Sunday Dive

Jesus is teaching beside the Sea of Galilee when the crush of the crowds prompts him to climb aboard St. Peter's boat and request the soon-to-be-apostle to shove off from shore. Little does Peter know that this is only Our Lord's first request. We'll spend our episode exploring the ins and outs of fishing on the Sea of Galilee and we'll get our hands dirty in the original Greek so as to immerse ourselves into the full emotion of the exchange. Finally, we'll round out our discussion by diving into the Old Testament context for Peter's commissioning as a “fisher of men.” (Mass Reading for Feb 9, 2025) /// Join Katie's Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi: https://kptz.io/rome Registration is closing this March!

When Joseph and Mary bring Jesus to the Temple, they fulfill the Law of Moses, yet what unfolds goes far beyond legal obligation. In Simeon's words, we find echoes of the watchmen of Israel, standing vigil for the Lord's arrival and Anna, with her years of prayer, embodies widowed Israel longing for redemption. At the heart of the story is the go'el, the kinsman-redeemer tasked by the Book of Leviticus with restoring family and land. Coming suddenly to his Temple as our first reading predicts, Jesus shows himself to be this bridegroom redeemer. (Mass Reading for Feb 2, 2025) /// Join Katie's Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi this December: https://kptz.io/rome

In the synagogue of his hometown, Jesus delivers a message that begins with amazement and ends in rejection. Drawing from the full arc of the story, we explore the depth of his proclamation, the Greek Old Testament text, and the broader context of Isaiah's prophecy. Together, these elements reveal the profound challenge of a mission extending mercy beyond Israel and they also uncover why Our Lord's words ignited such a powerful reaction, one his own neighbors were unwilling to accept. (Mass Readings for Jan 26, 2025) /// Join Katie's Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi this December: https://kptz.io/rome

Join Katie on pilgrimage in Rome & Assisi for the Jubilee: kptz.io/rome / / / In this episode, we explore the Wedding Feast at Cana, where Jesus performs His first public miracle—turning water into wine. We'll uncover the Old Testament echoes in this moment, the significance of Christ as the divine Bridegroom, and Mary's pivotal role in the unfolding of His mission. How does this event foreshadow the New Covenant, and what does it reveal about God's abundant grace? Tune in to find out! (Mass Readings for Jan 19, 2025)

Join me this December on a Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome & Assisi: kptz.io/rome /// Jesus begins his public ministry at a location rich with history for the Jewish people. The site of the famed Promised Land crossing, the Jordan River is a symbol of homecoming and covenant faithfulness. Exploring our Gospel within the context of the lectionary, we see Jesus' Baptism as not simply the fulfillment of Jewish hopes, but a hope for Gentiles as well. In this one act, Jesus recalls creation, the flood, the Exodus, and the expectation of a new covenant for all peoples, momentous occasions that he will fulfill in his own public ministry. (Mass Readings for Jan 12, 2025)

We journey with the Magi to Bethlehem in our Gospel today, unraveling the ancient prophecy from the Book of Numbers that sent shockwaves through Herod's court. Who were these mysterious visitors and what does their presence reveal about Salvation History? We'll also dig into historical and astronomical insights into the Star of Bethlehem and unpack the profound symbolism behind the threefold gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Finally, we'll explore the subtle allusions to Solomon in our text which firmly plant Jesus as the rightful successor to the Davidic throne. // Join Katie's Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi: https://bit.ly/rome_assisi

Join Katie's Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi: https://bit.ly/rome_assisi // Jesus is lost and found in today's Gospel. In it, the evangelist describes Jesus as having "understanding", an Old Testament characteristic of the Davidic kings. Luke also clearly links Our Lord with the prophet Samuel and by this connection we discover Jesus as the firstborn consecrated to God and the prophet who will speak condemnation on the corrupt Jerusalem priests. We end our episode exploring the interior life of Our Lady who was not shielded from spiritual hardship but learned to foster hope in the midst of confusion.

