The Faith Explained with Cale Clarke - Learning the Catholic Faith

If all Israel was a “kingdom of priests”, why do we have a ministerial priesthood in the Catholic Church? Plus: A fun Q&A mailbag question about angels.

God is about to reveal his 10 Commandments to Moses on the holy Mountain. There is thunder, an earthquake, a dark cloud, and fire. A powerful trumpet blast. And all of these things reveal something about exactly who God is.

In the business world, they call it “key man risk”. If a CEO burns out or dies, the whole organization falls apart. That’s what’s happening with Moses: he’s trying to do the work of 10 men, and he’s falling into the devil’s trap of trying to be like God in all the wrong ways.

After plagues and battles, what a relief to see the camp of Israel as a quiet place of family, fellowship, and ordinary life! We, too, must find God in the middle of everyday life...or we’ll never find him at all.

Grumblers want to pass judgment on Moses and stone him to death. Speaking of rocks, God tells Moses to strike a rock. Water pours out for God’s people to drink. St Paul later said, “the rock was Christ”. But what does that mean? Let’s rock and roll!

Have you ever had the experience of failing a test and having to take it over again? In Exodus 17, we see that God sometimes has to “re-test” his children again and again, before they can graduate to the next stage of the spiritual life.

Cale shows how the manna given to the Israelites in Exodus foreshadows the new and far greater “manna” given by Jesus: the Eucharist.

The wilderness was like going to Oxford, Cambridge, or Harvard: a graduate education in the inner life. Test after test from God. This time? It’s hunger. God responds with the Manna and Quail. Will the Israelites learn the lesson that you can’t stockpile grace? It’s doled out daily, on demand, just in time...it’s the “Manna Mentality”.

The parched Israelites attempt to drink the desert waters at Marah, but they prove bitter and brackish. God gives a miraculous tree to make the bitter water sweet. Likewise, the Cross of Jesus Christ makes the bitterness of life endurable—and even sweet—as we share in his sufferings.

Women helped save Moses throughout his life, including his sister Miriam. In the same way, another Miriam—Mary—is there at the key moments of salvation wrought by the new Moses, Jesus Christ.

Cale examines the alleged discovery of Egyptian chariot wheels at the bottom of the Red Sea. Just the (arte) facts, Ma’am!

Before God parts the Red Sea, the pillar of cloud and fire separates the Egyptians from the Israelites. On one side is darkness, and on the other is light. Jesus is the light of the world, and one’s response to him determines whether one lives in spiritual darkness or in the light.

The mighty Egyptian army roars towards the Israelites, who are trapped against the Red Sea. When your back is against the wall (or the water!), God will rise up and act on your behalf, just as he did for Israel.

Some Israelites would rather return to slavery under Pharaoh than serve God in freedom in the wilderness. We’re faced with a similar choice today.

A direct route to the promised land would have only taken 10 days, not 40 years. Why send the people through the wilderness, then? God wanted to both A) humble, and B) test his people. Would they be loyal to him or not? He does the same with us today.

As the people of God are on the road to the Promised Land, Yahweh demands the consecration of the Israelites’ firstborn and first fruits. Why? It’s a reminder that God must be first in every area of our lives, and it’s no less true today.

The terrifying, final plague descends on the Egyptians: the death of the firstborn. Was God unjust, unfair, and unnecessarily cruel in doing this? PLUS: In our Q&A mailbag segment, Cale answers a question about the darkness that descended on the land when Jesus died. Did this really happen?

As Catholics, we treasure the Catechism of the Catholic Church and beloved older versions like the famous Baltimore Catechism. Did you know that Moses basically created the very first Catechism in the book of Exodus? Plus: a listener question about whether or not Mary experienced labor pains when Jesus was born.

On today’s episode of The Exodus Series on The Faith Explained, Cale answers the question of why God institutes two separate feasts: Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The answer? One concerns initial salvation, and the other concerns sanctification: holiness, becoming like God. “Be holy, as I am holy”, says the Lord in the Old Covenant. Jesus says, “Be perfect, as your Heavenly Father is perfect” in the New.

The Israelites must slaughter and consume an unblemished lamb, foreshadowing the sacrifice of the sinless Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. We are likewise commanded to consume his flesh and blood sacramentally in the Eucharist.

The death of the Egyptian firstborn at the stroke of midnight means the tide has turned, and the “gods” of Egypt are decimated. Yahweh has won, and the dawn of his salvation is close at hand.

“Lights Out!” The 9th plague (darkness) is a direct attack on Ra, the Egyptian “sun god”. Only the homes of God’s people have light. We, too, must shine like stars amidst the moral and spiritual darkness of the age, reflecting Christ, the Light of the World.

God doesn’t send the plague of locusts just to “bug” the Egyptians. Moses is reminded to teach the next generations about Yahweh’s deeds of power. In the same way, we must pass on the Catholic faith to the next generation. But, how?

Just for the “hail” of it, Yahweh rains down hailstones on Egypt. He thus reveals himself as the mighty “Storm God” and announces his control over the land of Egypt. For the first time, people are killed by the plagues, but Pharaoh’s heart remains harder than the stones falling from the heavens.

Yahweh reaches directly into Pharaoh’s heart to harden it… Is God taking away his free will? Plus: our Q&A segment addresses the difference between marriage annulments and priests leaving the priesthood.

