Podcasts about Sacrament

What is your view of marriage–cultural or sacrament? Join us for part four of Biblical Relationships as Pastor Crystal reframes what a wedding is supposed to be and what it means for daily marriage. When your marriage points beyond itself, it will change the world!Support the show

Trying to cram some theology into 5 minutes or so. Please consider donating to help keep this podcast going by going to buymeacoffee.com/catholicdailybrief Also, if you enjoy these episodes, please give a five star rating and share the podcast with your friends and family

For this Lenten season, we are diving back in the archives to offer select homilies from Fr. Scott. We hope these reflections help you in your Lenten journey.https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-060RR-Lentpt1.mp3

What Is This All For? 12 Even now— this is the Lord's declaration— turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 13 Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in faithful love, and he relents from sending disaster. 14 Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind him, so you can offer a grain offering and a drink offering to the Lord your God. 15 Blow the trumpet in Zion! Announce a sacred fast; proclaim a solemn assembly. 16 Gather the people; sanctify the congregation; assemble the aged; gather the infants, even babies nursing at the breast. Let the groom leave his bedroom, and the bride her honeymoon chamber. 17 Let the priests, the Lord's ministers, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, "Have pity on your people, Lord, and do not make your inheritance a disgrace, an object of scorn among the nations. Why should it be said among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" 18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land and spared his people. 19 The Lord answered his people: Look, I am about to send you grain, new wine, and fresh oil. You will be satiated with them, and I will no longer make you a disgrace among the nations.  Joel 2:12–19 [CSB] What are the ashes drawn in the shape of the cross on our foreheads for? To bring out that mark God already has made on you. When He baptized you into His name...into His Son...on the Cross where He punished Jesus instead of destroying you... Like He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. Like He did other nations. Like He did Israel. Like He will the whole world. Why? Because we deserve to be!Disaster is right on our doorsteps! You think not? People are sneering...fists raised...yes, they are saying they can do what they want...they are defying God. Hear them? Listen to what is really being said: “Ha! We can do what we like. Watch and see! And we will do it again! So where...where… is your God when I do it to His face? Where is He who calls all that we like to do...all what I want to do...evil…? Where is He to punish what He calls sin?” God says, "From dust you were taken and to dust you will return..." No one escapes death. No one. God will not be mocked. He says that, "The wages of sin is death."That is what God told Adam because of his and his wife's sin. Yes, and to dust the world will be reduced to also... …soon now...maybe here in America sooner than Africa. I don't know. But remember, Nineveh repented. God spared them for several generations—over 200 years I think it was. Pray America... pray Illinois… and Lombard… repents also… repents—before it is too late. Yes, because... 12 "even now," declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. 14 Who knows whether he will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God? Even so, still....all returns to dust. But only those with the sign of the cross on them will be raised to newness of life. Only those who return to the Lord will be saved...those who return to the place where that mark was made. This is what Lent is for. To mark us again for our burial. Yes, as we know what the consequences of sin are. Death. Yes, from dust we too were taken and will return... But with that mark...made with water… and Word…we won't stay there.  15 Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly; 16 gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber. We have...we are...it is called Lent. It is called the application of ashes...consecrating you again for burial...with Christ...in that living and ever flowing Water...the very waters of life... So that we will be spared eternal destruction...flames and ash... To be instead raised to eternal life. Take the ash now...death now...so that life eternal is ours later. Yes, Lent is preparation for our death now, but only for Easter later—our very own Easter. Easter...our Easter, is only possible with the Cross...with Jesus' death...and our death in Him...in Water...in Word...in this life...in this world...with its ways.... Lent is a time to fast and pray. To die to self. To die to sin. To switch our focus. To remove things in our lives that distract and blind us from the truth...for that which brings death and destruction.... Yes, to focus on dying...to let our sin nature die again...to drown it...that those things of sin to be removed...cleared away...cleaned off...the things that entrap us again in this world...in sin...that bring God's wrath and doom...fire and ash.... ...let them go...walk away...let them die...to be replaced with life...that new life to come...that He even gives a start of this here and now...a down payment from His Easter for the Easter to come... Yes, because then it does... Don't you know, Easter already has come? Then for sure, it is to be ours next! So...yes, lets get ready... 17 Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, "Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, a byword among the nations. Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'" We can answer this...we can answer them—answer and say that it is not yet too late...even for them: Tell them that: He is here...in His Word...which endures forever...in the Living Water that marked us forever to be His...and in His Supper where He meets with us...feeds us...helps us to live in this world that is going to be in flames soon...a heap of ash all too soon... And then Easter. Easter is so near. Ours...and yes the Earth's too. It too is waiting...it too will also be reborn out of those ashes...just as we will be, it will be free of sin's decay...no longer filled with death... All new and green...alive...really alive...as it was meant to be...forever. Yes, He has called us. We have come. He has marked us. We have cried out and we will do so until the end—call to Him. We will look to Him. We have turned to Him for mercy. We mourn and cry out: "Spare your people, O Lord...!" And what does He do? How does He answer? He has already...He has acted...has answered. Jesus came and died...Jesus rose again...Jesus came to us—to you in water and word...and does in bread and wine. He has marked us for death so that we can live. Yes, He responds...He answers because.... 18 Then the Lord became jealous for his land and had pity on his people. 19 The Lord answered and said to his people, “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied... All of this has started already to come to us...in Word and Sacrament....because of Easter... We are being filled up...with Him....today even...because of Easter... …and then we will see—the world and the devil will see. Easter is almost here. God says, "...I will no more make you a reproach among the nations." This… All because Easter has already come. Ours is next. Morning is about to dawn. He is coming...in the fire of His Glory... He will rise upon the earth—death dying in that intense… on His light. Then it is up and out...for all those marked by sign...in His name...as all is burned into ash.... …and then glory...and then the Easter morning...the forever Son forever...our Emmauel with us… aways, world without end. Amen.

Have you ever loved Jesus…but struggled with church? I have, too. After moving into a new ward and feeling out of place, I went straight to the Lord with my questions. What came back was clarity, comfort, and a few simple truths that changed everything for me. In this episode, we talk about what shifted my heart, how I found joy again on the Sabbath, and why gathering, even imperfectly, still matters. I hope my story helps you feel less alone and a little more encouraged in your own journey. Time Stamps: 00:00 Welcome to Sunshine in the Middle 00:36 A Family's Journey to a New Home 02:21 Struggles and Reflections on Church Attendance 04:05 The Importance of Worship and Community 07:41 Scriptural Foundations for Church Attendance 19:41 The Power of the Sacrament 23:31 Serving and Supporting Each Other 28:05 The Joy of Worshiping Together 33:27 Final Thoughts and Testimony 34:01 Closing Remarks and Call to Action Connect with Us Website: sunshineinthemiddle.com Instagram: @sunshineinthemiddle Disclaimer This podcast episode is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or BYU. If this episode brings a little more sunshine into your week, please share it with a friend. Subscribing, rating, and reviewing helps this message reach more people who may need it. For more faith-filled inspiration, visit sunshineinthemiddle.com. Thanks for listening.   

