices inside of our heads tell us to do. We are always striving to do better than others, to looks smarter, to be more successful. But do we ever stop to ask ourselves why? What is motivating us to act in such a way? What are we protecting? Because as Jesus reminds us (for the second time), it's not the Kingdom of God that is asking us to live in such a manner. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to all of you for continuing to listen and share this podcast with others. I'm incredibly humbled. Do you have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Isaiah 50:5-9a; Mark 8:27-35The word Gospel, as we all know, means "Good News". And while the Gospel is always good news, sometimes that news can also be hard. Today is one of those days. Isaiah shares with us the path of the Suffering Servant, which Christians see as a foreshadowing of the ministry of Jesus. But if it's a foreshadowing of the ministry of Jesus, it also foreshadows our ministry. Jesus confirms this by looking at you and I and reminding us that if we want to follow him, we need to pick up our cross and do so. Hard words. Being a follower of Jesus is not for the faint of heart. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. Also thank you to all of you for continuing to listen and break open God's Word with me. I'm humbled and honored. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com.

Readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Isaiah 35:4-7a; Mark 7:31-37Isaiah speaks to a people without hope and does his best to give them a vision of what hope would look like within a hopeless place. For until they have bought into the vision, until they are able to see it, they have nothing to say, nothing to leap about. They must first "be opened." What was true then is also true now. If we as individuals and we as the People of God are not people of hope and vision, we carry no authority. We have nothing to say, nothing to share. Just ask the rose. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to you - for listening and sharing this podcast with others. I continue to be humbled by your presence and trust. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Dt 4:1-2, 6-8; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23Both Moses and Jesus (there's a couple of heavyweights for you!) call us out into the deep today. We are not invited to stay in the shallow end of the pool by merely going through the motions of our beliefs or saying the right words. We are called to the weightier things like justice and mercy and faith. And how do we do that? Not by just bringing part of ourselves to the table, but our entire self. That's what brings life. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And special thanks to you for listening and continuing to share this podcast with others you think would enjoy it. I'm humbled at the places around the world that continue to listen. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17a, 18b; John 6:60-69This week comes with a challenge. Actually two. Joshua gives one in the first reading and Jesus in the Gospel. Which way will you go? Whom do you choose? And you will notice in each case, they give the grace for choices that may not serve them or ourselves well. They respect free will that much. Those choices still stand before us today. Whom will we choose? Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to you for continuing to break open God's Word alongside of me. I'm humbled and grateful. Have a question or comment? Feel free to send it to me at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Proverbs 9:1-6; John 6:51-58I know - this sounds like a JRR Tolkien novel. Sorry, nothing so sublime here. Just a juxtaposition between wisdom and folly that we hear in the book of Proverbs, looking at the values that each holds. And if, perchance, we wish to partake of the food of Wisdom, just where do we find that? Jesus lets us know in no uncertain terms in today's continuing look at the Bread of Life discourse. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music for this podcast. I'm also grateful to you for your patience these past weeks when my pod was struggling to get out to all the feeds and continuing to listen. I'm humbled. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 1 Kings 19:4-8; John 6:41-51The thread between the two readings couldn't be much easier to spot. We can't make the journey on our own. It's too difficult. But what it also reminds us is that we are not at the end, either. No matter what is happening in your life, whatever difficulties and struggles you may be facing - God gives us a gentle shove (or maybe not so gentle!) and doesn't invite us to keep moving. He orders us. There are missions to accomplish and you need Bread to sustain you. So get up, partake of the Bread, and keep moving. Your life has purpose.Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you for continuing to listen and share this podcast with others. I'm so humbled and grateful. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com.

Readings for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15; John 6:24-35This weekend, we hear about how God provides for us - specifically giving us Bread from Heaven (in the form of manna and Jesus, himself). And while there is much to explore there, I went in a different route. I talked about how quickly the Hebrew people of both Moses's and Jesus's day could be so obtuse. How can they forget God's presence and actions for them so quickly? It's almost comical. Until we realize that maybe it's not just them.Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to you for continuing to listen and share this podcast with those you believe would enjoy it. I'm incredibly humbled. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 2 Kings 4:42-44; John 6:1-15God desires for you and I to be fed. It's as simple as that. Whether it is manna in the desert, food during a plague or 5,000 people sitting on a grassy field, God desires not that we remain empty and in need, but rather that we are satiated. But there is really only one thing that feeds us, right? The Word of God. Jesus says that himself when Satan tempts Him in the desert. "Humanity does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God." Yet Jesus is wise enough to know that if our bellies are not filled, our minds cannot be reached. And so he does both. The question before us this week is - are we Philip or are we Andrew in this process?Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her creating and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to you for continuing to listen and share this podcast with others. I'm humbled and grateful. Have a question or comment? Feel free to reach out at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Jeremiah 23:1-6; Mark 6:30-34In hearing Jeremiah play the role of prophet, we hear him both rage against the unjust shepherds of the day, and remind the people that they are loved and seen and heard. In our Gospel, Jesus longs for rest, but chooses the hard work of being present to the people. So which is it? Are we sheep or shepherds? Do we rage against injustice or nurture the wounds of our trauma? Are we in need of healing or are we healers? The answer, of course, is yes.Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And I'm so grateful for all of you - taking the time to break open God's Word with me. I'm humbled. And I'm hopeful that this one actually makes its way into your podcast feeds. Here's to hope...

