Podcasts about his passion

5/14/25 - Today we examine the extraordinary life of Servant of God Josefa Menendez (1890–1923), a Spanish-born nun of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Though virtually unknown during her lifetime, Josefa was chosen by Christ to be a messenger of His infinite love and mercy, especially for souls trapped in despair. Through interior locutions and mystical experiences, Josefa received intimate revelations from Jesus, who spoke to her heart about the sufferings of His Passion and His burning desire for souls to return to Him. These messages—later compiled in the spiritual classic The Way of Divine Love—present a moving call to reparation, humility, and trust in divine mercy. We'll discuss Josefa's early life, her hidden vocation, and the spiritual battles she endured, including intense temptations and physical suffering. Despite her obscurity and fragile health, she offered everything for the salvation of souls, uniting herself with Christ's redemptive love.

"The son of Zebedee and brother of John, he was one of the Twelve. At the call of the Lord Jesus, he left his fishing nets and his father and, together with John, immediately followed Christ. He was one of the three apostles to whom the Lord revealed the greatest mysteries: before whom He was transfigured on Tabor and before whom He was in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane before His Passion. After receiving the Holy Spirit, he preached the Gospel in various places, going as far as Spain. On his return from Spain, a violent quarrel broke out between the Jews and himself on the Holy Scriptures, and, being unable to withstand him, they hired a magician, Hermogenes. But Hermogenes and Philip his pupil were overcome by the power and truth that James preached, and were baptised. Then the Jews denounced him to Herod, and persuaded one Josias to slander the Apostle. This Josias, seeing James's manly bearing and hearing his clear preaching of the truth, repented and came to faith in Christ. When James was condemned to death, this Josias was also condemned. Mounting the scaffold, Josias begged James's forgiveness for the sin of slander, and James embraced him, kissing him and saying: 'peace be to thee, and forgiveness.' And they both laid their heads under the sword and were beheaded for the sake of the Lord whom they had loved and served. St James suffered in Jerusalem in the year 45. His body was taken to Spain, where to this day miracles of healing are performed at his tomb." (Prologue)   His relics are venerated at his shrine in Compostela, Spain.

In this powerful episode, I sit down with Eddie Maalouf, entrepreneur, marketing genius, and the living proof that who you were doesn't have to define who you become. From betrayal in business that could've shattered him to completely reinventing his identity in college, Eddie shares the pivotal moments that built his resilience and unstoppable drive. We dive deep into the hard lessons he learned building multi-million-dollar companies, the brutal realities of betrayal and trust, and the mindset shifts that turned temporary pain into lifelong power.Eddie opens up about the hardest day of his professional life, the importance of choosing your identity, the power of the law of attraction, and why believing you're "good enough" changes everything. He also shares the wild story of how he met his wife overseas and how trusting his intuition changed his life forever.If you're feeling stuck, doubting your potential, or afraid to take that next step, Eddie's story will move you, challenge you, and remind you: your dream life is a decision away.This one is packed with raw wisdom, real emotion, and practical lessons you don't want to miss.Welcome to one of the most inspiring conversations we've had yet.Key Moments:0:00 The Emotional Story of Eddie's Professional Life5:01 Turning Doubt Into Fuel8:05 Why Money Solves, But Doesn't Fulfill12:30 Loving the Game, Not Just the Reward14:39 Eddie Completely Changed His Life Through Action20:00 How He Manifested Meeting His Wife29:43 How Eddie Dealt with Business Betrayal33:08 The Root of His Passion for Helping People41:00 Scaling Businesses Through Delegation and Top Talent45:58 Eddie's Surprisingly Profitable Side Hustle50:00 Why Top Talent is Everything in Business54:00 The Power of Thinking Bigger, SoonerGuest Info:Instagram: @eddiemaalouf (https://www.instagram.com/eddiemaalouf/)Instagram: @badmarketing (https://www.instagram.com/badmarketing/)Website: https://www.badmarketing.com/-Where to find Tyler Hall: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerchall/ Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/the-tyler-hall-archives-7018241874482122753/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/sirTHALL Work with Tyler: https://www.tylerchristianhall.com/

Service Notes Date: 04/18/2025, Good Friday Description: On this Good Friday evening in 2025, join our little country church as we gather in solemn reflection to behold the suffering of Christ through the prophetic Servant Songs of Isaiah and the Gospel accounts of His Passion. Through Scripture, song, and short reflections, we follow the path […]

The Orthodox Faith has a word describing the Incarnation that saves us all. That word is kenosis which is the self-lowering of the Word of God, by His own will entirely, that we may be raised up again. As we once again set the eyes of our soul to see Him in His Passion tonight, we consider many of the wondrous revelations from the prayer service of the Stations of the Cross showing forth just how far Christ our God lowered himself so that we might Ascend.

Dr. Tom McGovern gives us a medical and spiritual analysis of what Christ suffered during His Passion.

Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!What does true fortitude look like? As we stand at the threshold of the Sacred Triduum, this meditation on Spy Wednesday explores the profound strength demonstrated by Christ during His Passion—not through resistance or escape, but through patient endurance.Drawing from Isaiah's prophecy and St. Luke's Passion account, we contemplate how Jesus maintained remarkable self-mastery amid excruciating suffering. "There is no movement of revolt in Jesus. He does not try to escape. We find in Him no word of hatred toward his persecutors." This challenges our modern understanding of strength, especially for those of us conditioned to equate fortitude with fighting back.The reflection wrestles with a crucial spiritual question: When should we patiently bear our crosses like Christ, and when should we actively resist injustice? This tension becomes particularly relevant within the Church, where obedience to spiritual authorities must sometimes be balanced against other responsibilities. As St. Teresa of Avila reminds us, "If one would attain to liberty of spirit and not be always in trouble, let him begin by not being afraid of the cross and he will see how our Lord will help him to carry it."Through examining Christ's perfect example—facing the most unjust punishment in history without revolt—we're invited to reconsider what spiritual strength truly means. Perhaps real fortitude lies not just in knowing when to fight, but in having the wisdom to discern when patient endurance transforms suffering into redemption. Join us as we prepare our hearts for the sacred days ahead, learning to pray with sincerity: "Help me not to recoil when faced with the cross, and teach me to carry it with generosity."Support the showSponsored by Recusant Cellars, an unapologetically Catholic and pro-life winery from Washington state. Use code BASED25 at checkout for 10% off! https://recusantcellars.com/Also sponsored by Quest Pipe Co. Get your St Isaac Jogues pipe here: https://questpipeco.com/discount/Amish?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fst-isaac-jogues-limited-edition********************************************************Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsxnv80ByFV4OGvt_kImjQ?sub_confirmation=1https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://shop.avoidingbabylon.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rssSpiritusTV: https://spiritustv.com/@avoidingbabylonRumble: https://rumble.com/c/AvoidingBabylon

Dr. Tom McGovern gives us a medical and spiritual analysis of what Christ suffered during His Passion.

Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!Silence speaks volumes during Holy Week. As we journey through the sacred days leading to Easter, today's reflection invites us to contemplate Christ's profound silence during His Passion—a silence that bewildered even Pilate. Unlike the bitter silence of resentment, Jesus' quiet demeanor flowed from a soul completely immersed in God, drawing strength for His ultimate sacrifice.The meditation reveals a beautiful paradox: while Jesus bore the weight of humanity's sins in silence, He also offered us the gift of hope. "He that hath walked in darkness and hath no light, let him hope in the name of the Lord and lean upon his God." This invitation to hope comes alongside a challenge to embrace silence ourselves during this holiest of weeks.Reflecting on our spiritual journey, we confront an uncomfortable truth—how noise has gradually invaded the baptismal silence where God once dwelled undisturbed in our souls. For some, the challenge lies in excessive talking; for others, it's the compulsive filling of every moment with digital stimulation, podcasts, or scrolling that prevents true silence from taking root. Nature often provides the first gateway back to this original silence, creating space where prayer can flourish without distraction.As we prepare for the Triduum, consider embracing one of today's resolutions: seek silence, reflect before speaking, incorporate brief prayers throughout your day, or plan a silent retreat in the coming year. These small steps toward reclaiming sacred silence might just be what allows us to hear the gentle voice of God once more. Join us tomorrow for Spy Wednesday as we explore the virtue of fortitude before entering the most solemn days of the Christian calendar.Support the showSponsored by Recusant Cellars, an unapologetically Catholic and pro-life winery from Washington state. Use code BASED25 at checkout for 10% off! https://recusantcellars.com/Also sponsored by Quest Pipe Co. Get your St Isaac Jogues pipe here: https://questpipeco.com/discount/Amish?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fst-isaac-jogues-limited-edition********************************************************Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsxnv80ByFV4OGvt_kImjQ?sub_confirmation=1https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://shop.avoidingbabylon.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rssSpiritusTV: https://spiritustv.com/@avoidingbabylonRumble: https://rumble.com/c/AvoidingBabylon

Reigning Through Love: Jesus' True Model of Leadership in Holy Week Today the Church marks the beginning of the celebration of the Paschal Mysteries . . . . . . Christ's suffering, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It emphasizes two key themes from the Gospel of Luke: -1- Jesus as a Humble King: Unlike worldly leaders who often seek power at the expense of others, Jesus demonstrates a kingship rooted in humility, love, and self-sacrifice. His leadership resonates with the hearts of the people, offering them hope and salvation. -2- Jesus' Innocence and the Eucharistic Kingdom: Luke highlights Jesus' innocence repeatedly throughout His Passion. From Pilate, Herod, a repentant thief, and a Roman centurion—all recognize His blamelessness. Despite being unjustly condemned, Jesus offers Himself through the Eucharist, declaring, “This is my body… this is my blood.” His innocent sacrifice brings redemption to all. We are reminded that true leadership mirrors Christ . . . leading with compassion and integrity. And ultimately, our salvation lies not in our own righteousness but in the innocent sacrifice of Jesus. Listen to this Meditation Media. Listen to: Reigning Through Love: Jesus' True Model of Leadership in Holy Week ----------------------------------------------------------- image: Behold the Man: Ecce Homo: Hungarian Painter: Mihály Munkácsy: 1896

Today, we join the entire Church with Jesus Christ to begin Holy Week. Today is referred to at the day of the triumphal entry into the ancient city of Jerusalem, where Jesus would triumph over sin and death. For Him to triumph over death, He needed to die. Only then, would He resurrect. Let us join Him with the entire Church in this swing of His Passion, usually referred to as His Paschal Mystery. This is about His undergoing His passion, death and resurrection, from Holy Thursday to Saturday's Easter Vigil.

Our dear Lord is at the doorstep of Holy Week, i.e., the commencement of His Passion and death on the Cross. His sentiments and thoughts center on His mission to accomplish, and that is to save mankind, all men and women, from the beginning of time to the end of time. So many souls to save! So many also who would reject His plea to conversion! So much pain, sorrow, sadness, etc. Anyhow, He proceeds. He knows and wills that everyone become part of His Family, the family of the Blessed Trinity. He wants to gather everyone together as His children. But first He needs to face His Passion. We accompany Him, with our own Calvary of sorts, because only by passing through death can we resurrect with our Savior!

A great spiritual master of our time, Fr. Donald Haggerty, joins the podcast to discuss his important new book, The Hour of Testing: Spiritual Depth and Insight in a Time of Ecclesial Uncertainty. He offers profound reflections on the ongoing, and perhaps future, crisis within the Church, with an eye to arousing an appetite for the greater spiritual intensity God desires his faithful to live out in this time. It is essential that we see that our Lord Himself is reliving His Passion in His Mystical Body, when the Church suffers betrayal and humiliation at a high institutional level. It is also essential that we see the high stakes in the great loss of souls in this time, so that we may be spurred to a deeper and more sacrificial prayer life. Fr. Haggerty offers spiritual sobriety and counsels for holiness that should not be missed. Buy The Hour of Testing https://ignatius.com/the-hour-of-testing-htp/ DONATE to make this show possible! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio SIGN UP for Catholic Culture's newsletter: https://www.catholicculture.org/newsletters

Passiontide opens up a period for us to reflect on all that Our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us, including above all His Passion. We have two sources to meditate upon: the Gospel accounts of Christ's suffering and His holy relic, the Shroud of Turin. It is the Shroud that reveals the extent of Our Lord's physical suffering—suffering that He undertook for the salvation of our souls.

When Jesus told Peter that His Passion was necessary to fulfill the Scriptures for our salvation, He might well have had Psalm 22 in mind! The transcription for this Podcast can be found at https://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/Psalm-22-and-scripture.html Public Domain notice for the thumbnail artwork

Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!The paradox of Christian suffering stands at the heart of our Lenten journey. Through Christ's prediction of His Passion, we confront a profound spiritual reality: suffering, while an evil in itself, becomes transformative when embraced for the right purpose.Our natural instinct rebels against pain. Modern society encourages us to eliminate all discomfort, creating what we might call an "effeminate" mindset—not feminine, but comfort-seeking and pain-avoiding. Yet Christ's invitation remains unchanged: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." This call often confounds us as much as it did the apostles who abandoned Jesus despite His clear warnings.Navigating between extremes helps us understand suffering's true purpose. On one hand, prosperity gospel teachings suggest Christians shouldn't suffer because Christ suffered for them—missing our participation in redemption. On the other, Catholics can sometimes appear to value suffering for its own sake, which misses the point entirely. As Father Troadec reminds us, suffering "does not deserve to be loved for its own sake" but only as a means to "the redemption and sanctification of souls." This transforms our trials from meaningless pain into spiritual currency, for "souls are not given away. They are bought at the price of suffering."Perhaps most practically, today's meditation challenges us to stop complaining—especially about trivial matters like weather—while fellow Christians worldwide face genuine persecution. Our complaints reveal our rejection of the Cross rather than its embrace. By accepting small sufferings without grumbling, we train ourselves for weightier crosses ahead and participate in Christ's redemptive work. What suffering might you offer up today for the salvation of souls?Support the showSponsored by Recusant Cellars, an unapologetically Catholic and pro-life winery from Washington state. Use code BASED25 at checkout for 10% off! https://recusantcellars.com/Also sponsored by Quest Pipe Co. Get your St Isaac Jogues pipe here: https://questpipeco.com/discount/Amish?redirect=%2Fproducts%2Fst-isaac-jogues-limited-edition********************************************************Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsxnv80ByFV4OGvt_kImjQ?sub_confirmation=1https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://shop.avoidingbabylon.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rssSpiritusTV: https://spiritustv.com/@avoidingbabylonRumble: https://rumble.com/c/AvoidingBabylon

Lent is a season of reflection, repentance, and renewal, but it's also a time when distractions and temptations can seem to multiply. As we prepare to walk with Christ through His Passion and Resurrection, let's talk about how we can stay focused and faithful during this sacred time.Let's dive into overcoming common distractions, understanding temptation during Lent, practical tips for staying committed and of course, finding strength in community.We'd love to continue to walk with you every Tuesday LIVE in our Member Community: connect.blessedisshe.net. Let's support each other in growing closer to Christ and becoming more focused, faithful, and resilient this season.