Send a textAsh Wednesday begins the Catholic season of Lent — a time when the Church calls us to remember death, judgment, and eternity. In this true Catholic account from Naples in 1707, St. Francis of Jerome warns a woman who mocked the reality of hell. Eight days later, the warning was fulfilled.This sobering episode reminds us of the Four Last Things: death, judgment, heaven, and hell — eternal realities taught by the Catholic Church and proclaimed in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Lent is a season of repentance, conversion, and returning to the grace of God through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.St. Alphonsus Liguori wrote that those who frequently meditate on the Four Last Things are far less likely to fall into mortal sin. The Church, in her wisdom, places this meditation before us at the beginning of Lent so that we may examine our conscience, seek the Sacrament of Confession, and prepare our souls for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the glory of Easter.Has the modern world forgotten the reality of judgment? Have we grown comfortable with sin and resistant to grace? This true Catholic story is not meant to frighten for its own sake — but to awaken the soul to the urgency of salvation.This is Episode 1 of Lent Daily — our Catholic Lenten reflection series sharing true accounts from Catholic tradition that call us back to holiness and eternal perspective.Support the showSupport this show and get all future episodes by email atwww.kenandjanelle.com

This Wednesday night, Trinity Lutheran Church(Herrin, IL) offers to both children and adults an opportunity for teaching with Learn-by-Heart from 6:30 to 7:00 PM.  Although we normally follow Learn-by-Heart with a Catechesis service designed to prepare God's people for the theme of the upcoming Sunday Divine Service (The Temptation of Christ in the Wilderness from St. Matthew 4:1-11), this Wednesday we will not.  Instead, there will be a Divine Service for Ash Wednesday.  Link to Ash Wednesday Divine Service Learn-by-Heart will include “Jesus, Brightness of the Father” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal), Small Catechism, Sacrament of the Altar questions one and two and their meanings, and Psalm 51:17. –Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: Catechesis-Ash-Wednesday-2-18-2026.pdf Insert for Hymn: ASBH-Jesus-Brighten-of-the-Father.pdf https://vimeo.com/1162009197?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

On this episode of Walk Humbly, Bishop Burbidge offers advice for fruitful living during the Lenten season. He highlights The Light is On campaign as one such invitation to return to the Sacrament of Confession. Be sure to check out his Reflections for Lent and Easter booklet offering daily spiritual meditations throughout the season ahead.   Bishop also thanks everyone for their support of the 44th Catholic Charities Ball—where more than $1.8 million was raised to support its many ministries throughout the diocese—and of this year's Bishop's Lenten Appeal.

Transfiguration, Word, and Sacrament Matthew 17:1-9  Transfiguration Sunday Sunday, February 15, 2026 The Rev. Andrew DeFusco, Rector Church of the Redeemer, Nashville, TN www.Redeemer-Nashville.net

From Not Enough to More Than Enough Today's Homily unites two biblical moments: First, The Gospel (Mark 8: Feeding of the Four Thousand) reveals Christ's deep compassion for humanity wandering in a spiritual “wilderness.” The crowd cannot sustain itself; human resources are insufficient. Yet when the disciples offer their “not much” . . . seven loaves and a few fish . . . Jesus transforms scarcity into abundance. This miracle foreshadows the Eucharist: Christ continues to feed the world through His Church, using humble means to accomplish divine grace. Second, The First Reading (Jeroboam and the Divided Kingdom) shows the opposite movement. Jeroboam, though raised up by God, becomes insecure and replaces true worship with convenient, man-made alternatives. He prefers control, comfort, and political security over trust in the Lord. This leads to spiritual decline and instability for Israel. The contrast is deliberate: • Jeroboam grasps, mistrusts, and substitutes human solutions → leading to loss. • The disciples surrender their inadequacy to Christ → leading to superabundance. The Homily and scripture message for today is clear: we must not reshape faith around convenience or personal preference. Instead, we entrust our poverty, weakness, and “not enough” to Christ, who alone can transform them into saving grace . . . especially through Word and Sacrament. The Homily concludes with a correlation of today's theme with Montfort's teachings. Hear more within the Homily. Listen to From Not Enough to More Than Enough --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Art Work The Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes: Italian painter: Giovanni Lanfranco: 1620 The painting was commissioned for and may be found in the Blessed Sacrament chapel in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gospel Reading: Mark 8: 1-10 First Reading: 1 Kings 12: 26-32; 13: 33-34 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why was this image selected: The image dramatically captures Christ at the center of action, emphasizing divine power working through ordinary bread and human participation. The painting mirrors the sermon's central truth: what seems insufficient becomes inexhaustible in Christ's hands.

We discuss Packer's Sin-Grace-Faith patterns in the Holy Communion Liturgy, the approach to Eucharistic Theology in the classic Anglican Formularies and writings of early English Divines, the patterns of the Church Year, and the historic Eucharistic Lectionary as found in the classic editions of the BCP.Some Pre-1800 Anglican Divines on Eucharistic Theology mentioned in this video. Note the use of the Fathers and Scripture by these theologians:Thomas Cranmer, A Defence of the True and Catholic Doctrine of the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of our Savior ChristRichard Hooker (Modernized), The Word Made Flesh for Us John Jewel, Treatises on Scripture and the SacramentsAdrian Saravia, De Sacra Eucharistica

In "S is for Sacrament," TJ and Tory play detective as they learn about baptism and communion. They discover that sacraments are visible signs of invisible realities—reminders of the hope we have in Christ and the promises of God's grace to His people.Follow along as TJ and Tory learn about the God's unchanging character week after week with the ABCs of Theology! Season 5 and 6 follow this best-selling card set, and we just know your kids are going to love them. Shop all discipleship tools for kids ages 2 to 12 at tinytheologians.shop, and join our email list to be among the first to know about sales, new releases, and get all the podcast updates right in your inbox!Resources: The ABCs of TheologyFollow Us:Instagram | Website | Newsletter Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special bonus episode of Hidden Wisdom, Meghan and McKay Farner share the talks they delivered in sacrament meeting on the greatest commandment: to "love thy neighbor as thyself." Meghan explores the often-overlooked doctrine of self-love through the lens of agape—the unconditional love that God is. She unpacks false beliefs (“unbelief”) that keep us stuck in shame and natural-man identity, reframing repentance as healing rather than punishment. Drawing from Mosiah 3:19, Doctrine & Covenants 93, Moroni 7, and the teachings of President David O. McKay, she invites listeners to see themselves as the “pearl of great price”—already worthy of divine love.McKay then shares a powerful mission story that forever changed his understanding of loving your neighbor. Through personal experience—including stepping away from church activity—he reflects on charity without ulterior motive and what it truly means to love as Christ loves.Together, these talks offer a message of hope, grace, and spiritual maturity:You cannot hate yourself into holiness.You cannot give a gift you have not received.And love is not kindness with a destination attached.00:00 Introduction & purpose of the message00:33 The Great Commandment (Matthew 22)01:19 Agape: the unconditional love God is02:35 False beliefs (“unbelief”) about self-love04:24 Natural man vs. true eternal identity07:23 Repentance as healing, not punishment09:26 Shame, fear, and perfect love10:16 Rest, worthiness, and grace11:50 Meditation as communion with God12:42 The pearl of great price13:52 McKay's mission story begins15:47 What love is not17:13 “Love is not kindness with a destination attached”20:10 Charity defined (Moroni 7)22:27 Princess & sacrificial love23:40 “Greater love hath no man…”24:16 Stepping away from church activity24:48 “It's what Jesus would do.”25:02 Final testimony & invitation Join the Contemplative Prayer + Meditation Q&A with Meghan and Phil McLemore, on February 16th at 7pm MT. Register here! Hidden Wisdom initiates truth-seekers into the Mysteries, guiding listeners toward a lived experience of the Divine that awakens and transforms faith—without dismantling family or community. Pursue your Journey: ✨ Hidden Wisdom App – Coming Spring 2026! Pathway programs, community, library, events and more! Join the waitlist for updates, sneak peeks, and discounts!

Dr. Anders on Bad Bunny? Chalcedonian creed? Where the Church stands or falls? This and more on Called to Communion with Dr. David Anders.