Join Katie's Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi: https://bit.ly/rome_assisi // Exploring the story of the Visitation we discover a text bursting with Old Testament allusions. We see the evangelist subtly comparing Jesus and John the Baptist to Jacob and Esau and Our Lady herself finds parallel in two Old Testament women, Jael and Judith, women who found fame crushing the heads of their enemies. An overarching theme comes to prominence, however, that of the Ark of the Covenant. Just as the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant sojourned for a time in the hill country of Judea, so does the new Ark of the Covenant sojourn there as well. (Mass Readings for Dec 22, 2024) March 1st Event w/ Dr. Scott Hahn: https://stpaulcenter.com/desmoines2025/

We turn our attention once more to our Gospel reading and to the figure of John the Baptist. People from all walks of life are coming to him, repenting, and asking for spiritual advice. John exhorts people not to a life of intense asceticism and separation but rather to lives of holiness in the midst of worldly endeavors, a radical idea for the time period. Exploring further John the Baptist's background we discover a man deeply committed to evangelization and a figure who is arguably the first champion of the lay vocation. (Mass Readings for Dec 15, 2024) --> March 1st Event w/ Dr. Scott Hahn: https://stpaulcenter.com/desmoines2025/ --> Join Katie's Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi: https://bit.ly/rome_assisi

This week we continue in the spirit of Jeremiah with our first reading from Baruch, the man who served as Jeremiah's scribe. In it we find many parallels with the Old Testament and contemporary prophetic literature, specifically the Book of Isaiah. We explore the three covenant types of Ancient Near Eastern culture and link Baruch to Genesis 22 in which God himself is the covenant guarantor. Lastly, we explore the New Exodus theme implicit in our first reading and its clear link to our Gospel and the figure of John the Baptist. (Mass Readings for Dec 8, 2024) --> Join Katie's Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi: https://bit.ly/rome_assisi

As Advent begins, the Church invites us to reflect on prophetic texts that illuminate the season's profound themes of hope and expectation. This week, we delve into the prophet Jeremiah, focusing on his ministry during the late 600s BC under King Josiah's reign. By exploring the historical backdrop of Jerusalem's turmoil and exile, we uncover the depth of Jeremiah's prophecy about a "righteous branch" springing from David's line. In the Gospel, the Church continues the apocalyptic theme, drawing connections between the Jewish people's longing for a Messiah and our own anticipation of Christ's return. Join us as we trace the threads of history and prophecy, unveiling the timeless message of Advent: hope in the fulfillment of God's promises.

The Church points us to the Gospel of John for our feast today, looking specifically at the exchange between Pontius Pilate and Our Lord at the latter's trial. The question at hand is kingship: is Jesus a king and, if so, where is his kingdom? Looking at the literal translation of the Greek we discover how emphatic Our Lord's answers are. He reigns indeed but his reign does not flow from human authority. In fact, all human authority flows from him and one day will be subject to him. We'll also look at the 1925 encyclical that established our feast and the spiritual implications it offers. --> Join Katie's Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi: https://bit.ly/rome_assisi

Our Lord leaves the Temple for the last time. On the way out his disciples comment on the Temple's beauty and Jesus takes the opportunity to direct their hearts from an earthly worldview to a heavenly one, foretelling the destruction of that beautiful structure. Our Gospel picks up toward the end of this exchange and in it we find an abundance of allusions to a new creation, the ingathering of the nations, and the cosmic battle between good and evil. Though filled with images of suffering, read with the eyes of faith Our Lord's words provide comfort and hope, regardless of what the future may hold. --> Join Katie's Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi: https://bit.ly/rome_assisi

Jesus takes aim at the scribes in our Gospel today, calling them out for their love of fine things and special treatment. In contrast, Our Lord offers the example of the widow at the Temple. While the opulent monetary contributions of the rich ring out for others to hear, the widow's quiet offering does not go unnoticed by God. Jesus explains that, contrary to appearances, this woman has offered more than all the others. Exploring further the idea of poverty in the spiritual life, we find an apt opportunity to give to God from our nothingness in the sacrament of confession. --> Join Katie's Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi: https://bit.ly/rome_assisi