We appreciate from the Gospel today the imagery of a wedding feast that Jesus employs to illustrate why there was a certain difference in behavior between the Pharisees and Jesus' disciples. The matter was about fasting. The Jews fasted periodically, while Jesus' disciples did not fast. Jesus uses the wedding feast as the justification for His disciples' not fasting. Can they fast when the bridegroom is with them? Then, He introduces a detail one would not normally expect. Bridegrooms are not taken away. They leave the feast with their wives. But Jesus claims that the groom is taken away. When that takes place, the disciples will fast. Our blessed Lord uses an imagery used in the Old Testament, where a wedding feast is used to describe the Messiah having come to be with His people. He is Emmanuel. The people of God and His Messiah are united in a wedding feast, so to speak. But then the groom will be taken away. This alludes to His being captured and made to undergo His Passion and Death on the Cross.

Read OnlineJesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Luke 9:22Jesus knew He would suffer greatly, be rejected and killed. How would you deal with that knowledge if you somehow knew this about your own future? Most people would be filled with fear and become obsessed with trying to avoid it. But not our Lord. This passage above shows just how intent He was on embracing His Cross with unwavering confidence and courage.This is just one of several times that Jesus began to break the news to His disciples about His pending fate. And each time He spoke this way, the disciples for the most part remained either silent or in denial. Recall, for example, one such reaction of Saint Peter when he responded to Jesus' prediction of His Passion by saying, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you” (Matthew 16:22).In reading this passage above, the strength, courage and determination of our Lord shine through by the fact that He speaks so clearly and definitively. And what motivates Jesus to speak with such conviction and courage is His love.Too often, “love” is understood as a strong and good feeling. It's perceived as an attraction to something or a strong liking of it. But that's not love in the truest form. True love is a choice to do what is best for another, no matter the cost, no matter how difficult. True love is not a feeling that seeks selfish fulfillment. True love is an unwavering strength that seeks only the good of the person who is loved.Jesus' love for humanity was so strong that He was driven toward His pending death with great power. He was unwaveringly determined to sacrifice His life for us all, and there was nothing that would ever deter Him from that mission.In our own lives, it's easy to lose sight of what true love actually is. We can easily become caught up in our own selfish desires and think that these desires are love. But they are not. Reflect, today, upon the unwavering determination of our Lord to sacrificially love us all by suffering greatly, by enduring rejection, and by dying upon the Cross. Nothing could have ever deterred Him from this love. We must show the same sacrificial love. My loving Lord, I thank You for Your unwavering commitment to sacrifice Yourself for us all. I thank You for this unfathomable depth of true love. Give me the grace I need, dear Lord, to turn away from all forms of selfish love so as to imitate and participate in Your most perfect sacrificial love. I do love You, dear Lord. Help me to love You and others with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Pietro della Vecchia, Public domain, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2025 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

We Abide in His Passion

What is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and why did Jesus give this most powerful prayer to St. Faustina? What promises did he make for salvation to all who would pray it? Learn all about how you can say this prayer to implore God's mercy on mankind, the dying, and all sinners by meditating on the merits of His Passion.Become a Marian Helper!Discover more about the Catholic faith on Divine Mercy Plus! 

Every episode in 2024 was such a joy to chat with each person as we talked about how their top 5 CliftonStrengths are showing up in their work, life and relationships. Here is a quick flyover of a some of them you might like to listen to or share with a friend!  # 149 Sisters Celebrating Strengths as Moms with Claire Culwell and Rachel Buchanan #143 Connecting with My Big Brother: Exploring Strengths with Doug Griffes   #137Jesse and Tricia  Marcos  # 138 Soloman and Jamie Wang #147 Tim Casteel  #160 Journey to the Likeness of Jesus with Cheryl Fletcher  #169 Nothing is Wasted with Davey Blackburn #159 Friends in Life, Work and Loss with Katherine Thorwalson and Madison Bowen #168 Stepping Up to Use Her Voice to Bring Hope to  Students with Racheal Mwale #165 An Adventurous Learner in Life and Work with Anabel Jamail  #151 Compelling Passions in Her Writing and Counseling with Christine Kaskow #158 Leveraging Her Strengths: Counseling, Caring and Transforming Lives with Cricket Berlin #167 Guiding Women to Treasure their Sacred Story with Laura Wilcox #146 Bringing Genunie Joy and Care Every Day with Ophelia Chafagouline  #134 Leading with His Passion for People with Brett Marcos #144 Creatingh with Purpose with Hannah Hamza  #148 Embracing God's Goodness in the Unexpected with Gayle Clark Find out your strengths by taking the CliftonStrengths Top 5 Assessment   Workshops and Coaching with Barbara Culwell Subscribe & Leave a Review on Embrace Your Strengths

Pastor Christina preaches through Matthew 26 and shows how Jesus exemplified godly obedience in the Garden of Gethsemane as well as throughout His Passion. Obedience means choosing to submit to and trust God's heart. Christina explains how obedience means choosing to be faithful and submitted in the mundane and in the painful. She finishes the message by challenging us that Christ's obedience calls for us to obey Him. How do we do this? Christina teaches that obedience truly begins with knowing the heart of God and abiding there.

Pastor Christina preaches through Matthew 26 and shows how Jesus exemplified godly obedience in the Garden of Gethsemane as well as throughout His Passion. Obedience means choosing to submit to and trust God's heart. Christina explains how obedience means choosing to be faithful and submitted in the mundane and in the painful. She finishes the message by challenging us that Christ's obedience calls for us to obey Him. How do we do this? Christina teaches that obedience truly begins with knowing the heart of God and abiding there.

We've all sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The cross is the answer to the problem of sin! And through faith in Christ, we can experience life everlasting. This good news is front and center today here in part two of, His Passion- the Crucifixion. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/621/29

Jesus Watches You Use Your Special Gifts to Build Up His Church: Parable of the Talents In the liturgy, we hear words of finality. Today we hear the end of St. Matthew's Gospel during weekday Masses. During Ordinary Time throughout the year, we engage the public ministry of Our Lord. We do so in three ways. The Church begins by hearing about His public ministry by reading the Gospel of St. Mark. When this is concluded, we move to how St. Matthew presents the public ministry of Jesus. We then move from St. Matthew to St. Luke. The Church reads then Luke's account of Jesus' public ministry. Hear more within the Homily. In today's Gospel, we hear of one of Jesus' last teachings just before His Passion. It brings an end to His public ministry. This teaching is a capstone, and a reminder of what Jesus is teaching to all of us. Before His Passion, he concludes His public ministry with the parable of the talents. Finality Our own lives have a finality too! It's a simple fact that our lives on earth will also come to an end. At that time, we all must face an accounting of our lives. No one can escape this fact. The Lord in the Gospel is not simply giving a parable of responsibly using what one has! No, it's a lesson that is deeper than that! The context of the lesson is Life Has Been Given. One also has been given a finite number of days. Sooner or later, the days we have on earth come to an end. When that moment arrives, there is a moment when an accounting occurs. Hear more in the Homily. A Gift from the Holy Spirit Each person is given a treasure of goodness to put to work in the world. We all have unique gifts given by God. The Holy Spirit has given each of us individually, not only a gift we can enjoy, but a gift for the building of God's Church. How Will We Account For it? Listen to this Meditation Media. Listen to: Jesus Watches You Use Your Special Gifts to Build Up His Church --------------------------------- Images: Parable of the Talents Etching: Dutch Painter and Artist: Jan Luyken: (l: 1649-1712) --------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Matthew: 25: 14-30 First Reading: 1 Cor: 1: 26-31