 This week Fr. Scott begins a series on how to read, reflect, and respond to Sacred Scripture. We also included some bonus content this week about Fr. Scott's parish being designated a pilgrimage site for the Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi.https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-175RR-Bible-pt1-plusbonuscontent.mp3

What is penance, really? Is it just giving up chocolate for Lent — or is it something much deeper?In this episode of the Logos Podcast, Father Max and Father Joseph unpack the true meaning of penance: not just as a Lenten practice, but as a virtue, a sacrament, and a lifelong conversion of heart. Drawing from St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John Paul II, and the rich Catholic tradition, they explore metanoia, the Sacrament of Confession, satisfaction for sins, fasting, mortification, and the powerful difference between active and passive penance.Connect with us here:Website: http://www.logos-podcast.com/Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/3PCPWBvNcAbptX17PzlC2x?si=BkEHS4vGSf-xmMlDFcpZ2QApple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/logos-podcast/id1560191231YouTube: https://youtube.com/@logospodxast?si=RaYkZAfLKea2kBtZInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/logospodxastPatreon: https://www.patreon.com/logospodcastSupport the show

Join us in this powerful episode of the Max After Burner Podcast, hosted by Theresa Noach, the Ceremony Facilitator for No Fallen Heroes and Sacred Warrior Fellowship. In this inspiring conversation, we welcome Jodi Lemons, the founder of Last Call Ranch and Retreat. After a devastating training injury, Jodi faced the challenging loss of her identity, leading to a long battle with depression and PTSD. With a proud military background, Jodi served in the Air Force and as a first responder before continuing her service in the Army. Following a traumatic incident involving her son, Jodi sought help beyond the traditional VA system. After a decade of being medicated and denied alternative treatments, her journey of healing took a turn when she discovered No Fallen Heroes. Funded to explore ibogaine therapy, Jodi began to reconnect with her faith and rediscover the transformative power of creation through entheogenic sacraments. Tune in to hear Jodi's remarkable story of resilience and the path to reclaiming her life.No Fallen Heroes, Sacred Warrior Fellowship, Jodi Lemons, Last Call Ranch and Retreat, depression, PTSD, military, Air Force, first responder, ibogaine therapy, healing, entheogenic sacraments, faith, resilience. Instagram: @sacredWarrior Fellowship @nofallenheroes @theresaanoach

We're joined by a titan of American metal (everybody calls him that): Randy Blythe of Lamb of God.We dive deep into Randy's life and musical history, from young punk rocker hopping freight trains, blowing off singing for the band that would become Burn the Priest, battling alcoholism from the early days through the glory days of Lamb of God, getting sober on tour with Metallica, his experience in Czech prison, and much, MUCH more.This is a loaded episode with a true legend in extreme music, who practices what he preaches and lives up to all of the kind things you hear about him.Go see Lamb of God on tour, check out their new record "Into Oblivion" on March 13th, and grab a copy of Randy's latest book "Just Beyond The Light" wherever you get your books!_______________Cool links:• Get 10% off GUILTY PARTY site-wide with code HARDLORE and grab some of our favorite clothing brands of all time• Go see Lamb of God with many other great bands at Welcome to Rockville and Sonic Temple!• HardLore Official Website/HardLore Records STORE____________________00:00:00 - Start00:03:08 - Approaching the 10th Lamb of God Album00:05:26 - Logo Change (Papyrus)00:06:26 - Finding Music (Disco, Rock, Punk)00:16:15 - Finding Local Music & Community00:19:33 - Randy isn't a Metalhead, Moving to Richmond00:28:50 - Randy's First Band00:30:25 - The Tale of Burn The Priest00:43:53 - Pardon This Interuption00:46:38 - Sobriety00:49:42 - Burn The Priest Self-Titled00:55:10 - Changing The Name To Lamb Of God01:00:43 - Panic Attack on a Roof01:03:29 - Playing CBGBs, Recruiting Willy, New American Gospel01:12:54 - As The Palaces Burn, Ashes of the Wake, Ozzfest & George W. Bush01:25:10 -  Sacrament, Making LoG Their Living, Advancing Alcoholism01:28:59 - Redneck is About Randy01:35:39 - Wrath, Getting Sober on Tour With Metallica01:39:39 - Resolution, Grammy Nom #2, Alcoholism Within the Rest of LoG01:41:26 - The Dark Days: Czech Prison01:46:53 - First Day In General Population, The Metalhead Prison Guard01:52:38 -  VII: Sturm und Drang, a Relief?01:55:37 - Lamb of God Self-Titled, The P*ndemic, Omens02:05:48 - The Heavy Music Boom02:09:24 - Into Oblivion, SST Crossover, Modern Political Landscape02:18:13 - Photography, Surfing, Writing & Other Endeavors02:20:35 - Food02:23:28 - Lamb of Ghosts02:24:49 - Top 4 Hardcore Records HardLore: A Knotfest Series, Fueled by Monster EnergyEdited by Steven Grise • Title sequence by Nicholas MarzlufJoin the HARDLORE PATREON to watch every single weekly episode early and ad-free, alongside exclusive monthly episodes.Join the HARDLORE DISCORD for community discussions and to participate in our future Q&A episodes.FOLLOW HARDLORE: INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, SPOTIFY, APPLEFOLLOW COLIN: INSTAGRAMFOLLOW BO: INSTAGRAM, TWITTER For sponsorship opportunities, email us! hardlore@knotfest.com Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Patrick responds to questions about workplace ethics and artificial intelligence, threading Catechism insights with moments from his own life. He shares concerns and possibilities around technology, recalling the shift from dial-up to modern convenience, and considers how faith shapes daily choices. Gabriel - How should I talk about my coworkers in the workplace when I have something negative to say? (00:52) Jim (email) - Can you help us understand 1 Samuel 2:25? Specifically, "...if a man sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?" Isn't this what the Sacrament of Reconciliation is? (12:23) Franky (12-years-old) - What do you think about AI? (19:17) Bill - What is heaven like? (35:54) Sydney - What moral compass should I have in a relationship? What do I want to build in a relationship? What should I turn away from? (44:52)

In this long-awaited episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Clay Martin, Priest of the Path of the Barbarian Spirit and author of three incredible books including: Barbarian Spirit, Prairie Fire, and Wrath of the Wendigo. Clay has taken an unusual-- but very shamanic-- road to becoming a full-time Woo Woo practitioner. He had a long and illustrious military career in active duty, having served as an infantryman, Scout Sniper, and Reconnaissance Marine and, after transitioning to the Army, he joined the 19th Special Forces Group before returning to active duty with the 3rd Special Forces Group. ​In 2013, Clay was medically retired, and what followed was a difficult spiral into chaos. But, in 2022, Clay underwent transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy for traumatic brain injury. Six months later, he had his first psilocybin experience. Clay now calls psilocybin "the Sacrament", and believe that true healing begins at the spiritual level. Since his use of the Sacrament, he has encountered Norse gods, channeled visions of the future, and dedicated himself to a life of healing service to other wounded warriors. He is also now an active, working priest in his pagan church, reconnecting military veterans to the old gods and the old ways. Clay upends everything The Business of Woo tells you a New Age practitioner looks, sounds, and acts like. This episode kicks off our dude-only season of the podcast for precisely this reason: men are often underrepresented and underserved by the Business of Woo, often feeling alienated and "uninvited" to this space. The result? We all suffer from the monopoly of enshittified sameness.Clay, and others like him, are challenging this paradigm. And we here at TOTEM and The Skeptical Shaman podcast sure are happy about it.LINKS:Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.comTOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.comRachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrachPlease support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast:TOTEM + PUCK HCKY Merch Drop: https://puckhcky.com/collections/totemThe TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsGThe TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATXTOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coachingTOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-wooClay's Links:Website: https://www.barbarianspirit.com/IG: https://www.barbarianspirit.com/Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

This edition of KVC-Arts welcomes back Cassie MacDuff in conversation with Susan Straight about her latest novel, Sacrament. Sacrament is set during the height of Covid in 2020, and follows the lives of a small group of nurses in a makeshift RV camp close to the hospital where they work.Once again set in and around The Inland Empire, this book will connect for many people through experiences, people, and locations to say the least. Some poignant moments without a doubt, some lighthearted moments which will bring smiles as well.