Join me on pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi for the Jubilee Year and get $200 off if you register before the end of October! Details here: https://bit.ly/rome_assisi A scribe, emboldened by Jesus' compelling answer to the debated topic of resurrection presents another question before the Lord, “Which is the greatest commandment?” Exploring Our Lord's answer we discover a response oozing with Scripture, one that impressively sums up both the 600+ laws of the Torah and the heart of the Ten Commandments. Unwittingly, the scribe's own commentary prophetically describes what Jesus will do upon the cross: fulfill Temple worship in his own self-holocaust and unleash a flood of grace that will transform souls and make saints.

Jesus makes his final stop before reaching Jerusalem, passing through the ancient town of Jericho. On his way out of town the cries of a blind man reach his ears, compelling him to stop. Our Lord's encounter with and subsequent healing of the blind man are full of Old Testament resonances. In our Gospel we see the fulfillment of many prophecies announcing the arrival of the Messiah, we find fascinating parallels between Joshua's entry into Jericho and our Gospel, and we discover a unique echo of David's encounter with the blind in this encounter of Bartimaeus with Christ on the road to Jerusalem.

We leave Our Lord's words to speak for themselves in our podcast today, looking closer at the spiritual implication of his message rather than digging into scholarly insights on the text. The former exercise proves deeply important for our interior life, especially in periods of suffering. Understanding that the role James and John wish to possess is actually filled by two thieves leads us to recognize that heavenly success often masquerades as earthly failure and that even when we find it difficult to imagine fruits from our sufferings we can still hold fast to the conviction that heaven knows and honors our faithfulness.

We hear two of Jesus' favorite words in our Gospel today: Follow me! Where in the past these words were met with tremendous faith by the apostles, today they are met with sadness and rejection. We're talking about the rich young man who's unfulfilled longings bring him to the feet of Jesus. Diagnosing his restlessness, Our Lord calls him to leave behind his possessions, a cure that proves too burdensome to be carried out. Exploring the spiritual theme of detachment as well as the theological idea of sloth we discover that each of us today are just as prone to abandoning Jesus as the rich young man was years ago.

Jesus travels to Judea where he is not always well received and is immediately confronted by Pharisees as regards his view on marriage and divorce. Referencing Deuteronomy, the Pharisees make the case that Moses allowed for divorce but Jesus moves earlier in the Biblical account to make his argument, citing two verses of Genesis. From Our Lord's words we glean a radical view of marriage, one that excludes divorce but that also affirms the image of the Trinity and the tremendous dignity of married love. In the end we find a God who is reckless in love and who desires that we be recklessly loving as well.

The apostles encounter a man performing exorcisms in Jesus' name though they do not know who he is. When asked his opinion, Our Lord's response points us to the outpouring of the spirit of God in the Old Testament and the prophetic words of Moses who longs for all of God's people to perform miraculous works. Continuing on in our Gospel we hear Jesus speak intensely about "stumbling blocks." Exploring the original Greek as well as the Church's teaching we uncover the true meaning of scandal and its serious ramifications while ending with a discussion of freedom and the need for Christians to valiantly resist sin.

Jesus redefines greatness in His second prediction of the Passion. After His transfiguration, He pulls the Twelve aside to teach them an unexpected truth—true greatness comes through humility and the cross. Diving deep into our Gospel, we'll explore the loaded Greek word "paradidomi," which reveals Jesus' active rather than passive choice to give Himself up. We'll take a closer look at the first century background and symbolism of Our Lord's gentle gesture towards children and we'll uncover the dual meaning of one Aramaic word that reinforces our Gospel message.

Set against the historical backdrop of Caesarea Philippi, a location steeped in ancient ties to the Greek god Pan, our Gospel is grounded in real-world settings. In addition to the geography, we'll examine the pivotal interaction between Jesus and Peter, a moment that transitions the Gospel of Mark from revealing Jesus's identity to uncovering his salvific destiny. Finally, examination of a single Greek word will reveal the unavoidable necessity of God's plan while offering solace that, even in suffering, God's purpose will prevail.