"The Church on Earth," otherwise known as "The Church Militant," is the historic idea of God's own people, spiritually prepared and armed, who will resist and eventually overcome evil. We find early instructions for Israel to live this reality in Moses' parting speech in Deuteronomy 4. Ephesians sees righteous living as a manifestation of these same promises for God to empower His people against demonic forces of evil. And Jesus Himself embodies that power that routinely overcomes evil through His healing ministry as well as His Passion. For us today facing these same forces of evil, there is nothing stronger than offering prayer in the Spirit with fervor and faith. May we find these examples and exhortations encouraging in our lifelong struggle against evil. Readings: Deuteronomy 4:1-9; Psalm 15; Ephesians 6:10-20; Mark 7:1-23

In the middle of the horrific treatment that Jesus endured during His Passion, I found one of the silliest statements I have ever read in the Bible! But it's a silliness that could easily apply to you and me still today.  You may also be interested in these related blog posts: The silence and the words of Jesus during this sham trial—Eloquent Silence and Respectful Boldness Some more thoughts about God's rules versus man's traditions—What Are Rules For? and Use The Right Term Check out my blog, my other podcasts, my books, and so much more at http://linktr.ee/craigtowens  ►► Would you please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry? My Patreon supporters get behind-the-scenes access to exclusive materials. ◀︎◀︎

Mark 10-28-34-Psalm 68-Isaiah 50-Psalm 23--Our Assured Reward at Christ's Expense- Outline-I. Christ assures His people of their reward-II. Christ's reward is based in His Passion

Mark 10-28-34-Psalm 68-Isaiah 50-Psalm 23--Our Assured Reward at Christ's Expense- Outline-I. Christ assures His people of their reward-II. Christ's reward is based in His Passion

Mark 10:28-34Psalm 68Isaiah 50Psalm 23Our Assured Reward at Christ's Expense: OutlineI. Christ assures His people of their rewardII. Christ's reward is based in His Passion

