Liturgy Live

This week on the podcast we talk about the need for increase of faith. In the first reading we hear the cry of the Prophet Habakkuk that is also echoed in Psalm 13. This cry is followed by the response of the Lord to be patient and have hope for the coming fulfilment. In the second reading we talk about the gifts given through the Sacrament of Holy Orders of power, love, and self control. In the Gospel we talk about the request for the increase of faith and the requirements of service that will come with that increase.

This week on the podcast we talk about needing to be present to the poor. In the first reading we talk about how the Prophet Amos was talking about the leaders in the temple were abusing the items meant for serving God and set aside for His worship. It shows that they are unable to see the sign of the times because they will go into exile first. In the second reading we talk about how St Paul gives us the goals to strive for in a mirror image from the sins of the first reading. We should be striving for sanctification. In the Gospel we talk about serving the poor and being able to actually see the poor around us while being in such a comfortable culture. There is different ways to serve and love those who are in poverty and we should be seeking those out in our lives.

This week on the podcast we talk about God's forgiveness and his rejoicing at our return to Him. In the first reading we revisit the story of Moses coming down the mountain and finding the people worshipping the golden calf. He reminds God of his promise to the Patriarchs to deliver them to the land that was promised. We talk about the hierarchy of sins, and how our culture would have a different one than the biblical understanding of the worst sins. In the second reading we talk about St Paul's witness in his own ministry and weaknesses that Christ could be strong in. We talk about His patience in our growth. Fr Ian goes in to deep territory when he talks about how different older priests treat younger priest, especially when they are perceived as rigid or conservative. In the Gospel we talk about the three parables of the lost sheep, the coin, and the prodigal son. At the end of the conversation Alanna makes the connection that the younger son is the sheep, and the older son is the coin. They were both lost, but the older son was lost in the house.

In this weeks podcast we talk about Humility and the connection with generosity. In the first reading we talk about the need to be humble in order to find mercy with God, and the almsgiving that atones for sins. In the second reading, Alanna says Sion but she means Sinai. We are able to approach God in the new covenant in a way that was not possible in the old covenant. We talk about how uncomfortable it is that God humbles himself so much in the Eucharist, especially allowing himself to be abused in the reception of Himself unworthily. We talk about the power of Christ in the Eucharist no matter the setting you receive Him in. In the Gospel we talk about striving towards a positive goal, humility and generosity for the service of God but also for the future in the resurrection.

This week on the podcast we talk about Isaiah sharing with the tribe of Judah what their mission is in exile. While veiled, they are being sent to all the ends of the earth to share their faith and prepare the way so that the Gentiles can recognise Christ when he comes. In the second reading we talk about being disciplined in the faith in order to persevere. In the Gospel we talk about how we will only be strong enough to enter the narrow gate if we are disciplined in the faith and against sin.

This week on the podcast we talk about leadership that is inconsistent in their decision making. The king showed no real backbone and changed his actions based on who was causing problems for him. This is not what real leadership looks like, we are called to look at this and recognize the failings of weak leaders. In the second reading we talk about needing to be strong in the faith, no waffling and leadership weakness will endure the race. In the Gospel we talk about how we are divided in accepting the peace of Christ, not by countries, but in extremely intimate relationships. We are even at times divided in our own selves between "who I was" and "who I am" after a conversion or a vocation adjustment. Integrating the love and peace of Christ fully into yourself is needed for the next phase of growth in the spiritual life.

This week on the podcast we talk about remembering the faith of the Patriarchs of Salvation History. The faith of Moses, and the Israelites when they faced Passover. In the second reading we talk about the faith of Abraham, in his waiting for the promises and his willingness to sacrifice the promise received. In the Gospel we hear Christ giving us a parable with the example of what faith should look like. Being obedient to the will of God and being ready for whatever is coming. He then talks about leaders who fail to be prepared and fall into abuse. These are readings that directly address our times, be ready and prepared for what is coming.

This week on the podcast Fr Ian and Alanna start out with 2 different perspectives on Ecclesiastes and how to go about reading it and the possibilities of approaching this particular book of Scripture. We have a good disagreement that ends in the same outcome, we just take different routes to get there. The second reading we talk about how we are called to seek what is above and to have heavenly goals so that what might seem like vanity is storing treasures in heaven. In the Gospel we talk about the reality that we are not in control. Hoarding materials, and spiritual gifts will harm you in the end, they are to be given to build up the community.

This week on the podcast we talk about service through suffering. In the first reading Alanna connects the symbolism of the story to the symbolism of the New Testament. Service in suffering under the "tree" brings forth fruit, and new life. Abraham serves God with a good and ordered attitude and does not complain to the Lord. His service through the suffering brings forth the announcement of the upcoming birth of Isaac. In the second reading we talk about St Paul and when he talks about the sufferings that are lacking in Christ. We discuss what that really means mystically and how we are to participate in it. Specifically we focus on praising God in the midst of our sufferings. In the Gospel we review the story of Martha and Mary, and we touch on the active vs the contemplative life. What was really happening in this story and why did Jesus respond to her in this way? We also touch on how physical busyness can lead to spiritual sloth.

This week on the podcast we talk about the Good Samaritan. In the first reading we talk about how Moses is telling the Israelites that the answer is not in a far off place, it is in their hearts, given to them by God. To please follow the laws and statutes, in order to avoid the curses just laid out before them. In the second reading we talk about the primacy of Christ and how he is the first, Uncreated, and of the New Creation. The Gospel we talk about Augustine's Allegory of the parable of the Good Samaritan.