In Episode 523, Ryan and Jose go over some Hellraiser and book release news.   This is the Clive Barker Podcast, where long-time fans Ryan and Jose interview guests, bring you the news, and take deep dives into Barker-related stuff.  This episode will be available in Podcast Audio and Youtube Video.     Sponsor : Don Bertram's Celebrate Imagination | Pinterest | ETSY Store Check out his recent painting, Shooting Star, The Alarm Clock and Father and Son III Texas Friends, Find Don at the Pearland Arts League 2026 Winter Arts Show   Sponsor : Ed Martinez YouTube Channel 2001: The Future's Not What it Used to Be Sponsor : The Now Playing Podcast   Catching Up New bi-weekly schedule   News From The Reef: Suntup Asks, What Clive Barker Book Should they Do Next? Trick or Treat Studios new Hellraiser masks and products Kevin Thompson art disclosed by Hellraiser: Revival Discord Server (Youtube) Discord link Boom Comics on Kickstarter: Hellraiser: Leviathan's Library Turbine Blu-Ray almost arriving to Ryan, booklet is fascinating   Site News Vote for the Character Portrait. Poll Ends on 2/2/26   Show Notes   Questions from the Internet Short Video: the Harrowing Journey of Ryan's Copy of Hellraiser 2022 |TikTok | Youtube From Reddit: blizzard_spawn asks "What are the chances of a rarities collection"?   Coming Next News and Interviews Book Club of Blood: Scapegoats Feature on a Clive Barker Character Portrait Clive's Contemporary Commentaries 1985   And this podcast, having no beginning will have no end.   web www.clivebarkercast.com Apple Podcasts,  Android,  Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, Libsyn, Tunein, iHeart Radio, Pocket Casts, Radio.com, and YouTube and Facebook: | BarkerCast Listeners Group | Occupy Midian  BlueSky | Reddit | Discord Community   Support the show Buy Our Book: The BarkerCast Interviews Occupy Midian  Hardcover | Kindle | Apple Become a Patreon Patron | Buy a T-Shirt   Music is by Ray Norrish   All Links and show notes in their Entirety can be found at https://www.clivebarkercast.com   AI Summary from Zoom   Clive Barker Editions Discussion Ryan and José discussed potential new Clive Barker book editions with Suntup Press, considering options like The Damnation Game, Sacrament, and Mr. Be Gone. They noted that Suntup's previous Hellbound Heart edition sold out quickly, and while some fans preferred new works over reprints, others appreciated the beauty of special editions. The conversation concluded with a mention of upcoming Hellraiser-related products from Trick or Treat Studios. Hellraiser Masks Discussion Ryan and José discussed various Hellraiser masks available on Trick or Treat Studios' website, including Pinhead, Chatterer, Butterball, and Dr. Chouinard masks, as well as a Hellraiser Pinhead Retro Mask and a purse shaped like the Lament configuration. They examined the details, prices, and craftsmanship of each mask, noting the high level of detail and the sculptor, Alexander Ray. José and Ryan also discussed the quality of previous Hellraiser merchandise, including a mystery box, and expressed interest in purchasing the Hellraiser Pinhead Retro Mask for its versatility. Hellraiser Merchandise and Designs Ryan and José discussed Trick or Treat Studios' merchandise, including masks from properties like Gwar and Hellraiser. They explored a Hellraiser revival Discord server's content, including interviews and concept art by Kevin Thompson for the 2022 Hellraiser film. José highlighted early designs for Cenobites and Leviathan tech, while Ryan mentioned adding the content to their Barker cast recommends playlist. Hellraiser Franchise Discussion José and Ryan discussed the imagery and lore of Voigt in the Hellraiser franchise, including his twisted form and the concept of icons in Leviathan's dimension. They also talked about Ryan's long wait for his copy of Hellraiser 2022, which had been sent back and forth between Germany and the United States due to customs issues. José mentioned translating a German booklet about the Hellraiser franchise for Ryan to read, which covers Clive Barker's decision to film Hellraiser, the history of the franchise, and the deal with Hulu and David Bruckner. HBO Series Cancellation and Poll Ryan and José discussed the cancellation of an HBO series and the success of a Hulu movie, noting that HBO Max has reverted to its original name. They also talked about a Kickstarter project for a collector's edition of Hellraiser comics, which is set to launch soon. The two encouraged listeners to vote in a poll for a character portrait, with the Clive Barker self-portrait currently leading. They mentioned that the poll would end on February 2nd, 2026, and discussed the rarity of the self-portrait, which is not available in many places. Rarities Collection Plans Discussed Ryan discussed his work experience mailing out 43,000 notices, including handling 1,000 cases requiring personal attention. They discussed a Reddit user's question about the possibility of a rarities collection, noting that while such a collection was once planned to include works like "Scarlet Gospels" and "Black is the Devil's Rainbow," it was ultimately replaced by "Tonight Again." José mentioned that a planned Clyde Barker rarities collection featuring stories like "Animal Life" and "Lost Souls" was ready eight years ago but never published, leading them both to hope it might still be released.   AI can make mistakes. Review for accuracy.

 In the latest installment of the Catholic 250 series, Fr. Scott explores what has been called the last acceptable prejudice in the United States: anti-Catholicism.https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-174RR-Anti-Catholicism-Catholic250-untagged.mp3

This weekend we take a break from the season of the church year to reflect on the rich instruction that we find on the doctrine of the Lord's Supper in one of our Communion hymns.  The doctrine of the Lord's Supper is a very important and serious doctrine. The proper understanding and use of it has great implications in a Christian's life. Paul says:  For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (1 Corinthians 11:23-29)  The hymn we are studying this weekend is 305 in The Lutheran Hymnal: "Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness." This hymn was written by a Lutheran laymen in the 1600's, who studied law, but also was concerned about the study of Christian doctrine and used his gifts to write many hymns reflecting on those Christian doctrines.  In this hymn he reflects on the joy that is ours in being able to receive the Lord's Supper. He reminds us what it is that we are receiving here: A precious treasure from God that cannot be purchased with any thing on this earth. Only His blood could win it, and He offers it to us by His grace.  He also correctly teaches the doctrine of Christ's real presence, that Jesus tells us that we receive His very body and blood, with the bread and the wine of the Lord's Supper. The elements of bread and wine do not merely symbolize His body and blood, Jesus says: "This IS my body... this is my blood of the new covenant" (Matthew 26:26-28). While our reason cannot comprehend this truth, it does not change Jesus' clear words and Paul's warning. May the LORD lead us to a deep yearning and hunger for this Sacrament because of the promises of Jesus to sinners such as us. We should take our preparation for the Lord's Supper seriously, we should treat it with the respect that it is due, but we should also receive it with absolute joy and with the confidence that forgiveness, life and salvation are mine in and through it! LORD, bless our mediation on Your promises and gifts in this sacrament and receive them eagerly, often, and with great joy!

Fr. Rob Kroll joins Patrick to discuss Confession Why do we need the Sacrament of Confession? What are the parts of confession? (14:05) What if someone hasn’t been in confession in a long time? (19:30) Kevin - I was in confession the other day. At the end, I had a feeling to say thank you Jesus, and the priest said you're welcome. He's in persona Christi and sometimes we forget that. (22:27) Break 1 (23:58) Lynn - Not Catholic yet, going through the OCIA program. Through that process, there's the first confession. Am I supposed to make a list of every sin in my life, or how am I supposed to do that? (32:54) Paul - 40 years as a Baptist, I felt the need to go to confession which lead me to RCIA and into the church. How should non-Catholics feel about confession and approach the sacrament? (37:51) George - I'm having a little trouble with confession. Every day I can't forgive myself. Am I doing something wrong by doing that? (43:12) Break 2 Barbara - I'm in a parish that had a priest who was moved several years back due to behaviors. I wonder sometimes if the confessions or baptisms were valid because of what was going on with him.

