Readings from the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Isaiah 5:1-7;  Matthew 21:33-43
We hear two stories today that are almost identical - but both hold a hard mirror up to us and invite us to be honest about who we are and where we are within the story.  Where is it that we look for our identity?  And how far are we willing to go to protect that?
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  Thank you for trusting me enough to break open God's Word alongside of me.  If you enjoy the podcast, pass it along to someone you think would like it and/or rate it on your favorite podcast app.  Comments?  I can be reached at [email protected].  

Readings for the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Ezekiel 18:25-28;  Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus tells us a parable - A man had two sons...but it may not be the one that comes to mind when you hear that phrase.  Today we are presented with two ways of being in the world.  We can live inside of our small world, or decide to leave that behind for life in the Kingdom.  Our initial reaction is often one of "no", not dissimilar to the parable we hear.  But thank God that God gives us time to change our minds.  What we do with that time is up to us.
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  And thank you for downloading and opening yourself to the Word of God.  If you like the podcast, recommend it to a friend or rate it on your app.  Questions?  I can be reached at [email protected]

Readings for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Isaiah 55:6-9;  Matthew 20:1-16a
Isaiah reminds us in his word that God's ways are not our ways.  So Jesus tells a parable that emphasizes that very point - the Kingdom of God is like a vineyard owner who goes out at various points of the day to hire workers.  And when the end of the day comes, each one gets paid the same wage.  This parable, like few others, can shake us up and disturb us.  This doesn't seem right.  It's not fair.  It's disrespectful to those who worked the full day.  Maybe those complaints are correct.  Maybe it's not fair.  But thanks be to God that it is not.  
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performance of our intake and outtake music.  Thanks to all who take the time to break open God's Word alongside me.  If you like the podcast, please rate it on whatever service that you use and pass it along to a friend.  Comments?  I can be reached at [email protected]

Readings for 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Sirach 27:30-28:7; Matthew 18:21-35
Say what you want about Peter, but he asks good questions.  He gives us another one today - how many times must we forgive?  But Jesus doesn't take the bait.  Instead, Jesus invites Peter to a new vision.  Peter is essentially wondering if there is a time and place where we can set forgiveness aside.  Jesus says there is not...at least not if you want to be a follower of Him.  And that is hard, hard work.  
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  Thanks for breaking open God's Word with me this week!  If you like it, please rate it on your podcast app and pass it along to someone you think would benefit from it as well.  Questions?  Send them my way at [email protected]

Readings for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Romans 13:8-10;  Matthew 18:15-20
We set aside the first reading this week (but it's a good one - Ezekiel 33!) in favor of the second reading, where Paul reminds us that Love is the fulfillment of the law.  To the extent that we love, we are fulfilling where the law points us.  But don't confuse love with mere sentiment or soft melodies.  Jesus lays that out in the Gospel.  Love looks like strength and vulnerability.  And love looks like unbinding and setting free.
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  And thank you for downloading and opening yourself to the Word of God.  If you enjoy the podcast, tell someone about it.  Or rate it on whatever platform you listen.  Comments and questions can be sent to me at [email protected]

Readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Jeremiah 20:7-9;  Matthew 16:21-27
The readings this weekend pick up immediately following where we left off last week - Jesus asks his disciples who people say he is and Peter correctly responds.  But Peter couldn't leave well enough alone.  After Jesus describes where this calling will take him, Peter attempts to talk him out of it.  And Jesus admonishes Peter, stating that Peter is thinking not as God does but as humans do.  And just what does that thinking look like?  And should we take the same warning?
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performance of our intake and outtake music.  Thank you for supporting this podcast and opening yourself to the Word of God.  If you like it, pass it along to others who you think would benefit by it.  Comments?  Questions?  I can be reached at [email protected]

Readings for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - Isaiah 22:19-23;  Matthew 16:13-20
So often within our lives of faith, we can easily become overwhelmed with data and to-do lists that we can lose our way and forget why we are doing what we are doing.  But really, our faith can be distilled down to two questions - and we get one of them in our Gospel today.  And we need to answer it honestly.
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  Thanks to you for breaking open God's Word this week with me.  Have a question or comment? I can be reached at [email protected]

Readings for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Isaiah 56:1, 6-7;  Matthew 15:21-28
This weekend's Gospel is such an interesting one.  We hear and see Jesus presented in a unique manner not otherwise seen in the Gospel.  Jesus shows resistance to the outsider.  Was this a test?  Was it a cultural blind spot?  I don't have that answer.  But what we do know and what comes through clearly in both readings is that there is no "us and them".  No "in and out'.  Any walls we create in our own lives must be taken down.  God's house shall be a house for all peoples...not just the ones we think are in.
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  And thank you for opening yourself to the Word of God.  Comments?  Questions?  Send them my way at [email protected]

Readings for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time - 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a;  Matthew 14:22-33
We get to hear two incredible readings today depicting God with us in the midst of our storms.  Yes, it focuses on God's power over nature.  But it also focuses on our reactions.  Are we able to discern God's presence?  And if we are able, what does that invite us to?  It's not for the faint of heart.
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performing of our intake and outtake music.  Thank you for taking the time to break open God's Word with me!  Have a thought you want to pass my way?  Send it to me at [email protected]

Paul's Letter to the Romans, Chapter 8, verses 31-39
I know, this weekend is the Feast of the Transfiguration and the above reading is nowhere to be seen (or heard) within the readings we will hear this weekend.  But we've been working up to the above reading for the past 7-8 weeks and it's simply too good to pass by.  So we take a detour this weekend and focus on what may be one of the greatest texts within all of Scripture.  What can separate us from the love of God?  The answer is almost too simple to believe...
Special thanks to Bridget Zenk for her composition and performance of our intake and outtake music.  And thank you for opening God's Word alongside of me.  Have questions or comments?  Send them my way at [email protected].