Father Simon Says

• (2:49) Bible Study:
  • Deuteronomy 4:1, 5-9
    • Why do we have laws and commandments? Father explains how we can become who we really are.
  • Matthew 5:17-19
    • This is more confusing than you might think. Father explains.

(22:26) Break 1

• (23:06) Letters:
  • Father answers what it means to be born again, as well as how to pronounce the vowels spoken in Latin prayers. Father answers these and other questions. Send him a letter at [email protected]

(32:38) Break 2

• (33:19) Word of the Day:
  • Jot and tittle
• (35:12) Phones:
  • Lance - Can a baptized Christian non-Catholic go to confession?
  • Derek - I just started attending Catholic mass and was raised Lutheran.  What to do when to start going?
  • Joe - If there is any hope that a gay person be in paradise?
  • Ernie - Catholic perspective on evidence grace, Thomistic view and predestination?

• (2:00) Bible Study:
  • Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10
    • Why is Jesus not named Emanuel?

(19:28) Break 1

• (20:44) Letters:
  • If the host turns moldy is it still the Eucharist? Can a Catholic priest who leaves the Church consecrate the Eucharist? Father answers these and other questions. Send him a letter at [email protected]

(32:59) Break 2

• (33:55) Word of the Day:
  • Overshadow
• (36:53) Phones:
  • Harrison - There are astronomical reasons why Christmas is December 25.
  • Mike - If we have all greatly sinned, why do we get to go to communion? Also, where do we get the consecrated hosts for communion services?
  • Andrew - symbolic meaning of the wafer.  When we partake of the Eucharist, do we represent Christ afterwards or do we let our hearts go moldy?
  • Patrick - How do I reconcile cremation w/the Holy Scripture that says body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?

• (3:57) Bible Study:
  • 2 Kings 5:1-15ab
    • If God asked you to do something simple would you do it?
  • Luke 4:24-30
    • Why do you worship God? Is it only because of your culture or do you know the Catholic Faith is the Truth?

(21:30) Break 1

• (22:28) Letters:
  • Are people who are divorce committing adultery? When Jesus calls Mary woman, what does that mean? Father answers these and other questions. Send father an email at [email protected]

(33:06) Break 2

• (34:10) Word of the Day:
  • Saint
• (36:34) Phones:
  • Cathy - What is a good Catholic Church music program?
  • Caden - If your kids have sporting events on Holy Saturday, should we skip it or can we go?
  • Brenda - What kind of a format to say the rosary?  Do we include the Glorious mysteries?
  • Sherry - Husband left Catholic Church, and he wants to know why Jews can't go to Holy Communion, but Jesus was a Jew?

Bible Study (2:19)

Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a

• Fr. Simon discusses the story of Joseph and how he was thrown in the cistern. The site of the house of Caiaphas had a cistern. Reuben wanted to save Joseph, but Joseph was sold to a caravan of Ishmaelites.

Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

• This parable from Jesus is a serious one. The tone that the builders rejected the cornerstone. That is literally true as Cavalry wasn’t a hill, it was a planned out stone quarry.

Letters

• Art – What is your stance or hitting a toddler as a form of discipline? (18:21)
• What is your understanding of the word, “basilea”? (25:07)
• My husband and I want to get married in the Church? How can I help him understand the importance of going to Sunday Mass every week? (29:45)

Word of the Day:

• Cornerstone (32:26)

Phones:

• Craig - What does it mean when Jesus told the apostles that they would judge the 12 tribes of Israel? AND what does new heaven and earth? (37:51)
• Chris - Could you follow up about the origin about the papacy? It seems like it was peter's confession that was the rock and NOT Peter himself. (43:07)

Bible Study:

• Jeremiah 17:5-10 – The verb here for “trust” means “to rely on”. This may seem harsh but this is good advice. Jesus did not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people in John 2. To expect from a human being only what you can get from God is idolatry. You can trust human beings to be human but not God. (10:24)
• Luke 16:19-31 – This is a joke, this is funny. Who is Jesus talking about, he is talking about the high priest Caiaphas who dressed in purple linens. The high priests were supposed to be descendants of Zadok, but the Maccabees coopted the Monarchy and High Priesthood to which they had no right. Jesus is talking about the Pharisees and he is telling a story of a Sadducee in Hell. Isn’t it curious that Jesus calls his poor man Lazarus? Fr. Simon talks about how Jesus is using humor here talk about the Sadducees. (16:29)

Letters:

• Anonymous – Why do priests have to wear a stole while hearing Confession? (24:02)
• Greg – What do we do when it is very hard to forgive someone and what is the prayer that you say to help with this? When you find that you cannot forgive someone you give permission to God to forgive them. (30:10)

Word of the Day:

• "Compadre" (34:18)

Phones:

• Lee- Today is the feast of St. Hubert of Derwenwater (38:48)
• Marsha - I go to daily Mass, pray the Rosary and the Chaplet, saying the apostle Creed 3 times in the day, seems to be not necessary. What are your thoughts? (40:05)
• Liz - Say you don't get to Mass on Sunday, but you watch it on TV. Is it still a sin? (42:50)
• Mike - In Revelation, why does it says that we shouldn't have images of heaven or hell in our homes? (46:21)

• (2:36) Bible Study:
  • Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 –This passage is about God’s power to transform even our sinfulness. Go can take our sinfulness and use it to reform us.
  • Matthew 23:1-12 – Jesus goes up the mountain, sat down and spoke. Rabbi’s sat to teach their disciples. Peter according to tradition had a teaching chair. This idea of a chair of Moses is seen as Moses our teacher. Fr. Simon also explains what a phylactery is and what it means to be a father.