Stephan Taeger is an assistant professor in Ancient Scripture at Brigham Young University. He received a PhD from BYU in Instructional Design and Technology. Stephan's research focuses on Homiletics (the study of preaching), narrative instruction, and ancient scripture. He is also an author and co-host of the RVVL podcast with David Butler. Links Y Religion: Justification by Faith The Science of Speaking in Sacrament Meeting | An Interview with Stephan Taeger President Spencer W. Kimball: “Jesus the Perfect Leader” Sermons and talks by Timothy Keller on YouTube Stephan Taeger: “Declared Guiltless: Justification by Faith in the Latter-day Saint Classroom” Toxic Perfectionism at Church | An Interview with Justin Dyer Justification: God’s Plan, Paul’s Vision N.T. Wright on YouTube Weakness Is Not Sin: The Liberating Distinction That Awakens Our Strengths RVVL Podcast StephanTaeger.com Tim Keller: Sin as Self-Deceit Watch the video and share your thoughts in the Zion Lab community Transcript available with the video in the Zion Lab community Highlights 00:04:00 – Stephan Taeger’s Background and Teaching Focus 00:05:00 – Influence of Tim Keller on Understanding Justification 00:06:00 – Justification Explained 00:09:00 – The Relationship Between Justification and Works 00:10:30 – Understanding the Role of Covenants 00:11:30 – The Importance of Faithfulness 00:12:30 – The Marriage Analogy for Justification 00:13:30 – The Role of the Sacrament in Justification 00:14:30 – Defining Sanctification 00:15:30 – The Process of Becoming More Like God 00:17:00 – The Role of Obedience in Response to Grace 00:18:00 – Addressing Perfectionism in Leadership 00:19:00 – The Impact of Sin on Community 00:20:00 – The Role of Bishops in Restricting Ordinances 00:22:00 – Understanding Restrictions as Support 00:23:00 – The Nature of Punishment vs. Guidance 00:24:00 – Mental Health and Perfectionism 00:25:00 – Addressing Sexual Development and Sin 00:26:00 – The Importance of Striving for Sanctification 00:27:00 – The Role of the Bishop in Mental Health 00:28:00 – The Challenge of Perfectionism 00:29:00 – The Concept of Forgiveness 00:30:00 – The Nature of Grace in the Gospel Key Insights Justification Defined: Justification is described as being pardoned from sin and declared guiltless, occurring when individuals enter a covenant relationship with God through faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Holy Ghost. Sanctification Explained: Sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more like God, involving a change in one's nature, thoughts, and desires over time, as individuals strive to live in accordance with their covenants. The Role of Grace: Grace is central to understanding both justification and sanctification. It emphasizes that salvation is a gift from God, not solely based on individual works, and that individuals can have confidence in their justified state. Addressing Perfectionism: Many Latter-day Saints struggle with perfectionism, often feeling unworthy despite understanding the doctrine. The conversation highlights the importance of recognizing one’s worth as inherent and not solely based on actions. Mental Health Considerations: The discussion touches on the intersection of mental health and religious beliefs, particularly regarding OCD and scrupulosity, emphasizing the need for compassion and understanding in addressing these issues. Leadership Applications Fostering a Culture of Grace: Leaders can create an environment where members feel secure in their justified state, encouraging them to engage in the gospel without the burden of shame or guilt. Understanding Individual Needs: By recognizing that unmet needs may drive certain behaviors, leaders can approach members with empathy, focusing on support rather than judgment. Promoting Continuous Growth: Leaders should emphasize the importance of striving for sanctification, framing commandments and ordinances as opportunities for growth rather than as mere obligations, thus inspiring members to engage more fully in their spiritual journeys. The award-winning Leading Saints Podcast is one of the top independent Latter-day Saints podcasts as part of nonprofit Leading Saints’ mission to help Latter-day Saints be better prepared to lead. Find Leadership Tools, Courses, and Community for Latter-day Saint leaders in the Zion Lab community. Learn more and listen to any of the past episodes for free at LeadingSaints.org. Past guests include Emily Belle Freeman, David Butler, Hank Smith, John Bytheway, Reyna and Elena Aburto, Liz Wiseman, Stephen M. R. Covey, Benjamin Hardy, Elder Alvin F. Meredith III, Julie Beck, Brad Wilcox, Jody Moore, Tony Overbay, John H. Groberg, Elaine Dalton, Tad R. Callister, Lynn G. Robbins, J. Devn Cornish, Bonnie Oscarson, Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Kirby Heyborne, Taysom Hill, Coaches Jennifer Rockwood and Brandon Doman, Anthony Sweat, John Hilton III, Barbara Morgan Gardner, Blair Hodges, Whitney Johnson, Ryan Gottfredson, Greg McKeown, Ganel-Lyn Condie, Michael Goodman, Wendy Ulrich, Richard Ostler, and many more in over 800 episodes. Discover podcasts, articles, virtual conferences, and live events related to callings such as the bishopric, Relief Society, elders quorum, Primary, youth leadership, stake leadership, ward mission, ward council, young adults, ministering, and teaching.

January 27, 2026Today's Reading: Matthew 17:1-9Daily Lectionary: Zechariah 4:1-5:11; Romans 15:14-33“And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” (Matthew 17:2)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.Had you encountered Jesus during His time of humiliation, that is, from His incarnation and birth through His final breath on the cross and His burial, there would be nothing remarkable to behold. Isaiah prophesied this when he wrote, “he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:2). Jesus looked like any other human being.What gained Him notoriety were the things He did and the things He said. Healings and other marvels, like feeding thousands on a couple of occasions, drew attention. His words cut two ways: some clung to them for dear life; others grew ever more resentful until they were driven to murder to shut His mouth. But He looked like any other person when He did the things He did and said the things He said. Even when He walked on water, He looked like an ordinary person doing an extraordinary thing.The exception was His Transfiguration. On that mountain, He took on a new form. Not that He abandoned the flesh and blood He had assumed at His incarnation—rather, He set aside for a moment the form of a servant He had taken at His incarnation (Philippians 2:7). The figure He revealed on the mountain was the figure of a man and also at the same time more than man. Jesus revealed the divine glory and majesty that He had humbly hidden, but was always there.The Transfiguration demonstrates the full and complete unity of God and man in the person of Jesus Christ. This union is so full and complete that the Son of God communicates the divine majesty to human flesh and blood. The regular, ordinary, normally unremarkable human being who said and did some noteworthy things shines with the glory of God. In this union, God elevates the human creature to a heavenly life. The glimpse of divine glory Jesus reveals on the mountain is also a preview of the glory that awaits those who are in Christ. By faith in His Word and participation in His body in the Sacrament, we become members of His body, which shines with divine glory. For a time in this world, the glory remains hidden under suffering and the cross. But “this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17) when Jesus returns.In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.With shining face and bright array Christ deigns to manifest today What glory shall be theirs above Who joy in God with perfect love. (LSB 413:3)Author: Rev. Jacob Ehrhard, pastor of St. John's Lutheran Church and School in Chicago, IL.Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Richard Heinz, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lowell, IN.Better understand difficult and overlooked Old Testament passages in this new book by Authors R. Reed Lessing and Andrew E. Steinmann. Their conversational yet academic writing style makes learning about the Old Testament accessible to those at all points in their Bible reading journey. Discussion questions at the end of each chapter invite you to think more in-depth about what you just read and record your answers. To stretch your understanding, a list of resources for further reading is also included at the back of the book.