Having cleansed foods and thereby abolished many of the ritual purity laws that served to separate Jew and Gentile, Jesus intentionally travels into Gentile territory. He performs several miracles like the one recounted in our Gospel. Exploring the healing of the deaf man we discover an explicit link with the prophecies of Isaiah that allude to an ingathering of the Gentiles and mincing Jesus' words and actions we uncover both Sacramental and New Creation themes, themes that point back to the beginning of Genesis and that help us to recognize the many graces God showers upon us even now!

We head back into Mark in our Gospel today and into the thick of Pharisaic criticism. Jesus is asked why his disciples do not wash their hands before eating. To fully understand the Pharisees' charge we take a step back and explore the heart and history of the Pharisaic school of thought. What we find in the Pharisees are Jews zealous for the law of God but fixated on ancillary things, things that inevitably distort their judgment, corrupt their heart, and prevent them from seeing that which they've longed for most: the Messiah who's standing right in front of them.

Provided with two sets of first readings, the Church beckons us to look both backward and forward to understand our Gospel and the feast of the Assumption at hand. Diving into Luke as well as our Old Testament first reading we see the evangelist draw clear parallels between David's reception of the Ark of the Covenant at Jerusalem and Elizabeth's reception of the new Ark just outside Jerusalem. Then looking forward to our reading from Revelation we realize that just as Mary went up to Jerusalem at the visitation God brings her up to the new Jerusalem once and for all at her glorious assumption.

Further exploring our multi-week look at John 6, this week's episode is a recording of the talk that Katie gave onsite at the Church of the Multiplication on the shore of the Sea of Galilee during her pilgrimage to the Holy Land in January 2023. Enjoy!

Over the next several weeks the Church breaks from Mark's Gospel, pivoting instead to John 6. Encountering the people's hunger, Our Lord feeds them with the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish. The Scriptures then recount a fascinating response to the miracle: the people want to make Jesus king. Delving into the history of the Old Testament manna as well as the Jewish tradition surrounding it, we explore an explanation for the people's desire to place Our Lord upon the throne, one in which the multiplied bread is seen as none other than new manna!

The Twelve return from their initial missionary outreach, their success evidenced by the continually growing crowds. Unable to find time even to eat, Jesus invites the disciples to follow him to a place of solitude. The people, however, are undeterred and follow on foot, beating Jesus to his destination. What Our Lord does next shows the tenderness of his heart. Moved with compassion he provides for their needs and in so doing he continues echoing a new Exodus theme while taking upon himself the role of a new Moses and a new Joshua.

Jesus called the Twelve to himself in the beginning of Mark's Gospel. Now he sends them out two-by-two to do the very works that he has done. Exploring Our Lord's pre-departure instructions we discover several connections to not only the Old Testament but also first century culture. Through these connections we see Jesus distinguishing his followers from some (like itinerant Greek philosophers) but also associating them with others (like the Old Testament people of God). Through our Gospel we'll discover the Twelve acting in the person of Christ and in so doing inaugurating the New Exodus.

Jesus travels home to Nazareth in our Gospel today but the reception he receives is far from warm. Comparing and contrasting our episode with an earlier synagogue encounter in Capernaum we realize that those who reject God often have the same evidence for belief as those who accept him. At the end of the day we have to decide - with the same evidence that the people of Israel had - is this man who he says he is?

The long form of our Gospel today provides us with two miracles which Mark sandwiches together: the raising of Jairus' daughter and the healing of the hemorrhaging woman. Contextualizing these stories in light of Levitical purity laws reveals a deeper message lingering below the surface: not only does Jesus desire to heal us physically but he also wants to restore us spiritually. At the end of the day, the story serves as a spiritual summons to see life's happenings through the eyes of Him who banishes illness and reverses death itself.