Tuesday, 23 July 2024   And Jacob begot Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ. Matthew 1:16   “And Jacob begot Joseph, the husband of Mary, from whom birthed Jesus, being called the Christ” (CG).   The previous verse ended with, “and Matthan begot Jacob.” The genealogy of Jesus now continues with, “And Jacob begot Joseph.”   The name Joseph has a dual meaning. It is derived from yasaph, to add. However, it is also connected to asaph, to take away or remove. Both were on the mind of Rachel when she bore Joseph –   “Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived and bore a son, and said, ‘God has taken away [asaph] my reproach.' 24 So she called his name Joseph, and said, ‘The Lord shall add [yasaph] to me another son.'” Genesis 30:22-24   Thus, the name means Increaser, or He Shall Add. But it has a secondary intended meaning of Remover, or He Shall Take Away. This Joseph recorded in Matthew is begotten of Jacob, his natural father. Joseph is the husband of Mary. It is through Joseph, the father, that the right to the kingly line of David is established.   Both Matthew and Luke acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ. However, the genealogy of Luke does not read the same as Matthew. Rather, it says, “Now Jesus Himself began His ministry at about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli...” (Luke 3:23).   This seems to throw a monkey wrench into Jesus' lineage. However, Luke 1 & 2, establish that Joseph is not the natural father of Jesus. Rather, Jesus was begotten of God as indicated in Luke 1 –   “And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.'” Luke 1:35   Both Matthew's and Luke's genealogies were compiled before the destruction of the temple. Therefore, what was recorded was verifiable at that time. With this in mind, Bengel provides a list of assertions to be considered the details of the explanations for these assertions are quite extensive but are necessary to obtain a right understanding of what is going on in the two genealogies.   Only the key points will be included. Any removal of content is without providing ellipses, and so for a more thorough understanding of Bengel's comments, such as verse references and citations, refer to his commentary –   ---------------------------------------------   Messias or Christ is the Son of David.   This is admitted by all.   Even in their genealogies both Matthew and Luke teach that Jesus is the Christ.   This is clear from Matthew 1:16, and Luke 3:22.   III. At the time when Matthew and Luke wrote the descent of Jesus from David had been placed beyond doubt.   Both Matthew and Luke wrote before the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, when the full genealogy of the house of David, preserved in the public records, was easily accessible to all: and our Lord's adversaries did not ever make any objection, when Jesus was so frequently hailed as the Son of David.   The genealogy in St Matthew from Abraham, and that in St Luke from the creation of man, to Joseph the husband of Mary, is deduced, not through mothers but fathers, and those natural fathers.   This is evident in the case of all those ancestors, whose names St Matthew and St Luke repeat from the Old Testament. Wherefore it is not said, whether Ruth had been the wife of Mahlon or Chilion; but Obed is simply said to be the son of his real father Boaz by Ruth [though his legal father was Mahlon.] From Abraham to David the same ancestors are evidently mentioned by both Matthew and Luke; so that there can be no doubt but that both Evangelists intend not mothers but fathers, and those, fathers by nature, from David to Joseph. Thus, in the books of Kings and Chronicles, as often soever as the mother of a king is mentioned alone, it is a sign that he whom her son is said to have immediately succeeded was his natural father.   The genealogy in Matthew from Solomon, and that in Luke from Nathan, is brought down to Joseph, not with the same, but with a different view[respectu, relation, regard.]   This is clear from the preceding section.   Jesus Christ was the Son of Mary, but not of her husband Joseph.   This is evident from Matthew 1:16.   VII. It was necessary that the genealogy of Mary should be drawn out.   Without the genealogy of Mary, the descent of Jesus from David could not be proved, as follows from what has just been said.   VIII. Joseph was for some time reputed to be the father of the Lord Jesus.   The mystery of the Redeemer's birth from a virgin was not made known at once, but by degrees; and, in the meanwhile, the honourable title of marriage was required as a veil for that mystery. Jesus, therefore, was believed to be the Son of Joseph, for instance, after His baptism, by Philip (John 1:45); in the time of His public preaching, by the inhabitants of Nazareth (Luke 4:22; Matthew 13:55), and only a year before His Passion by the Jews (John 6:42). Many still clung to this opinion even after our Lord's Ascension, and up to the time, therefore, when, a few years subsequently to that event, St Matthew wrote his gospel.   It was therefore necessary that the genealogy of Joseph also should in the meanwhile exist.   It was necessary that all those who believed Jesus to be the Son of Joseph, should be convinced that Joseph was descended from David. Otherwise they could not have acknowledged Jesus to be the Son of David, and consequently could not acknowledge Him to be the Christ. When therefore the angel first appeared to Joseph, and commanded him to take unto him his wife, he called him (Matthew 1:20) the Song of Solomon of David: because, forsooth, the Son of Mary would for a time have to bear that name as if derived from Joseph. In like manner, not only was Jesus in truth the first-born (Luke 2:7; Luke 2:23) of His mother, but it behoved also that He should be reputed to be the first-born of Joseph: those, therefore, who are called the brethren of Jesus, were His first cousins, not His half-brothers. It is needless to attempt, as some have done, to prove the consanguinity of Joseph and Mary from their marriage: for even if David be their nearest common ancestor, St Matthew's object is attained. St Matthew then has traced the genealogy of Joseph, but still so as to do no violence to truth: for he does not say that Jesus is the Son of Joseph, but he does say that He was the Son of Mary; and in this very sixteenth verse he intimates, that this genealogy of Joseph, which had its use for a time, would afterwards become obsolete. Mary's descent from David was equally well known at that time, as appears from St Luke.   Either Matthew gives the genealogy of Mary, and Luke that of Joseph; or Matthew that of Joseph, and Luke that of Mary.   This clearly follows from the preceding sections.   The genealogy in Matthew is that of Joseph; in Luke, that of Mary.   St Matthew traces the line of descent from Abraham to Jacob: he expressly states that Jacob begat Joseph, and expressly calls Joseph the husband of Mary. Joseph therefore is regarded throughout this genealogy as the descendant of those who are enumerated, not on Mary's account, but on his own. Matthew, indeed, expressly contradistinguishes Joseph from Mary as the son of Jacob; but in St Luke, by a less strict mode of expression, Heli (Luke 3:23) is simply placed after Joseph. Since, then, Joseph is described in Matthew as actually the son of Jacob, St Luke cannot mean to represent him as actually the son of Heli. The only alternative which remains, therefore, is to conclude that he is the son of Heli, not in his own person, but by virtue of another, and that other his wife. Mary, then, is the daughter of Heli. The Jewish writers mention a certain מרים בת עלי, Mary, the daughter of Heli, whom they describe as suffering extreme torments in the infernal regions. St Luke does not, however, name Mary in his genealogy; for it would have sounded ill, especially to Jewish ears, had he written “Jesus was the Son of Mary, the daughter of Heli, the son of Matthat,” etc.—on which account he names the husband of Mary, but that in such a manner that all may be able to understand (from the whole of his first and second chapters), that the name of Mary's husband stands for that of Mary herself.   XII. That in St Luke is the primary, that in St Matthew the secondary genealogy.   When a genealogy is traced through female as well as male ancestors, any descent may be deduced in many ways from one root; whereas a pedigree, traced simply from father to son, must of necessity consist only of a single line. In the genealogy, however, of Jesus Christ, Mary, His mother, is reckoned with His male ancestors, by a claim of incomparable precedence. In an ordinary pedigree ancestors are far more important than ancestresses. Mary, however, enters this genealogy with a peculiar and unrivalled claim, above that of every ancestor whatever of the whole human race; for whatever Jesus derived from the stock of man—of Abraham, or of David—that He derived entirely from His mother. This is the One Seed of Woman without Man. Other children owe their birth partly to their father, partly to their mother. The genealogy of Mary, therefore, which is given in St Luke, is the primary one. Nor can that of Joseph, in St Matthew, be considered otherwise than secondary, and merely employed for the time, until all should become fully convinced, that Jesus was the Son of Mary, but not of Joseph. St Matthew mentions Jechoniah, although he is passed by in the primary genealogy.   XIII. Whatever difficulty yet remains regarding this whole matter, so far from weakening, should even confirm our faith.   The stock of David had, in the time of Jesus of Nazareth, dwindled down to so small a number (see Revelation 22:16), that on this ground also the appellation “Song of Solomon of David” was used by Antonomasia[21] for “The Messiah.” And that family consisted so exclusively of Jesus and His relatives, that any one who knew Him to belong to it could not fail, even without the light of faith, to acknowledge Him as the Messiah, since the period foretold by the prophets for His manifestation had already arrived, and none of our Lord's relations could be compared with Himself. Our Lord's descent, therefore, from the race of David, as well as His birth at Bethlehem, were less publicly known; nay, rather He was in some degree veiled, as it were, by the name of Nazarene, that faith might not lose its price. And thus men, having been first induced on other grounds to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, concluded, on the same grounds, that He must be the Son of David. The necessary public documents, however, were in existence, whence it came to pass, that the chief priests, though employing every means against our Lord, never questioned His descent from David. Nay, even the Romans received much information concerning the Davidical descent of Jesus. Of old the facility with which His descent could be traced, showed Jesus to be the Son of David: now the very difficulty of so doing (caused as it is by the destruction of Jerusalem, and all the public records which it contained), affords a proof, against the Jews at least, that the Messiah must long since have come. Should they acknowledge any other as the Messiah, they must ascertain his descent from David in precisely the same manner that we do that of Jesus of Nazareth. As light, however, advanced, the aspect of the question has not a little changed. Jesus was called, on various occasions, “The Son of David,” by the multitude, by the blind men, by the woman of Canaan: but He never declared to His disciples that He was the Son of David, and they, in their professions of faith, called Him, not “The Son of David,” but “The Son of God;” He invited, also, those who called Him the Son of David, to advance further. In the first instance our Lord's descent from David was rather a ground of faith, afterwards it became rather an obstacle to faith. No difficulty can now be a hinderance to them that believe.—See 2 Corinthians 5:16. Jesus is the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.   XIV. Matthew and Luke combine ulterior objects and advantages with the genealogy.   If the Evangelists had merely wished to show that Mary and also Joseph were descended from David, it would have been sufficient for their purpose, had they, taking the genealogies as they exist in the Old Testament for granted, commenced at the point where these conclude, namely, with Zorobabel, or at any rate with David himself, and traced the line through Nathan or Solomon down to Jesus Christ. St Matthew, however, begins further off, viz. with Abraham, and descends through David and Solomon. St Luke, on the other hand, ascends to Nathan and David, and thence beyond Abraham to the first origin of the human race. Each of them, therefore, must have had at the same time a further object in view.   St Luke, as is evident at first sight, makes a full recapitulation and summary of the lineage of the whole human race, and exhibits with that lineage the Saviour's consanguinity to all Gentiles, as well as Jews: St Matthew, writing to the Hebrews, begins with Abraham, thus reminding them of the promise which had been made to that Patriarch. Again, St Luke simply enumerates the whole series, through more than seventy steps, without addition or comment: whereas St Matthew, besides several remarkable observations which he introduces in particular cases concerning the wives and brothers of those whom he mentions, and the Babylonian Captivity, divides the whole series into three periods; and, as we shall presently consider, enumerates in each of these periods fourteen generations. And hence, also, we perceive the convenience of the descent in Matthew, and the ascent in Luke: for in this manner the former was enabled more conveniently to introduce those observations and divisions; the latter, to avoid the stricter word ἐγέννησε, begat, and take advantage of the formula ὡς ἐνομίζετο, as was supposed, and in an exquisite manner to conclude the whole series with God.—ὁ λεγόμενος Χριστός, who is called Christ) St Matthew is dealing with the Jewish reader, who is to be convinced that Jesus is the Christ, by such means as His genealogy. And accordingly he here and there [throughout his Gospel] expresses and establishes what the other Evangelists take for granted. The force of the name Christ recalls especially the promise given to David concerning the Kingdom of the Messiah: and the force of the name Jesus recalls especially the promise given to Abraham concerning the Blessing.   ---------------------------------------------   As for Joseph, he is next called “the husband of Mary.”   This is fully established in the gospel records. The name Mary, from the Hebrew Miriam, may mean Obstinacy (Stubbornness), Beloved, Myrrh, or something else, depending on the root word. Matthew next says, “from whom birthed Jesus.”   The name Jesus is from the Hebrew name Yeshua. It means Salvation. Mary is the human mother of Jesus and, as Bengel rightly notes, Jesus' humanity comes wholly from her. He is the Seed of the Woman. His father is God and as His mother is human, and as all things reproduce after their own kind as indicated in Genesis 1, then Jesus is the God/Man.   As sin travels to offspring from the human father, then Jesus is the fulfillment of the sign of circumcision. He is the One to “cut” the transfer of sin from father to child because He is the sinless Son of God. Thus, Matthew next says, “being called the Christ.”   The verb is a present participle. He is and always will be the Christ, meaning “the Anointed One.” The word has the same meaning as the Hebrew word Messiah. God Anointed Jesus to be the Savior of the world, a role He fulfilled in His earthly ministry.   Life application: All hail the name of Jesus.   Lord God, You have done great things for us. Thank You for coming in the Person of Jesus Christ to restore us to Yourself. All praise, glory, and honor belong to You. Amen.