Read Online“Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Mark 3:28–30Consider the sobering reality of suffering the guilt of everlasting sin. Though alarming and unpleasant, understanding this possibility is foundational to a healthy spiritual life. This is best illustrated in the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, one of the co-founders of the Jesuits. The Spiritual Exercises are considered one of the most transforming retreat formats ever written. They guide spiritual directors who lead retreatants through a thirty-day retreat, helping them experience profound conversion and make major life decisions. The first week of those exercises contains various meditations on the horror of hell and the seriousness of one mortal sin.Today's Gospel is not only ideal for those beginning a thirty-day retreat, but also for everyone serious about spiritual growth. On our spiritual journey, we often must do that which is initially difficult and unpleasant so as to reap the fruit of that exercise. One such exercise is to meditate on our Lord's words: “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.”In commenting on this, the Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit. Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss” (#1864).Traditionally, the sin this Gospel refers to has been called the “Sin Against the Holy Spirit.” Saint Thomas Aquinas, in the Summa Theologica (II-II, Question 14, Articles 1–3), articulates six ways that one can be guilty of this sin:Despair: rejecting God's mercy and refusing to believe one's sins can be forgiven.Presumption: believing one can attain salvation without grace or repentance.Impenitence: a refusal to repent for past sins.Obstinacy: a hardened resolve to remain in sin.Resisting the Known Truth: deliberately rejecting the truths of the faith to justify sin.Envy of Another's Grace: resenting the Holy Spirit's work in others.God alone knows the depths of our human heart and comprehends our guilt or mitigating circumstances.God alone is the perfect Judge. He judges with divine equity, His perfect justice and mercy united as one.Though God's mercy is limitless, this does not mean that everyone goes to Heaven. Recall Jesus' teaching: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13–14).The common thread in the ways Saint Thomas articulates this “everlasting sin” is an obstinate refusal to see our sins in the light of eternal Truth and then to repent and change. When properly understood, attaining Heaven is easy! All we need to do is be honest, turn from sin, and abandon ourselves to our loving God—especially in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A thorough and honest confession is a sure path through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. Reflect today on the serious and consequential demands God places on us. His generosity knows no bounds, but we must receive that generosity on His terms. Ideally, today's Gospel will inspire us with the spiritual gift of Fear of the Lord. The perfection of this gift is not a fear of punishment, but a deep reverence and love for God that moves us to avoid anything that might offend Him. It deepens our relationship with Him and strengthens our resolve to walk the narrow path. If you find yourself obstinate at times, beware of the danger of that interior disposition. Most merciful Lord, please free me from all obstinacy and help me to see my sin as You see it. I repent of my sin and profess my need for Your Divine Mercy. Please open the gate to that Mercy so that I can be with You forever in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.Image:   Spurzem - Lothar Spurzem, CC BY-SA 2.0 DE, via Wikimedia CommonsSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.

Jesus continues His ministry in the Church through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, including in the distribution of Holy Communion. Handout:https://www.cliftonclydecatholic.com/_files/ugd/a43390_e93cd23e083b47a2a5d08e38fa775961.pdf

 This week, as we kick off Catholic Schools Week, we dip back into the archives for an interview Fr. Scott did about a year and a half ago with Kevin Weed, the Headmaster of St. Michael Academy, and Larry Rudnicki, the Executive Director of St. Michael Academy.  St. Michael Academy is a Chesterton Academy School located near Petoskey, Michigan, rooted in the Catholic classical tradition. https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-142RR-StMichaelAcademy-Pt1.mp3

We know the headline miracles—Incarnation, Eucharist, Resurrection. But what about the quieter moments that don't come with spectacle? Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks explore why God preserves room for trust, why Eucharistic “flesh-and-blood” phenomena are less than the Eucharist itself, and how faith matures when we live the mysteries (not rank them). Through the three lenses—self, others, under God—we look at spiritual health as a habit of trusting love, not a hunt for proofs.Key IdeasGod invites freedom, not coercion: He offers evidence, then leaves space for trust—the essence of love.Signs vs. Sacrament: visible Eucharistic phenomena are signs; the Eucharist is the whole living Christ (Body, Blood, Soul, Divinity).Don't “rank” feasts: Christmas, the institution of the Eucharist, and Easter are one saving mystery unfolding—each essential.Living the unseen: deeper attention at Mass reorients daily life; think “spiritual health plan” (prayer, confession, charity) that steadies mind and relationships.Faith grows by practice: name doubts honestly, choose trust, and act—grace meets you in motion.Links & ReferencesScripture named (no links):Doubting Thomas (John 20:24–29)Institution of the Eucharist (Matthew 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25; Luke 22:14–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26)Signs confirming authority to forgive sins (Mark 2:1–12)CTAIf this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend.Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.comTagsFather and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, Christmas, Easter, Incarnation, Resurrection, Eucharist, Real Presence, Eucharistic miracles, believing without seeing, Doubting Thomas, signs vs sacrament, freedom and faith, trust, spiritual health, prayer, confession, charity, participation at Mass, liturgical seasons, unity of mysteries, grace, interior conversion, relationship with God, relationship with self, relationship with others, Benedictine spirituality, Catholic podcast, practical spirituality

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011826.cfmBefore healing the man's body, Jesus heals his soul. The paralytic seeks physical restoration, but Christ addresses a greater paralysis: sin. Sin paralyzes the soul and separates us from God, the source of life. “Who can forgive sins but God alone?” the scribes challenge (Mk 2:7, NABRE). Indeed, only God forgives, yet they fail to see the Divine in front of them. Jesus, God incarnate, reveals His authority not only by perceiving hearts but by forgiving sins and restoring the man.This moment prefigures the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Just as the man's friends interceded for him, Christ extends forgiveness through the Church and her priests. Fr. Chris emphasizes that when a priest declares, “I absolve you from your sins,” it is Christ acting in the confessional (John 20:23, NABRE). Spiritual healing comes first, for sin's weight is greater than any physical ailment.Christ's mercy invites us to rise from the mat of our sinfulness, just as the paralytic stood and walked. Repentance is not mere sorrow—it is transformation, a turning toward God and away from sin. Through infant baptism, God forgives the helpless on behalf of faithful parents and godparents, just as He healed the helpless paralytic by the faith of others. Intercessory prayer is essential; faith shared in community moves God's grace into our lives.We are called to participate actively: pray for one another, confess, and rise renewed. Christ's forgiveness restores, strengthens, and sends forth. The mat is left behind; the soul walks free. By addressing the deepest paralysis, Jesus demonstrates the power of His mercy and the Church's mission to bring all sinners to life.To explore the sacraments and God's work through intercession, visit Understanding the Sacraments (ShopMercy.org). ★ Support this podcast ★

This Epiphany sermon from Isaiah 49:5–6 proclaims Jesus Christ as the Servant of the Lord who restores Israel and brings salvation to the ends of the earth. In a world filled with spiritual confusion, suffering, and doubt, God has not abandoned His people. The prophet Isaiah reveals the voice of Christ Himself, sent by the Father to gather the scattered, forgive sinners, and establish the true Israel of God through His cross and resurrection.This Lutheran sermon explains how Jesus fulfills Israel's calling, bears the exile of sinners, and shines as the Light of the Nations. Through Word and Sacrament, Christ continues His saving work today, gathering His Church through Baptism, Absolution, and the Lord's Supper. This message is rooted in confessional Lutheran theology, law and gospel preaching, and the historic Christian faith.If you are searching for biblical preaching, Christ-centered teaching, Isaiah 49 explained, or Lutheran sermons for Epiphany, this message is for you.Support this ministry athttps://buymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphbuymeacoffee.com/whitegandalphHashtags#LutheranSermon #Isaiah49 #EpiphanyChrist #ChristOurLight #LawAndGospel