In one of his most amazing feats, Jesus sleeps through a mega-storm on the Sea of Galilee. We'll spend our time together uncovering the quite detailed picture archaeology can paint for us about seafaring in first century Palestine and we'll also unveil some fascinating parallels between our Gospel and the Old Testament Book of Jonah. At the end of the day what we discover in our Gospel is not so much a God aloof in the face of our fears but a Son carefree in His trust of the Father and desiring the same for us.

We return to the heart of Mark's Gospel and Our Lord's teaching in our episode today, exploring some of his many parables. What becomes quickly evident in our survey of his teaching is that Jesus' words contain a surface profundity in and of themselves and yet at the same time reveal a depth of meaning that could be sounded for an eternity. Turning to the parables themselves, we'll unveil their subtle allusions to the Old Testament texts, revealing not only a poetic description of the Kingdom of God but a promise of spiritual life and conversion should we open ours ears to hear.

Jesus is in his adoptive hometown of Capernaum, visited by great throngs of both supporters and adversaries. Among the latter are scribes from Jerusalem and members of his own family traveling from Nazareth to confront him. Accused of being possessed by the devil, Our Lord uses the famed “House Divided” parable to put them to shame. Comparing and contrasting the ensuing dialogue, clear parallels emerge that paint Jesus as the mighty victor come to ransack Satan and steal us back for himself should we only be willing to accept His salvation.

Our Gospel this week is packed with hidden gems and secret keys that unlock layers of hidden meaning in Mark's Last Supper account. The Essenes, producers of the famed Dead Sea Scrolls, serve as one of these keys. We'll make the case that Jesus celebrated the Passover with the Essene community in Jerusalem, a thesis that instigates a cascade of implications and we'll end our time together delving into the idea of the Eucharist as a covenant, that is, an exchange of persons that allows God to share himself with us in ever more intimate ways.

Our Gospel today comes from the end of Matthew. Jesus offers the great commission which includes the Trinitarian formula and the all-important summons to Baptism. Turning first and foremost to the Book of Daniel as well as the beginning of Matthew's Gospel we discover that Jesus' reception of authority is a fruit of his self-abasement and total obedience. Looking to the Christian calling with this in mind, we realize that our own lives are meant to be an echo of Christ's obedience the fruit of which is a share in the life of the Trinity, a life of perfect love.

When Luke mentions the feast of Pentecost in our first reading, we can easily gloss over the implication that Pentecost is a Jewish feast. One of four springtime feasts on the Jewish liturgical calendar, Pentecost celebrated both the ingathering of the harvest as well as the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai. Comparing and contrasting the first Pentecost with the new Pentecost we discover that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit does indeed bring about a harvest, one that is new and rich in meaning. Diving deep into our Gospel we'll spend our episode looking closer at: - The agricultural background of the feast of Pentecost - The clear connections between the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai and the giving of the Holy Spirit to the Early Church - Which Early Church Father coined the phrase “sober intoxication of the spirit” - The significance of new wine in the Scriptures and why you can't pour new wine into old wineskins - How the new law of grace engenders spontaneity You'll notice that I talk a lot in the first few minutes about an online Bible study I did on the Book of Acts. To access that head here: https://www.youtube.com/@KatiePatrizio

We break with routine in this episode and focus on the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles. In it, we see Jesus giving final instructions to his apostles before he ascends into heaven. Looking at subtle clues left by St. Luke, we discover that at his ascension Jesus takes on both the role of the “Son of Man” found in the Book of Daniel and the role of a new and everlasting high priest who fulfills once and for all by his death, resurrection, and ascension the cultic act of Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement. Diving deep into our readings we'll spend our episode looking closer at: - Who the mysterious “Theophilus” is in our first reading - The Old and New Testament significance of the 40 days that Jesus spends with the Apostles before his ascension - Which prophecy in the New Testament was most frequently repeated - The incredible connection between the Old Testament assumption of Elijah and the New Testament ascension of Jesus - Who the fourth beast is in the Book of Daniel and its significance for the Early Church - How our readings coupled with the Letter to the Hebrews show Jesus to be the new and everlasting Jewish High Priest

