Readings for the Second Sunday in Lent - Romans 8:31b-34;  Mark 9:2-10
Every First Sunday of Lent, we hear the same story - Jesus in the desert.  The same is true for the Second Sunday of Lent where we hear the story of the Transfiguration.  Today we get Mark's version.  But in truth, it's pretty similar to Matthew and Luke.  Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain where his clothes turn dazzling white and suddenly, Elijah and Moses appear.  But something that also happens in all three is this: Peter puts his foot in his mouth, and a great cloud comes over the disciples filling them with fear.  We may not have ever seen Jesus, Elijah and Moses.  But I suspect that we have each played the part of Peter all too often.
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  And thank you to you for continuing to help share and grow this podcast so more and more people can find it!  I'm humbled and grateful.  Have a question or comment?  Feel free to reach out at [email protected]

Gospel for the First Sunday in Lent - Mark 1:12-15
Jesus, having just been baptized in the Jordan River, is driven by the Spirit into the desert, to spend 40 days attempting to discern what it means to be the Beloved Son and what that calls Him to.  And so we enter this same period - 40 days of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.  40 days set aside to listen to the same Spirit, driving us and moving us in that same mission.  But do we allow ourselves the silence to be able to hear?
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  And thank you to you for breaking open God's Word along with me.  I'm humbled and honored.  If you enjoy the podcast, please take a moment and rate it on your favorite listening app.  It helps others find it as well.  Have a comment or question?  I can be reached at [email protected]

My apologies for the glitch that caused this to be loaded 36 hours later than usual!
Readings for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Lev 13:1-2; 44-46;  Mark 1:40-45
Our readings tie together very easily this weekend, focusing in on the purity laws of Leviticus, specifically dealing with leprosy.  Yet in the Gospels, Jesus doesn't stay distant.  Instead, Jesus touches the leper and heals him.  But is the skin disease all that needs to be cleansed within this situation?  And if there is more, exactly what is it?  And finally - where is leprosy within our culture and location?  Answer - its' closer than you think.
Special thanks to Bridget Zek for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  Thank you to all of you for rating and sharing this podcast.  The podcast continues to be heard around the world and that all because of you.  I'm humbled.  Have a question or comment?  Send them my way at [email protected]  

Readings for the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Job 7:1-4, 6-7;  Mark 1:29-39
Is not humanity's life on earth a drudgery?  So begins our first reading out of the Book of Job this week.  And it doesn't really lighten up from there.  We hear of Job questioning the meaning of life and the presence of suffering in the world.  And while we may not live at that level very often, we do visit from time to time.  Suffering is present in the world and no amount of wealth or fame or skills can keep it away.  Suffering is a reality in life.  So what does Job, and perhaps more importantly, what does Jesus have to teach us about suffering in our readings this week?  
Special thank you to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performance of our intake and outtake music.  Thank you for opening the Word of God along w/ me.  I'm honored.  If you like the show and it's made a difference in your faith life, please rate it on your favorite listening app or pass it along to a friend.  Question?  I can be reached at [email protected]

Readings for the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Deuteronomy 18:15-20;  Mark 1:21-28
The first reading today speaks of how God will raise up a prophet from within their "own kin" to lead the people - and points directly at Jesus in our Gospel today, who speaks and acts with authority.  So if our readings all speak about Jesus and his role, what do they have to say to us?  Only this - that we, too, are invited to live prophetically and speak and live with authority.  But just how do we do that?
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  Thank you to all of you for continuing to listen and to rate/share this podcast with others.  I'm grateful for your accompaniment and support!  Questions or comments?  You can send them to me at [email protected]

Readings for the 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Jonah 3:1-5, 10;  Mark 1:14-20
We pick up today where we left off last week - God's invitation and humanity's response.  Today, we hear about Jesus at the beginning of His ministry inviting those around Him to reprioritize their lives.  Rethink who they are and what they are about.  And in doing so, what does that invite us to leave behind and what does that invite us to move toward.  
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  Thank you to all of you for your continued presence.  If you like the podcast, share it with someone you think will benefit.  Or rate it on your favorite listening app.  Have a question or comment?  I can be reached at [email protected]

Readings for the 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19;  John 1:35-42
Second Sunday in Ordinary Time?  What happened to the First Sunday?  No time for that nonsense - we are off and running.  Jesus has been baptized and he is about the work of the Kingdom.  First item of business?  Gather those interested in helping him with that task.  Will you hear?  And how will you answer?
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  Thanks to all of you for continuing to listen and to spread the word of this podcast!  I'm so grateful.  Questions?  Comments?  I can be reached at [email protected]

Readings for the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord - Isaiah 60:1-6;  Matthew 2:1-12
On this feast when we hear of the Magi following the light of a star, we hear Isaiah remind us that darkness continues to cover the earth and thick clouds cover the peoples.  This reading, which was written over 2500 years ago, continues to ring true today.  Yet light shines all around us, if we have but the eyes of the Magi to see.  Today we thank God for those lights in our lives and we also say yes to the idea that we, too, carry this light.  I also take time to unpack Pope Francis's document that he dropped five days before Christmas - Fiducia supplicans - and do my best to tie it into the feast we celebrate.  This is a longer pod today - thanks for staying with me.  I owe you a shorter one next week!
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  And thanks to all of you for continuing to listen and to share this podcast with others.  We continue to grow - and I'm so grateful.  Blessed Epiphany to you all!  Questions?  Comments?  Send them my way at [email protected]

Readings for the Feast of the Holy Family - Col 3:12-17,  Luke 2:22-40
On this Feast of the Holy Family, we remind ourselves of two things:  1) this is not the Feast of the Perfect Family, but rather the Feast of the Holy Family.  And in reminding ourselves of that, we look into what holiness is.  And 2) we remember that faith is not certainty.  Faith is walking in the midst of the fog and taking the next right step, as best we can foresee.  That's what makes it faith.
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  Thanks to all of you for helping spread the word on this podcast.  We are getting plays all over the world - thanks for helping make that happen!  Merry Christmas to you all!  Questions or comments?  Send them my way at [email protected]

Readings for the Mass at Night, Christmas - Isaiah 9:1-6;  Luke 2:1-14
Sorry, 4th Sunday of Advent.  You were given the boot in favor of some of the best readings of the year that come later that night.  This week, we carefully and slowly read through two of the most beautiful readings you will ever hear about God's love and desire to be close to us.  Do not be afraid.  Allow them to soak in.
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  Thank you to all you listeners who continue to break open God's Word with me.  I'm humbled and grateful.  If you enjoy it, please rate the podcast on whatever platform you listen.  That will help other listeners find the pod.  Questions or comments?  Send them my way at [email protected]