The 10 plagues continue to pummel the Egyptians, but Pharaoh continues his two-faced, duplicitous ways. We also see how each plague is a direct attack by Yahweh on one of the so-called “gods” of Egypt.

Moses, unbelievably, gives Pharaoh the choice of when the plague of frogs will end. It’s up to him! We also have a choice to be for or against God. St. Augustine says, “The God who created you without you will not save you without you”.

Cale dips into the 10 plagues that God unleashes on the Egyptians. The first two have to do with water. Aaron’s staff turns into a great sea monster, and Moses commands that the Nile be turned into blood. What’s Pharaoh’s reaction? Find out in this episode of the Faith Explained.

In this episode of the Exodus series on The Faith Explained, God says to Moses: “In the past, I revealed myself as ‘God Almighty’ to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ”But now, in revealing himself as the God who 'is' and 'will be', God reveals much more about himself—that he’s with us in the present moment, and in the challenges and experiences of everyday life.

God picks Moses back up after he falls flat on his face with Pharaoh. Not only does Pharaoh not “let God’s people go”, things got even worse for the enslaved Israelites. Find out what God does in response, on this episode of The Faith Explained with Cale Clarke!

On this episode of the Exodus series on The Faith Explained, Moses begins his journey back to Egypt to confront Pharaoh. But on the way, God confronts Moses and tries to kill him! Why on earth would God do this? Ultimately, Moses is saved by the quick thinking and actions of his wife, Zipporah.

God calls Moses to go and speak to Pharaoh. Moses doesn't want to go, and asks God to send someone else. Sometimes we feel the same way, but there are people only we can reach and God will equip us like he equipped Moses.

What’s in a name? What’s in a divine name? There are numerous names for God in the Old Testament, including Yahweh, Jehovah, and the Lord. Where do these come from? It’s all connected to how God reveals Himself in chapter 3 of Genesis. Cale discusses this and more in this episode of the Exodus series on the Faith Explained.

When God spoke to Moses out of the burning bush, we might ask who or what is this angel spoken of? Plus: God says He will send Moses to a land filled with milk and honey, but what kind of milk and honey? Cale discusses this and more on today’s Faith Explained.

God steps onto the “stage” of Exodus and reveals himself to Moses in the wilderness. Moses is charged with leading Israel out of bondage, but suffers from “imposter syndrome”, doubting he’s up for the task. God’s response: “I will be with you.” What more could one ask for?

God steps onto the “stage” of Exodus and reveals himself to Moses in the wilderness. Moses is charged with leading Israel out of bondage, but suffers from “imposter syndrome”, doubting he’s up for the task. God’s response: “I will be with you.” What more could one ask for?

Moses appears on the scene in a tale of failed leadership, violence, and murder. He must go to the wilderness to find salvation. He becomes a savior for the very first time, but it won’t be the last.

In most heroes' journeys, they go from rags to riches, but Moses goes from being on top of the world and from being in Pharaoh's palace to abject poverty out in the wilderness. He must become like his fellow Hebrews. He must become like a slave to lead the slaves out of bondage.

God's power was certainly manifest in the life of Moses. In this episode of The Faith Explained, we see how Moses is saved through water, not in a basket, but in an ark, which prefigures how he leads God's people to salvation through the Red Sea.

On today's episode of the Faith Explained, Cale talks about heroines in the Bible who many people have never heard of: the Hebrew midwives who saved the male children from certain death. Pharaoh tries to strike fear and terror into the hearts of the people, but they strike the fear of God into Pharaoh.

Cale discusses the importance of knowing God. Pharaoh has forgotten the God of Joseph and begins to persecute and enslave the people of God. How does God set them free and reveal Himself to Pharaoh and his people? Find out on this episode of the Faith Explained.

On today’s Faith Explained, Cale begins to take a look at the text of Exodus. God has to establish who He is because to His people, He is the God who wasn’t there. Why are they in slavery, and why hasn’t God answered them? Why is God not acting in their lives as He did in the lives of the patriarchs? God has to reveal who He is and who Moses is.

Cale looks at the question of who wrote the Book of Exodus. Was it Moses or just traditions derived from Moses, or does it even matter, because isn’t it true that God Himself is the author of Scripture? Cale discusses this and what kind of history Exodus is.

In this episode of The Faith Explained, Cale continues his series on the Book of Exodus, focusing on the power and presence of God. God shows His power in getting the Israelites out of Egypt, but then He has to reveal Himself to His people.

In this episode of The Faith Explained, Cale begins a series on the Book of Exodus: The power and presence of God. Getting His people out of Egypt was only half of the story. What happens after that is God reveals who He really is.

Seen at sporting events everywhere, it’s the most famous verse in the Bible: John 3:16. Plus: a Q&A on why priests wear black.

Cale sits down with Kayla Richardson, a convert from Mormonism to Catholicism, who shares about her upbringing in a Mormon family and what led her to the Catholic Church.

Cale looks at the origins of polygamy among early Mormons, including in the life of their founder, Joseph Smith, Jr.

Celestial marriage? Do we remain married to our spouse in heaven? Cale looks at what Mormons believe about the afterlife, including Hell. What do the Scriptures actually say?

What is the Mormon practice of baptism for the dead? What does the Catholic Church teach about baptism? Is it necessary for salvation? Cale looks at three different types of baptism.

Are Mormons Christians? Where do they believe Jesus Christ came from? Cale looks at how to refute the claim that God has a body.