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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Readings for the Feast of the Ascension of Jesus: Acts 1:1-11;  Mark 16:15-20
We hear two different accounts of the ascension of Jesus in today's readings - one from Luke, one from Mark.  And while there may be differences between them, both point to the same idea:  Jesus trusts you and I.  We have been prepared.  The mission and ministry is now in our hands.  Are we ready for such responsibility?  If our anxiety raises even at the thought, know that you are in good company.  I'm sure the disciples felt the same.  Will there be mistakes along the way?  Most certainly.  But that's the best way to learn, isn't it?
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  And thank you to you - for listening to this podcast and continuing to share it with others.  I am humbled and grateful.  If you have any questions or comments, feel free to send them my way at [email protected]

Readings for the 6th Sunday in Easter - Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48;  I John 4:7-10;  John 15:9-17
All three readings are too good to set one aside - and a common thread runs through all three.  What, exactly, does love look like?  The answer, particularly in the first reading, will surprise you.  And if it doesn't, I'm not sure I did a good job explaining it...
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  And thank you to all of you for continuing to listen and break open God's Word with me.  I'm humbled and honored.  If you have a question or a comment, shoot it my way at [email protected].  And pass the pod on to a friend!