These Invocations to the Precious Blood of Jesus can be short prayers or one long prayer of tribute to our Lord in His Passion and plea for His mercy. The transcription for this podcast can be found at https://www.ourcatholicprayers.com/invocations-to-the-precious-blood.html ADDITIONAL LINKS OF INTEREST: Prayers to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Aspirations (Short Prayers)  

Get ready for an exhilarating conversation with Kristhyan Benitez, a Grammy-winning concert pianist and esteemed Steinway Artist known for his mastery of Latin American music, for our upcoming episode!In our discussion, we delved into Kristhyan's impressive career accomplishments, exploring his numerous stellar awards and recognitions, and examining how his diverse identity shapes his creative journey.In this revealing interview, we'll touch upon✅ Kristhyan's critically acclaimed third studio album, "Latin American Classics," which clinched the Latin Grammy for "Best Classical Album" in 2021.✅ His Passion for Piano Exploration through Improvisation: insights into his creative process when approaching improvisation in both studio and live settings.✅ Collaborations with Renowned Figures, Spanning from Legendary Conductors to Latin American Music Icons.✅ The Influence of Identity Complexity on Artistic Expression and Career Trajectory.✅ His exciting venture with his alter-ego, "Benitez," experimenting with electro-acoustic music.And much more!

On Palm Sundays, there are two services joined together as one. On this day we have the Blessing of the Palms and the Gospel is read regarding Christ's entrance into Jerusalem to go to His Passion. And in the Mass of the day, one of the Passion Gospels is read. So we have something festive and something sorrowful all at once set before us. The Jews welcomed Jesus crying out Hosanna which means "save us." But they misunderstood the salvation Christ came to offer all, for it was not an earthly but an eternal salvation He came to grant to us all. But we know why He entered Jerusalem. So we do rejoice rightly. But at the same time, we cry out "save us" from humble hearts knowing our need for mercy; the mercy His blood would be shed to eternally pour over every one of us.

"The son of Zebedee and brother of John, he was one of the Twelve. At the call of the Lord Jesus, he left his fishing nets and his father and, together with John, immediately followed Christ. He was one of the three apostles to whom the Lord revealed the greatest mysteries: before whom He was transfigured on Tabor and before whom He was in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane before His Passion. After receiving the Holy Spirit, he preached the Gospel in various places, going as far as Spain. On his return from Spain, a violent quarrel broke out between the Jews and himself on the Holy Scriptures, and, being unable to withstand him, they hired a magician, Hermogenes. But Hermogenes and Philip his pupil were overcome by the power and truth that James preached, and were baptised. Then the Jews denounced him to Herod, and persuaded one Josias to slander the Apostle. This Josias, seeing James's manly bearing and hearing his clear preaching of the truth, repented and came to faith in Christ. When James was condemned to death, this Josias was also condemned. Mounting the scaffold, Josias begged James's forgiveness for the sin of slander, and James embraced him, kissing him and saying: 'peace be to thee, and forgiveness.' And they both laid their heads under the sword and were beheaded for the sake of the Lord whom they had loved and served. St James suffered in Jerusalem in the year 45. His body was taken to Spain, where to this day miracles of healing are performed at his tomb." (Prologue)   His relics are venerated at his shrine in Compostela, Spain.

"The son of Zebedee and brother of John, he was one of the Twelve. At the call of the Lord Jesus, he left his fishing nets and his father and, together with John, immediately followed Christ. He was one of the three apostles to whom the Lord revealed the greatest mysteries: before whom He was transfigured on Tabor and before whom He was in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane before His Passion. After receiving the Holy Spirit, he preached the Gospel in various places, going as far as Spain. On his return from Spain, a violent quarrel broke out between the Jews and himself on the Holy Scriptures, and, being unable to withstand him, they hired a magician, Hermogenes. But Hermogenes and Philip his pupil were overcome by the power and truth that James preached, and were baptised. Then the Jews denounced him to Herod, and persuaded one Josias to slander the Apostle. This Josias, seeing James's manly bearing and hearing his clear preaching of the truth, repented and came to faith in Christ. When James was condemned to death, this Josias was also condemned. Mounting the scaffold, Josias begged James's forgiveness for the sin of slander, and James embraced him, kissing him and saying: 'peace be to thee, and forgiveness.' And they both laid their heads under the sword and were beheaded for the sake of the Lord whom they had loved and served. St James suffered in Jerusalem in the year 45. His body was taken to Spain, where to this day miracles of healing are performed at his tomb." (Prologue)   His relics are venerated at his shrine in Compostela, Spain.

Readings: Acts 3:13–15, 17–19 Psalm 4:2, 4, 7–9 1 John 2:1–5 Luke 24:35–48 Jesus in today's Gospel teaches His apostles how to interpret the Scriptures. He tells them that all the Scriptures of what we now call the Old Testament refer to Him. He says that all the promises found in the Old Testament have been fulfilled in His Passion, death, and Resurrection. And He tells them that these Scriptures foretell the mission of the Church—to preach forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem. In today's First Reading and Epistle, we see the beginnings of that mission. And we see the apostles interpreting the Scriptures as Jesus taught them to. God has brought to fulfillment what He announced beforehand in all the prophets, Peter preaches. His sermon is shot through with Old Testament images. He evokes Moses and the Exodus, in which God revealed himself as the ancestral God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Exodus 3:6, 15). He identifies Jesus as Isaiah's suffering servant who has been glorified (see Isaiah 52:13). John, too, describes Jesus in Old Testament terms. Alluding to how Israel's priests offered blood sacrifices to atone for the people's sins (see Leviticus 16; Hebrews 9–10), he says that Jesus intercedes for us before God (see Romans 8:34), and that His blood is a sacrificial expiation for the sins of the world (see 1 John 1:7). Notice that in all three readings, the Scriptures are interpreted to serve and advance the Church's mission—to reveal the truth about Jesus, to bring people to repentance, the wiping away of sins, and the perfection of their love for God. This is how we, too, should hear the Scriptures. Not to know more “about” Jesus, but to truly know Him personally, and to know His plan for our lives. In the Scriptures, the light of His face shines upon us, as we sing in today's Psalm. We know the wonders He has done throughout history. And we have the confidence to call to Him, and to know that He hears and answers.