(20:06) Break 1

• (22:33) Letters:
  • What does it mean to be in a state of mortal sin and how do you know if you are in it? Father answers this question and others. Send him a letter at [email protected]

(32:41) Break 2

• (33:23) Word of the Day:
  • Finger
• (35:47) Phones:
  • Ken - I'm 82 years-old, not in best of health, pastor doesn't purify his hands before distributing communion. Last time I got sick for 3 weeks. He doesn't take criticism well. What should I do?
  • Steve - Can you explain the tradition in the Bible of tying a red thread around the baby to mark them as the firstborn? Like Jacob and Esau?
  • George - What is the definition of covenant? Does covenant allow divorce?
  • Patrick - How is cremation justified in the Bible when the body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?

• (2:43) Bible Study:
  • Daniel 9:4b-10
    • Can you break the law of gravity by jumping off of a cliff?
  • Luke 6:36-38
    • What does it mean not to judge? Also, keep giving and be a person who gives. Jesus is telling us to be a person who is not judgmental, who is compassionate and consistently does good.

(20:12) Break 1

• (21:08) Letters:
  • Latasha and Cicero - Is it possible that the wives and the children of the 12 Apostles travelled with them.
  • Anita – I always thought that Ishmael was the one who Muslims claimed descent from.
  • Deb – Why is someone who is illegitimate punished for the sins of their parents?

(31:13) Break 2

• (32:04) Word of the Day:
  • Shamefaced
• (34:47) Phones:
  • Maggie - Question about venial vs moral sin, especially if we forget to say a sin in confession, are our sins forgiven since the priest says: 'I forgive you from all your sins'
  • Bobby - The apostles bringing along their wives . What is the reason why celibacy is so paramount today?

• (3:16) Bible Study:
• Ezekiel 18:21-28
• The mercy of God and the justice of God are not unopposed.   
• Matthew 5:20-26     --Righteousness has to do with the nature of God and it's oriented to the good of the other. 

• (19:48) Letters:
• What is the Church's position of cremation? What do you think about Eucharistic Ministers dipping their hands in alcohol? Question about being Jewish but not believing in God? What is the difference between surrender and resignation?  Is celebrating marriage while in mortal sin, another mortal sin and is the marriage invalidated? Father answers these and other questions. Send him a letter at [email protected]

(32:27) Break 2

• (31:25) Word of the Day:
• Virtuosness
• (33:07) Phones:
• Nicole-where can I find prohibition of gambling in the Bible?
• Bernadette-Thank you Fr. Simon. I love your program. every comment makes sense.
• David-gambling. Matthew 7:6 is a verse that can be used against gambling.
• Shane-how do I discern questions that the Magisterium has not answered yet?
• Lucia-Catholics gambling? Catechism of Catholic Church catechism of Catholic Church. CC2413

• (6:03) Bible Study:
• Esther C: 12, 14-16, 23-25       —Queen Esther is taking her life in her hand when speaking the truth to the King 
• Matthew 7:7-12
•                  —-God will give you what you need.   If I door doesn't open, don't push it open, there's a reason why it's locked. 

• (21:15) Letters:
• Should I visit family gravesites? Why did the patriarchs get punished in the Old Testament? How could Sola Scriptura make sense when body language is important? Fr. Simon explains to forgive is to let go.  Father answers these and other questions. Send him a letter at [email protected]

• (32:54) Word of the Day:
• Nineveh and South 
• (36:13) Phones:
• Joseph-I am elderly and cant get to mass without someone picking me up. is there a service that picks people up who want to go to Mass.
• Elvie-are all of the books in the Bible written by person whose name appears as the author.
• Pamela-Joseph should apply for Paratransit. this is in state of California. I use this all the time. I am blind.
• Darin-you talked about surrender novena. what does it mean to truly surrender?
• John-Book of Esther. Why do people say that name of God doesn't appear in Book of Esther.

Enjoy this Encore show from March 9, 2022

Jon 3:1-10

• Did Jonah exist? Father explains 

Lk 11:29-32

• What is the sign of Jonah? 

Letters:

• Can I break my Lenten fast on Sundays? 
• Why do people bow to the priest processing in? 
• Why do some dioceses have different holy days of obligation?
• Father talks about the importance of recollection before mass

Word of the Day: Altar 

Callers 

• What does 'the Word became flesh' mean?
• Should I be worried that I wasn't baptized correctly? I'm 82 years old.
• How do I talk to our priest, as I feel he's disrespectful, because he's always late for mass?
• Was Jesus in the tomb for three days?