Picking up where we left off in last week's Gospel, Jesus continues his Last Supper discourse, this time turning his attention to love, the law, and friendship with God. Taking the lead of the evangelist himself we explore the idea of belovedness and how receptivity to Divine love is the foundation of the spiritual life. Bringing in the topic of the law as well as the thought of Thomas Aquinas we discover that the practice of abiding in God's love has very little to do with our own efforts and everything to do with God's.Diving deep into our Gospel we'll spend our episode looking closer at:- What, according to St. Thomas Aquinas, we must do in order to keep God's commandments [8:49]- The Greek etymology of the word "friend" and what it can tell us about being friends of God [18:48]- The two Old Testament figures that were said to be friends of God [31:20]- Greco-Roman and Jewish conceptions of friendship that likely inform our Gospel [41:52]- Jewish inheritance law and what it has to say about friendship and servitude [45:04]- Some priestly overtones subtly present in the latter part of Jesus' exhortation to the Twelve [51:35]

We continue exploring the Gospel of John in our readings for this Sunday. In them Jesus makes his seventh and final "I am" statement, comparing himself to the true vine. Combing through the Old Testament we discover that vine imagery is often associated with Israel, but an Israel that is unfaithful and disobedient. It is Christ then, the faithful son, and we his disciples who are to embody a new Israel, radically faithful to the Father. How do we achieve this faithfulness? Our Gospel reveals the secret.Diving deep into our Gospel we'll spend our episode looking closer at:- The seven "I am" statements in John, the last of which forms our Gospel- The image of the vine in the Old Testament and how it helps us interpret Our Lord's analogy- How our Gospel both demands and promises radical faithfulness- The ancient heresy that our Gospel was employed to refute- What it means to abide in Christ and a tangible way to practice that abiding

On this Good Shepherd Sunday, we find ourselves in the Gospel of John listening to Our Lord declare Himself the Good Shepherd. Following the healing of the man blind from birth, Jesus engages in a discussion of what it means to know Him. To answer the question, He employs the image of sheep who are masters in the discernment of voice. Whereas others come to pillage and plunder, Jesus comes as protector. Exploring both ancient and modern shepherding practices we'll unpack the rich implications of Jesus' assertions and see a picture with two portraits: one of God and one of Satan. In this episode discover: - The Jewish liturgical setting of our Gospel (Hannukah) which provides a nod to a previous period of priestly corruption - Our Gospel's parallels with Joshua and the Book of Numbers - The Jewish legal distinction between thieves and robbers and why it's relevant to our text - A Greek word in our Gospel which provides a link between the sheepfold and the courtyard of the High Priest - What ancient Judean sheepfolds looked like and why Jesus calls Himself the door for the sheep - What the “rod” in Psalm 24 refers to and its protective purpose

Our Gospel is the famous story of the road to Emmaus. Two of Jesus' followers are returning home after the tumultuous events of Holy Week only to encounter the Risen Lord Himself. We'll look to an early Church historian to uncover the identity of the two disciples. Comparing our story to the Feeding of the Five Thousand we'll note several parallels between the two and we'll also spend some time exploring the objectively vulnerable nature of faith in Christ. Lastly, we'll compare the Emmaus encounter with Adam and Eve's sin in Genesis 3 and we'll note key differences between the outcomes of the two stories. In this episode discover: - Who Eusebius, an early Church historian, identifies as the two disciples in our narrative (spoiler: they may have been relatives of Jesus) - A detail in our Gospel that would have fulfilled the Jewish requirement for credibility of legal witnesses - An interesting observation one Biblical scholar makes about Luke's chronology and how it relates to the keeping of our modern-day liturgical calendar - Whether Jesus purposely prevented the disciples from recognizing Him or if something else was at play - How Josephus, a first century Jewish historian, describes Jesus and the similarities that description has with Cleopas' - How the story of the road to Emmaus mirrors the twofold pattern of every Mass