Canon Benjamin Norman, ICKSP currently serves as Chaplain of the ICKSP Oakland Apostolate at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Oakland, California. He was ordained in 2018.     In Today's Show: In John Chapter 6, Our Lord tells everyone “unless you eat my body and drink my blood, you will have no life in me.” Many of these people were offended and left. I find it peculiar that this verse appears in John 6:66 and I wanted to know if you think there could be any relation between this verse and what is referred to as the “Mark of the Beast.” Can an item be touched to multiple relics of different Saints? If I hand out Rosaries that I've made, am I able to include a blessed and exorcised St. Benedict medal? At the beginning of Latin Mass, the priest is praying Psalm 42 and slowly and cautiously approaches the altar asking God to send forth His light and truth. At the end of the Mass, God seems to answer and does send his light. It's like the request has been granted. Is this intentional or simply coincidental symbolism? Is it accurate that the upcoming solar eclipse could be some sort of sign from God? I know this rumor is going around currently. If a priest does not drink from the chalice during the mass, is the mass and reception of the Eucharist still valid? As someone going through RCIA - baptized in a Protestant church - can I wear a Brown Scapular or other Scapular? Regarding the phrase "rose again" as used in the Nicene Creed: what exactly does that refer to? Did He actually rise multiple times? Have you ever cried during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? Was Jesus capable of saying no when told that He was going to suffer His Passion? Is missing the Easter Communion duty always a mortal sin? I have bad scrupulosity and am trying to find a spiritual director, but I am afraid I may not be able to receive before the Easter season ends.   Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Come along with Deacon Tom and Mary Jane Fox as they embark on a spiritual journey, tracing the path of Jesus during His Passion.  In this episode, you will: Follow in His footsteps from the time His passion began to the time of His Resurrection. Explore how all of this is expressed in the scriptures and prayer. Discover some ways you can be united in prayer with the sufferings of Christ. We're grateful to Carlos and Kathy Santana for sponsoring this episode of Journeys of Hope. Click here to visit the official webpage for this episode and find other Holy Week media from Pilgrim Center of Hope.  Jewel for the Journey: "Keep your eyes on the crucifix, for Jesus without the cross is a man without a mission, and the cross without Jesus is a burden without a reliever." - Archbishop Fulton Sheen Become a Missionary of Hope by sponsoring a month of Journeys of Hope 2024 Radio Broadcast & Podcast! Click here to get started. Learn more at PilgrimCenterOfHope.org/Journeys Help us spread hope! PilgrimCenterOfHope.org/Donate

Let us lean into Holy Week to find hope and healing. The Lord is waiting to meet us with mercy and we see how great His mercy is in the retelling of His Passion.  Don't forget to start the Divine Mercy novena on Good Friday!

Readings: Isaiah 50:4–7 Psalm 22:8–9, 17–20, 23–24 Philippians 2:6–11 Mark 14:1–15:47 Crowned with thorns, our Lord is lifted up on the Cross, where He dies as “King of the Jews.” Notice how many times He is called “king” in today's Gospel—mostly in scorn and mockery. As we hear the long accounts of His Passion, at every turn we must remind ourselves—He suffered this cruel and unusual violence for us. He is the Suffering Servant foretold by Isaiah in today's First Reading. He reenacts the agony described in today's Psalm, and even dies with the first words of that Psalm on His lips (see Psalm 22:1). Listen carefully for the echoes of this Psalm throughout today's Gospel—as Jesus is beaten, His hands and feet are pierced; as His enemies gamble for His clothes, wagging their heads, mocking His faith in God's love, His faith that God will deliver Him. Are we that much different from our Lord's tormenters? Often, don't we deny that He is King, refusing to obey His only commands that we love Him and one another? Don't we render Him mock tribute, pay Him lip service with our half-hearted devotions? In the dark noon of Calvary, the veil in Jerusalem's temple was torn. It was a sign that by His death Jesus destroyed forever the barrier separating us from the presence of God. He was God and yet humbled Himself to come among us, we're reminded in today's Epistle. And despite our repeated failures, our frailty, Jesus still humbles Himself to come to us, offering us His body and blood in the Eucharist. His enemies never understood: His kingship isn't of this world (see John 18:36). He wants to write His law, His rule of life on our hearts and minds. As we enter Holy Week, let us once more resolve to give Him dominion in our lives. Let us take up the cross He gives to us—and confess with all our hearts, minds, and strength that truly this is the Son of God.

Where Did the Stations of the Cross Come From? Why Are They Important? What is the Peculiar Power of this Prayer? Note: This audio does not contain the actual praying of the stations. The audio addresses the origin questions appearing within the title, plus more. If you wish to pray the Stations, a link within the post provides an example. During the Lenten Season, many participate in the devotion and the praying of The Stations or The Way of The Cross. While we see the stations . . . either outside on the grounds or within the parish, we often pray before them. However, we often spend little time reflecting on what they are in the first place. Where did the Stations come from? Why are they important? What is the peculiar power of this prayer? It seems a good time during this Lenten Season, when we often pray the stations, to take some formation time on the stations themselves. Some global issues first: St. Louis de Montfort tells us the single greatest means of quickening our hearts with love for the Lord, is to contemplate lovingly all that He suffered for us! The more we focus on His Passion, the more we deepen our love for the Lord. Yes, we will have regret for our sins that causes His Passion in the first place! Yes, we should feel that in our hearts. But the overall object is to kindle our love for the Lord! Note the thrust of that, as the Homily exclaims! The contemplation begins with the realization that the Passion . . . this has been done . . . for me! Hear more within the Homily. Listen to: Where Did the Stations of the Cross Come From? Why Are They Important? What is the Peculiar Power of this Prayer? Listen to this Meditation Media --------------------------------------------------- Image: Christ Crucified: Spanish Painter: Diego Velázquez: 1632 Return to Meditation Media Note: This marks the second Friday of the current Lenten Season, featuring special formation conferences covering a range of seasonal topics. You can revisit the initial installment, titled “The Spiritual Meaning of Lent,” (see link within the post).

Long before His Passion, Christ knew that the Church He established would follow in the footstops of His suffering. He must have faced haunting questions: “If I suffer these things, what good will it do? Will this fallen race turn its back on My gift? Is it worth the price?”Jesus answered them, “Take heed that no one leads you astray. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. ... Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. And then many will fall away, and betray one another, and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise, and lead many astray. And because wickedness is multiplied, most men's love will grow cold.” – Matthew 24:4–5, 9–12With excerpts from:The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)SUBSCRIBE FOR DAILY NOTIFICATIONS AT LENTPODCAST.COMUSE COUPON CODE PASSION25 AT TANBOOKS.COM FOR 25% OFF YOUR NEXT ORDERGET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Luke 9:22Jesus knew He would suffer greatly, be rejected and killed. How would you deal with that knowledge if you somehow knew this about your own future? Most people would be filled with fear and become obsessed with trying to avoid it. But not our Lord. This passage above shows just how intent He was on embracing His Cross with unwavering confidence and courage.This is just one of several times that Jesus began to break the news to His disciples about His pending fate. And each time He spoke this way, the disciples for the most part remained either silent or in denial. Recall, for example, one such reaction of Saint Peter when he responded to Jesus' prediction of His Passion by saying, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you” (Matthew 16:22).In reading this passage above, the strength, courage and determination of our Lord shine through by the fact that He speaks so clearly and definitively. And what motivates Jesus to speak with such conviction and courage is His love.Too often, “love” is understood as a strong and good feeling. It's perceived as an attraction to something or a strong liking of it. But that's not love in the truest form. True love is a choice to do what is best for another, no matter the cost, no matter how difficult. True love is not a feeling that seeks selfish fulfillment. True love is an unwavering strength that seeks only the good of the person who is loved.Jesus' love for humanity was so strong that He was driven toward His pending death with great power. He was unwaveringly determined to sacrifice His life for us all, and there was nothing that would ever deter Him from that mission.In our own lives, it's easy to lose sight of what true love actually is. We can easily become caught up in our own selfish desires and think that these desires are love. But they are not. Reflect, today, upon the unwavering determination of our Lord to sacrificially love us all by suffering greatly, by enduring rejection, and by dying upon the Cross. Nothing could have ever deterred Him from this love. We must show the same sacrificial love.My loving Lord, I thank You for Your unwavering commitment to sacrifice Yourself for us all. I thank You for this unfathomable depth of true love. Give me the grace I need, dear Lord, to turn away from all forms of selfish love so as to imitate and participate in Your most perfect sacrificial love. I do love You, dear Lord. Help me to love You and others with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You.

