In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, we revisit a conversation centered on the writings of Richard Rohr and the meaning of Good Friday.

As the church moves through the season of Lent, Matt and John reflect on Rohr’s insights about scapegoating, the human tendency to blame and condemn others, and the deeper meaning of the cross. Rather than viewing the crucifixion only through the lens of punishment or substitution, this conversation explores the idea of solidarity—a God who does not stand apart from human suffering but enters into it with us.

Together they wrestle with questions that sit at the heart of Christian theology:Why is it called Good Friday? What does the cross reveal about human violence and scapegoating? And what does it mean to believe that even the darkest places of human experience are not God-forsaken?

This episode is both thoughtful and honest, moving between theology, humor, and personal reflection as the hosts explore the paradox of death and hope at the center of the Christian story.