Readings for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Am 7:12-15; Mark 6:7-13In this weekend's readings, we hear about the call and struggles of the prophet Amos, as well as Jesus sending out the Twelve. Which, of course, begs the question for us - Am I called to go out, too? If so, where and how? And how can I be a prophet when I'm just an ordinary person in an ordinary job in an ordinary location? Today we explore all of those questions. It's time to step out of the shadow, my friends. It's no longer time to simply have faith in Jesus. Now it's time to step out with the faith of Jesus. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thanks to all of you - for listening and your encouragement to continue with this podcast. If you like it, please take a moment and rate it (it's how others can find it, too!) or share it with a friend. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Mark 6:1-6So often it seems we struggle against those parts of us of which we are ashamed. We pretend. We hide behind masks. And in doing so, we refuse to open ourselves to the gift of grace that God and those around us are waiting to share with us. Life is not meant to be lived in perfection. We are not created that way. But to the extent that we attempt to live in that space, we choose to live a life in illusion. God invites us elsewhere - a place of truth where in accepting our vulnerabilities and imperfections, we find grace and true love. In our weakness, we are strong.Special thanks to Bridget Zenk not only for being on this episode with me (along w/ her partner Malachi Brown), but also for creating and performing our intro and outtake music. And thank you to all of you for continuing to break open God's Word alongside of me. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com.

Readings for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24, Mark 5:21-43The foundation for our Gospel is laid in the first line of the first reading - don't miss it! God did not make death, nor does God delight in the destruction of the living. Death is not the vision or the desire of God - life is. And with that knowledge, we hear two stories about death to life in the Gospel. And while we can sit here 2000 years later and enjoy these stories, we see death everywhere around us. What does this have to say to us today? What was true then is still true now. Death does not have the final word. Life does. If we but have the eyes to seeSpecial thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to you for continuing to listen to this podcast and share it with those you love. We have been listened to in both hemispheres and on every continent (Ok, maybe minus Antarctica!). I'm humbled. Have a question or a comment (or know what the number 12 means in this reading?) - send them my way at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Job 38:1, 8-11; Mark 4:35-41With apologies to Jim Morrison and The Doors, I've got to borrow the title. Jesus invites his followers to leave one side behind, get in a boat and travel to someplace new - on the other side. But what happens, as so often does, is that we experience storms, upheaval, fear along the way. What do our readings ask of us today when we find ourselves in not altogether dissimilar places?Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to you for continuing to walk with me on this journey of opening God's Word and opening our lives for it to take root. Have a question or a comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Ezekiel 17:22-24; Mark 4:26-34Today we hear three separate parables - one from Ezekiel and two from Jesus. All remind us how God continues to work on our behalf, often without any knowledge or help from us. God not only goes before us to prepare the way, but God fans to flame the seed within us that is the Holy Spirit, inviting it to grow though we know not how. These readings invite us to take a load off of our shoulders and simply be grateful to God for the work God continues to do in our lives and in the world.Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to you for continuing to break open God's Word alongside of me. I'm humbled and grateful. Have a question or comment? Feel free to send it my way at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Genesis 3:9-15; Mark 3:20-35We talk about two things today (sorry - at length! I know, I have to get these pods back down towards 20 minutes! It's on my radar): how we are back in Ordinary Time and exactly what that means for us and 2) the story of the fall of humanity and how that is not just something set in the past. It's played out today in the decisions you and I make. We can choose to be a part of the family, or we can choose to isolate ourselves and hide. The choice seems obvious, but is so difficult. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to you for continuing to listen and share this podcast with others. I'm humbled. If you have questions or comments, you can send them to me at pdjoezenk@gmail.com. Blessings, my friends!

Readings for the Feast of the Most Holy Body & Blood of Christ: Exodus 24: 3-8; Mark 14:12-16; 22-26On this feast, we recall not only the words of Jesus, but the words of Moses - and what that sacrifice demands of us. We are not mere observers of God's action. We participate. And that is wonderful and scary. We are meant to be taken, blessed, broken and shared. Or in other words, we are meant to be shed. It is not only Christ on the altar every Mass, it is us. That's what we say Amen to every weekend. That's the renewal of our marriage vows.Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And special thanks to all of you who continue to listen and share this podcast with others. I'm humbled and grateful. Have a question or comment? Feel free to pass them my way at pdjoezenk@gmail.com

Readings for the Feast of the Holy Trinity - Deuteronomy 4:32-34; 39-40; Matthew 28:16-20Brothers and sisters, no matter how hard we try, we will never wrap our minds around the mystery of the Blessed Trinity. And that's ok. God didn't make us to do that. But that doesn't mean that we don't experience it's reality in our midst everyday. And it also doesn't mean that we can't grasp that it is profoundly for us. Every one of us has experienced the Presence and Reality of God. All we need to do is remember that. And celebrate that. And speak about that. Because that is the God who created us, redeemed us and continues to walk beside us, even here, even now. Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. And thank you to you for continuing to break open God's Word alongside of me. I'm grateful for your presence and your trust. Enjoy the podcast? Share it with a friend and/or rate it on your favorite listening app. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com. And oh yeah, Go Wolves!

Readings for the Feast of Pentecost - Acts 2:1-11; John 20:19-23This weekend, we celebrate one of the high feast days of the Church - the coming of the Spirit to the early Christian gathering. How did the Spirit come? Well, through a strong driving wind in an upper room, of course. We hear that in Acts. Or was it through the breath and forgiveness of Jesus that Easter Sunday night? Which one is true? Of course the answer is both. But as always, we don't merely celebrate an event that took place 2,000 years ago. We celebrate an event that continues to take place here and now within and among us.Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music. Thank you for continuing to break open God's Word alongside me. I am humbled and honored. Have a question or comment? I can be reached at pdjoezenk@gmail.com. Happy celebration of the presence of the Spirit!