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011626.cfmFather Chris Alar, MIC, draws us into the dramatic Gospel scene of the paralytic lowered before Jesus and reveals why this passage speaks so clearly of the Sacraments of the Church. What Jesus responds to first is not the man's condition, but faith — specifically, the faith of those carrying him. “When Jesus saw their faith” (Mk 2:5; NABRE), He forgives sins before He heals the body.This moment reveals something essential about Catholic belief. Faith is never completely private. We carry one another to Christ through intercessory prayer, just as parents bring children to Baptism and the Church brings sinners to Confession. The paralytic is helpless, yet forgiveness is granted because of the faith of others — an image that mirrors infant Baptism, where grace is given through the faith of parents and godparents. Sin is wiped away, not by personal achievement, but by Christ's mercy working through His Church.Jesus exposes the deeper paralysis beneath the physical one: sin. Before restoring strength to the man's limbs, He restores communion with God. This points directly to the Sacrament of Confession, where Christ continues His ministry of forgiveness through priests acting by His authority: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them” (Jn 20:23; NABRE). Forgiveness is not the end — it demands a response. Christ commands the man to rise. Mercy empowers transformation.Father Chris challenges us to ask: After Confession, do we stay down, or do we get up? Repentance is not merely sorrow; it is conversion, transformation. The mat that once held us becomes a witness to what God has healed. Christ frees us so that we may walk — changed, restored, and sent forth.To deepen your understanding of Confession and Baptism, explore Understanding the Sacraments at ShopMercy.org. ★ Support this podcast ★

As we try to do once every month, we feature a recording of Fr. Scott reading from Bishop Baraga's diary.https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-081RR-Baraga-January.mp3

As we continue in the Epiphany season we move to another theme in this season and that is Jesus' invitation to the world to come to Him. Just as the Wise Men were "invited" to come and see and worship Jesus, so this invitation is for all people. This weekend we will hear and read examples of that invitation which Jesus offers to the world of sinners.  The hymn we are studying this weekend is 277 in The Lutheran Hymnal: "I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say." This hymn was written by a Scottish pastor, Horatius Bonar, who was compelled to write hymns that children could understand. You will see in this hymn a very simple style and simple concepts drawn from three different statements and invitations of Jesus:   Matthew 11:28 - “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” The first verse is based on Jesus' invitation in Matthew, for rest which only He can give. John 4:14 - “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” The second verse is based on Jesus' words to the Woman of Samaria about the Life that He alone offers through His Word. John 8:12 - Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” The third verse is based on the words of Jesus in John 8 about the Light that He brings to the dark world because of sin and death. Each of these invitations is followed by the Christian's response to that invitation, by God's grace, and describes what we receive from Him as a result of His life and death for us, and the gifts He offers us in His Word and Sacrament.  Lord, lead us to listen to and respond to Your invitation of Grace, that we might receive Your rich blessings! May the LORD bless your reflection on this truth this weekend.

Read Online“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.” Mark 2:9–11In Mark's Gospel, Jesus began His ministry in Capernaum. Shortly after calling His first Apostles, Jesus preached in the synagogue, leaving many amazed. After healing a demoniac and Peter's mother-in-law, the whole town gathered at the house where Jesus was staying, and “He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him” (Mark 1:34).After this, Jesus withdrew to a deserted place to pray, despite the people's growing fascination with His miracles. When the Apostles found Him, He revealed the essence of His mission: “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come” (Mark 1:38). From there, He and His Apostles traveled to other towns, fulfilling His primary mission: to preach the Good News of repentance and reconciliation with God.In one of these towns, out of deep compassion, Jesus healed a leper. However, this miracle only intensified the people's focus on His power to heal, overshadowing His preaching. When crowds pursued Him seeking miracles, He returned to Capernaum, which brings us to today's Gospel.In Capernaum, Jesus resumed His primary mission: “He preached the word to them” (Mark 2:2). Yet the people, who were focused more on His miraculous works, crowded around Him. As Jesus preached—likely in Peter's house—some men arrived carrying a paralytic. They were unable to enter because of the crowd, so they climbed to the roof, opened it, and lowered the man down.What happens next is profound: Jesus looks at the man and says, “Child, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). Jesus does not first address the man's physical paralysis. Instead, He speaks to the man's deeper need—his spiritual healing. Jesus recognized the faith of the paralytic and that of those who brought him and forgave the man's sins. Why does Jesus do this? Because spiritual healing takes precedence over physical healing. Jesus' primary mission was to call sinners to repentance and bring about reconciliation with God. Physical healing was always secondary.When the scribes question Jesus' authority to forgive sins, they fail to recognize that Jesus is not just a miracle worker—He is the Son of God. To teach them about His authority to forgive sins, Jesus says: “‘But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth'—he said to the paralytic, ‘I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.'” The man did just that in full view of everyone, leaving the crowd astonished. The physical healing is a visible sign of Jesus' invisible power to forgive sins. Hence, the miracle in today's Gospel, which is of secondary importance, was performed to teach the people about Jesus' primary mission.In each of our lives, Jesus wants to fulfill His primary mission. He wants to forgive our sins and reconcile us with the Father and with Himself. First and foremost, this takes place through the powerful and transforming Sacrament of Reconciliation. It's amazing that even though that Sacrament fulfills the essence of Jesus' mission, many fail to take advantage of that grace, preferring instead to seek other favors from God of their own choosing. Reflect today on your approach to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Do you regularly bring your sins to Jesus in faith, allowing Him to heal and reconcile you to the Father? As you ponder today's Gospel, place yourself in the shoes of the paralytic. See yourself as Jesus sees you—someone in need of His mercy and grace. Though He may grant us many blessings, the greatest gift He desires to bestow is the forgiveness of our sins. Yearn to hear His words echo in your heart in the Sacrament of Reconciliation: “Child, your sins are forgiven.” Most merciful Lord, You came to preach the Good News of forgiveness and to reconcile us with the Father. This was Your mission long ago, and it remains so today. Grant me the grace to long for this gift always and to make it the focus of my life, so that Your mission may be fulfilled in me. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: © José Luiz Bernardes RibeiroSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Homily for the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

There are Seven Implications that the Sacrament of Baptism has for our lives as a Christian, each of which arises from a “particular dimension” of the Sacrament itself. This is why we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord: So that the members may rejoice with their Head – and all together form a body: A “Baptized” body in Christ. Join Open Line Tuesday with Fr. Wade Menezes.

The readings for this homily: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/0113-memorial-hilary.cfmFather Gabe Cillo, MIC, explains a truth so foundational that everything in the Christian life depends on it: Jesus Christ is truly God. Not partly divine, not a created being, not “like” God — but fully God and fully man.Father Gabe reflects on how the Church has defended this truth from the earliest centuries, especially against the Arian heresy, which claimed that the Son was created and therefore not truly God. The Church rejected this error because salvation itself depends on Christ's divinity. If Jesus were not God, He could not forgive sins, defeat demons, give us the Eucharist, or reconcile humanity with the Father. As Scripture proclaims, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn 1:1; NABRE).This truth gives believers confidence and courage. When we make the Sign of the Cross, invoke the holy name of Jesus, or adore Him in the Eucharist, we are not addressing a mere creature — we are worshiping God Himself. The demons recognize His authority because it is divine. Every knee bends at the name of Jesus because His name is the name of God.Father Gabe reminds us that the Eucharist, salvation, and every Sacrament only have power because Christ is God. Holding fast to this truth strengthens faith, deepens worship, and renews our trust in the Lord who alone can save.To grow in understanding of how Christ's divinity works through the Sacraments, explore Understanding the Sacraments, available at ShopMercy.org. Watch the full homily on YouTube and on Divine Mercy Plus, where Catholic content is free, ad-free, and faithful to Church teaching. ★ Support this podcast ★

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This week, we learn about John baptizing Jesus. For most Protestants, baptism is one of two sacraments. Some baptize infants, but others wait a while. Baptism or christening can be done by immersion or sprinkling. Pastor Dan talks about the implications.