Paul Thigpen sets the stage for a Lenten journey like no other. He reminds us of the value of meditating on Christ's Passion, not just during Lent, but year-round. And he introduces us to two mystics whose compelling visions of the Passion have inspired generations to saintlier living. Along the way, Paul considers the following questions:What do you contemplate when you look upon a crucifix?What do we stand to gain when we follow Christ in His Passion, examining each key scene from the Gospels?How do the private revelations of the mystics hold up a mirror to ourselves?With excerpts from:The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich (https://bit.ly/3kaeP6l)The Mystical City of God by Ven. Mary of Agreda (https://bit.ly/3IhySaO)SUBSCRIBE FOR DAILY NOTIFICATIONS AT LENTPODCAST.COMUSE COUPON CODE PASSION25 AT TANBOOKS.COM FOR 25% OFF YOUR NEXT ORDERGET THE BOOK - The Passion: Reflections on the Suffering and Death of Jesus Christ by Paul Thigpen (https://bit.ly/3IiSNpM)

Bible Study – Job Introduction   Job is the first book of the Wisdom genre in the Orthodox Bible.  The others are The Proverbs of Solomon, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs, the Wisdom of Solomon, and the Wisdom of Sirach. Date and Authorship: Unknown, but Job lived during the time of the Patriarchs (about 1600 BC). From Fr. Joseph Farley; The story of Job is traditionally based on the life of Jobab, king of Edom, mentioned in Genesis 36:33. (This ascription is also reflected in the final verses of the book as found in the Septuagint.) The tale of Job contains some of the best poetry ever written, and it recounts the suffering of a man who suffers unjustly, though he is completely righteous. His acquaintances (famous proverbially as “Job's comforters”) assume his great suffering proves he has committed a great sin, but Job continues to deny it and to insist on his innocence. At the end of the story, God appears on the scene in a whirlwind to confound the worldly “wisdom” of Job's tormenting “comforters,” reveal His power, and show the folly of supposing human wisdom is adequate to question the providence of God. He then restores to Job all that he has lost. A Septuagintal addition to the Hebrew text adds, “It is written that he will rise with those whom the Lord resurrects” (Job 42:1–8 OSB). Suffering leads eventually to resurrection. We read the story of Job as a model of the sufferings of Christ, a foreshadowing of His Passion and Resurrection. Like Job, Christ was innocent yet suffered greatly. Like Job, Christ was vindicated by God at His Resurrection. Along with the story of Joseph the patriarch, the tale of Job reveals that in this age God's chosen ones suffer unjustly. That the Messiah, “the Righteous One,” would suffer on a cross does not defy historical precedent. A crucified Christ is not a contradiction in terms. God's servants have always suffered unjustly and been misunderstood by their “pious” contemporaries before being vindicated by God. It is for this reason that the Book of Job is read in church at the Presanctified Liturgies during Holy Week.  (Lawrence R. Farley, The Christian Old Testament: Looking at the Hebrew Scriptures through Christian Eyes (Chesterton, IN: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2012), 143–144.) In Scripture Genesis and the historical books (as Jobab). Ezekiel 14:14.  Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God. Ezekiel 14:20.  Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. James 5:11.  Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy. Liturgical Use Holy Week.  Monday (PSL): Job 1:1-12; Tuesday (PSL): Job 1:13-22; Wednesday (PSL): Job 2:1-15; Thursday (VDL): Job 38:1b-21); Friday (Vespers) Job 42:12-21.  Up until then, we had been reading Proverbs in that place in the service (Exodus replaces Genesis and Ezekiel replaces Isaiah). Great Canon of St. Andrew (Canticle Four; in between Esau and Christ). Thou hast heard of Job, O my soul, who was justified on a dung heap; yet thou hast not imitated his courage nor hast thou shown any firmness of will in the face of thy trials and temptations but hast proved cowardly and weak. He that once sat upon a throne now lies naked on a dung heap, covered with his sores. He that had many children and was once admired by all is suddenly bereft of children and is left without a home; yet for him the dung heap is a palace, and his sores a chain of pearls. Purpose:  Wisdom. Resources for our study. Orthodox Study Bible; St. John Chrystostom's commentary; St. Gregory the Great's Commentary; Fr. Patrick Reardon's The Trial of Job.  Dictionary of Wisdom and the Psalms (IVP). Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Some initial thoughts: It is about suffering, but mostly about how to relate to God in suffering.  Losing faith in God is one of the biggest temptations that suffering can bring. Parts of it are not easy to read (negativity; structure; poetry).  Not always clear what is being taught. Fr. Patrick refers to is as a "trial".  That's good.  But who is on trial?  Is it Job? Three of his friends (pagan kings!), Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, present traditional religious ways of relating to God (or the gods) during suffering (suffering is retribution; requires appeasement).  You may end up sympathizing with some of what they say, but their understanding of God and how to relate to Him is flawed.  Elihu, his fourth friend offers a more correct understanding of God, but his witness is tainted by His pride and by twisting the facts (even though he, unlike the others, wanted to present Job as righteous).  He does seem to act as a sort of (an imperfect) prophet to Yahweh (who speaks right after his speech) not just by describing God's glory but by holding Job accountable for the arrogance of his previous appeal.    God condemns the other friends, but Elihuh is not mentioned.  However, his theology is not reliable (it is really a reformulation of the same retribution principle). Job's continual defense of himself is his righteousness.  He does end up needing to repent of his accusations against and doubts in God. In the end, Job's righteousness is affirmed, Job's goods are restored, and God's justice is confirmed.

Friends of the Rosary: Today, on the third day of Christmas, the universal Church honors the apostle and evangelist St. John (d. 101), the beloved disciple of Jesus and author of the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and the Apocalypse. He is the evangelist of the divinity of Christ and His fraternal love. On Christmas Day, we read his passages on the pre-existence of the Word, who by His Incarnation became the light of the world and the life of our souls. Born in Bethsaida, son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother to St. James the Greater, both of whom were fishermen. The two were called by Jesus to be disciples as they were mending their nets by the Sea of Galilee. With James and Peter, he witnessed the Transfiguration. At the Last Supper, he leans on the Master's breast. At the foot of the cross, Jesus entrusts His Mother to his care. John's pure life kept him very close to Jesus and Mary for years to come. He was the only one of the Apostles who did not forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion and Death. He was brought to Rome and, according to tradition, was cast into a caldron of boiling oil by order of Emperor Domitian, but he was miraculously preserved unhurt. John was then exiled to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the Apocalypse or Revelation. Afterward returned to Ephesus where he founded many churches in Asia Minor and passed away in peace at about ninety-four years old. "My dear children, love one another," was his message. Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!St. John, Pray for Us! To Jesus through Mary! + Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • ⁠December 27, 2023, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

In this episode, Fr. Mike and Fr. John offer a unique perspective on contemplating Jesus as He enters His Passion.