Our episode today traces a broad overview of salvation history in order to better appreciate the work of God in the Paschal mystery. Tracing the theme of covenant throughout Scripture, we see this concept as the key to understanding God's plan for us. Culminating in Jesus' passion and resurrection, we unpack the institution of the new and final covenant which is a foretaste of Heaven. Finally, we'll contextualize Jesus' passion in its First Century setting and we'll link the resurrection as recorded in John 20 to both the first pages of Genesis and the Song of Songs. In this episode discover: - The root of the Hebrew word "seven" and what that tells us about the days of creation - The significance of Jesus beginning his suffering in a garden - The true age of Isaac when he was nearly sacrificed on Mt. Moriah and the cascade of implications this detail provokes - What other figure in Scripture wore a crown of thorns - The manner in which the priests sacrificed the passover lambs in the Temple and how it parallels Jesus' own self-sacrifice on the cross - Jewish wedding practice and how this informs Our Lord's interactions with Mary Magdalene after His resurrection Freedom in Christ Conference: bit.ly/ficsfa

Matthew's account of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem unleashes a cascade of parallels with the Old Testament. First and foremost, we see Jesus associating Himself with Solomon who rode a mule triumphantly into Jerusalem. The beginning location of our Gospel's royal parade, the Mt. of Olives, echoes battle imagery when seen against its Old Testament backdrop. The use of palm branches has a rich history in Scripture that we'll explore. And, finally, Jesus' actions also align Him with another Old Testament figure, that of Melchizedek who was once himself the King of Jerusalem. In this episode discover: - The Biblical significance of palm branches and their frequent use in royal ceremonies - How our Gospel is a clear parallel with the Old Testament story of Solomon's accession to the throne - The geographic starting point for Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem and how its location fulfills an Old Testament prophecy about God's kingship - Another Biblical occasion when men spread their cloaks on the ground before another - The way in which Jesus' actions subtly link Him to the Old Testament figure of Melchizedek

“Lazarus, come out!” These are the words with which Our Lord raises Lazarus from the dead but they are also the words that in many ways seal his own fate. Following the undeniable miracle of raising a man from the dead, the Pharisees and chief priests no longer stand by but decide to put Our Lord to death. But if Jesus is not conquered by death and neither is Lazarus, then our readings today offer each of us the same hope for the Resurrection. In this episode discover: - The location of the raising of Lazarus and how it reveals the familiarity and friendship that Jesus and Lazarus possessed - How our Gospel provides an answer to the ever-present "problem" of evil - The Jewish view of death that explains why Jesus waits several days before going to Lazarus - What the preternatural gifts are and how they explain the intrinsically disturbing nature of death - The Old Testament prophecy from the Book of Ezekiel that our New Testament miracle fulfills Register for the Freedom in Christ Conference with Dr. Matthew Breuninger at St. Francis of Assisi in West Des Moines: www.bit.ly/ficsfa

Jesus is in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles when He encounters a man who has been blind from birth. Forming clay from the ground to anoint the man's eyes, Jesus then sends him to wash in the ritual pool of Siloam. Rich with meaning we'll expound on the liturgical practices of the Feast of Tabernacles in order to elucidate Our Lord's work and we'll unpack the sacramental theme of John's Gospel to show its connections to Baptism. Finally, we'll look at the purpose of sight from a philosophical perspective in order to contrast the responses of the two parties. In this episode discover: - The Jewish feast that was being observed in Jerusalem at the time when Jesus heals the blind man - The two liturgies which would have been celebrated in the Temple during Jesus' visit and the way in which they shed light on Our Lord's actions - The religious purpose of the Pool of Siloam that makes it a fitting place for the blind man's healing - The seven point outline of John's Gospel and how it connects our story to the sacrament of Baptism - Why Jesus chose to heal the blind man with dirt from the ground and how it connects his healing to the creation of Adam