The Sunday service audio from January 11th, 2026

Read OnlineJesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. Matthew 3:13–15John the Baptist was the last of the Old Testament prophets, entrusted with the mission to immediately prepare the way for the Messiah. Today's feast marks a pivotal transition from the Old Law to the New. Prior to Jesus' baptism, John's mission was in full motion. With Jesus' baptism, the mission of the Old Testament prophets is fulfilled, and the New Law of grace begins.Why did Jesus enter the waters of baptism? He was sinless and had no need of repentance. Yet, in His divine wisdom, Jesus chose to be baptized to sanctify the waters, opening the gateway of grace for all who would follow. By entering the waters of baptism, Jesus set a precedent. Every Christian who enters the waters of baptism meets our Lord there, sharing in His life of grace.As we reflect on Christ's baptism today, we are invited to consider our own. Most of us were baptized as infants and have no memory of the event. Others came to baptism later in life, fully aware of the grace they were receiving. Regardless of when it occurred, baptism's effects are profound and enduring. That singular moment of sanctification forever changed us, and its transformative power remains active within us.Through baptism, Jesus meets us under the waters. When baptism is performed by full immersion, it powerfully symbolizes the reality of this encounter. We enter the waters of repentance, as John offered, but we emerge united with Christ. Just as the Father's voice declared at Jesus' baptism, “You are my beloved Son…,” so too does the Father continually speak to us after our baptism, affirming our identity as His beloved children. The Holy Spirit descends upon us, and we are offered every gift of the Spirit, provided our hearts remain open.Baptism occurs only once in our lives and imprints on our souls an “indelible spiritual mark (character)” (see Catechism of the Catholic Church #1272 and 1274). This mark configures us to Christ and signifies our permanent belonging to Him and His Church. It cannot be lost or removed, even by mortal sin. However, while this character endures forever, the state of sanctifying grace within our souls can be lost through mortal sin. In such cases, the grace of baptism is restored through the Sacrament of Reconciliation in which our souls are once again cleansed and brought back into full communion with God. Marked as members of Christ's Body, we are continually disposed to receive sanctifying grace through the other sacraments, as long as we remain in a state of grace. Baptism accomplishes this disposition, enabling us to participate fully in the life of grace that flows from Christ.As we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, reflect today on your own baptism. You are forever marked as a child of God. You encountered our Lord under the waters of baptism, were cleansed of all sin, and were filled with sanctifying grace. Though sin diminishes or even extinguishes that grace when it is mortal, the Sacrament of Reconciliation restores it, and the Eucharist and other sacraments increase it. Always return to your baptismal grace, seeking to live out your identity as God's son or daughter, as this sacred mark intends. My sanctifying Lord, through the waters of baptism, I encountered You and received the abundant grace You bestowed upon me. Please help me to keep my soul free from sin and to live with the true dignity of a child of God. Thank You for meeting me under those waters. May I remain with You, growing ever closer to You by the ongoing gift of all the Sacraments. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Musée des Beaux-Arts de Dijon, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSource of content: catholic-daily-reflections.comCopyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

 Beginning this past December, the Church started a new year in the lectionary cycle, Cycle A. This Cycle of Sunday readings focuses on the Gospel of Matthew. This week, Fr. Scott gives us an introduction to this Gospel and what to expect as we move through the Sunday readings this year.https://archive.org/download/LetsTalkCatholic/LTC-173RR-Gospel-of-Matthew.mp3

Full Text of Readings The Saint of the day is Saint Angela of Foligno Saint Angela of Foligno's Story Some saints show marks of holiness very early. Not Saint Angela of Foligno! Born of a leading family in Foligno, Italy, she became immersed in the quest for wealth and social position. As a wife and mother, she continued this life of distraction. Around the age of 40, she recognized the emptiness of her life and sought God's help in the Sacrament of Penance. Her Franciscan confessor helped Angela to seek God's pardon for her previous life and to dedicate herself to prayer and the works of charity. Shortly after her conversion, her husband and children died. Selling most of her possessions, she entered the Secular Franciscan Order. She was alternately absorbed by meditating on the crucified Christ and by serving the poor of Foligno as a nurse and beggar for their needs. Other women joined her in a religious community. At her confessor's advice, Angela wrote her Book of Visions and Instructions. In it she recalls some of the temptations she suffered after her conversion; she also expresses her thanks to God for the Incarnation of Jesus. This book and her life earned for Angela the title “Teacher of Theologians.” She was beatified in 1693, and canonized in 2013. Reflection People who live in the United States today can understand Saint Angela's temptation to increase her sense of self-worth by accumulating money, fame or power. Striving to possess more and more, she became more and more self-centered. When she realized she was priceless because she was created and loved by God, she became very penitential and very charitable to the poor. What had seemed foolish early in her life now became very important. The path of self-emptying she followed is the path all holy men and women must follow. The liturgical feast of Saint Angela of Foligno is celebrated on January 7.Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Serving at the altar raised a live question: “If Eucharistic miracles make belief easier, why don't they happen more?” Joe Rockey and Father Boniface Hicks walk through what the Church means by miracle, why visible phenomena (flesh/blood) are actually less than the Eucharist itself (the whole living Christ), and how forgiveness and transformed virtue are real—though often unseen—miracles. We also clarify roles at Mass (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion) and reflect on believing without seeing. Throughout, we keep the three lenses in view: honesty with self, charity with others, under a living relationship with God.Key IdeasMiracle ≠ rarity; miracle = beyond nature. The Eucharist is already a miracle: bread and wine become Jesus—Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.“Less visible, greater reality”: a Eucharistic miracle (flesh/blood) is a sign; the Eucharist is the greater reality—Christ whole and living.Science points, faith receives: studies of reported miracles often converge (heart tissue, left ventricle, trauma markers, AB+), but signs serve the Sacrament.Unseen miracles: absolution, growth in virtue, and daily conversions are real works of grace you can't photograph—but you can live.Roles at Communion: clergy are ordinary ministers; laypeople assist as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion when needed.“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe”—ask for faith to recognize and receive the Giver more than the signs.Links & References“Scientifically Analyzed Eucharistic Miracles” (Truthly, 11-min video referenced by Father): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHO8L9477aUCTAIf this helped, please leave a review or share this episode with a friend.Questions or thoughts? Email FatherAndJoe@gmail.comTagsFather and Joe, Joe Rockey, Father Boniface Hicks, Eucharist, Eucharistic miracles, Real Presence, AB positive, heart tissue, left ventricle, signs and wonders, forgiveness of sins, confession, virtue, grace, believing without seeing, faith and reason, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, clergy and laity, Mass roles, altar ministry, miracle definition, Lanciano (discussion), conversion, prayer, interior healing, relationship with God, relationship with self, relationship with others, Benedictine spirituality, Catholic podcast, practical spirituality

Homily from the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This feast day of the Immaculate Conception is not just a privilege for Mary: it's a prophecy for us. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception reveals God's plan to conquer sin not just by repairing what is broken, but by preparing a path where grace triumphs first. This Advent we are invited to enter into the "Sacrament of the Present Moment", where God offers real, life-changing grace in each moment we choose to be present to Him. Mary's unique "yes" reminds us to stop waiting and to respond to God's already-given grace with a wholehearted and immediate "yes". Mass Readings from December 8, 2025: Genesis 3:9-15, 20 Psalm 98:1-4Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12 Luke 1:26-38