Jesus is in Samaria at a well when he asks a woman for a drink. What seems on the surface like a simple request for hospitality unfolds into a veritable proposal of love. Surveying the Old Testament instances of a man and a woman at a well uncovers the nuptial overtones of our Gospel and a look at the story of Jacob and Rachel's first meeting displays a manly strength that Jesus Himself will show upon the cross. Finally, we'll employ our first reading for a telling connection with the Eucharist, one which reminds us of the intense love of God and the intense longing with which He desires that we love Him back. In this episode discover: - The three patriarchs whose wives were found at wells - The significance of the woman's midday visit to the well and the probable reason for it - The five peoples that intermarried with the Samaritans and the parallels they hold with the woman's five husbands - The practice of Jewish divorce in the 1st Century and why it likely means that the woman was left (vs. doing the leaving) - The Eucharistic allusions present in our readings and their nuptial overtones

Katie needs to make this episode brief but still wants to give you something special. So, here is the talk she gave on the top of Mt. Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration just two months ago while on pilgrimage in the Holy Land. Yes, it's short but it still covers all the highlights! In this episode discover: - The brief phrase that clearly but subtly links the Transfiguration to Peter's confession at Caesarea Philippi - The obvious parallel between the three men that Jesus brings up the Mount of Transfiguration and the three men that Moses brings up Mt. Sinai - How the Transfiguration is a foreshadowing of and preparation for Calvary - The Biblical and extrabiblical texts that shed light on the significance of Moses and Elijah appearing with Jesus (hint: it has to do with the resurrection) - How the Jewish feast of Tabernacles helps explain Peter's often ridiculed exclamation

Our Gospel today is the story of Jesus' temptation in the desert. There in the wilderness he submits to a threefold enticement corresponding to that from the Garden of Eden, one which also mirrors the threefold concupiscence in 1 John 2:16. We'll discuss the nature of Satan's temptations and the means by which their promises sought to entice Christ. Finally, we'll compare Our Lord's ordeal to the fall of Israel in the desert and the fall of Solomon upon the throne. When seen through the lens of Old Testament texts, we find Christ as the New Adam, the New Israel, and the New Son of David. In this episode we'll look at: - The three Old Testament texts that Jesus quotes in his response to Satan's temptations - The Psalm that Satan quotes in his second temptation of Jesus - The philosophical concept of telos and how it informs a Biblical view of morality - The exact location of the pinnacle of the Temple (where Satan took Jesus) - How Jesus' response to temptation foreshadows his coming in the Eucharist

Our Gospel picks up with the last two antitheses in the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus addresses the prescription of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” as well as the ancient command to love your neighbor but hate your enemy. This Gospel is chock-full of ancient context that we'll bring to light by exploring the cultural background of the sayings. We'll also take at look at what one 21st century Jewish scholar named Jacob Neusner has to say about Jesus' sermon and we'll see how the ramifications of Our Lord's prescriptions may have caused some disciples to abandon Him. In this episode we'll look at: - Why, according to an ancient Jewish text called the Midrash, striking someone on the right cheek was worse than striking them on the left - The value of a tunic versus a cloak according to the Old Testament - a detail which helps us appreciate Jesus' sayings regarding the two - The prevailing law in first century Palestine that allowed Roman soldiers to press Jews into service for up to one mile - The original Greek of our text which reveals Jesus using a telling grammatical construction called the “emphatic I” - What it meant when Matthew says that Jesus taught “as one who had authority”

Our Gospel is a continuation of the Sermon on the Mount. In this section Jesus preaches what are called the six antitheses where he takes the Old Law and elevates it. He takes on the role of Moses, going up the mountain and delivering a new law, one that is better than the old and that fulfills Old Testament prophecies in Ezekiel and Jeremiah that foretell of a law to come that will be written upon the heart. At the end of the day we discover that Christ's call to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees can only be had by docility to the Holy Spirit. In this week's episode discover: - Why scholars refer to this section of the Sermon on the Mount as the “Six Antitheses” - How Jesus is showing himself to be a new Moses - An interesting rabbinic story about the iota in Sarah and Joshua's name that illustrates the point Jesus makes about the iota - The cultural background that prompted Moses to allow for divorce - The Jewish practice called kinnuyim that explains Jesus' words about oath swearing