Project Whetstone

By Blaze Ministry 707

Our mission is to help SHAPE and SHARPEN your faith by sharing our Catholic Faith experience in the 707 and Beyond. We will share how our Faith has shaped us to who we are today and will be tomorrow. ... more

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How many episodes does Project Whetstone have?

The podcast currently has 24 episodes available.

Project Whetstone episodes:

May 15, 2021 Ep 13: ACTIVATE YOUR FAITH
In this episode, we discuss the readings for the solemnity of the Ascension. The readings all point to the glorious majesty of Christ as He takes His place in heaven at the right hand of God. But before doing so, Jesus gives His disciples some final instructions as well as the promise of a "gift" to help the budding Church accomplish her mission--the Holy Spirit.
Time Stamps:
(3:55) What have you learned about yourself in this pandemic?
(14:30) Why 2 Different readings on this 7th Sunday in Easter?
(19:24) Theme of today’s readings
(21:45) What does Ascension Mean?
(23:20) First Reading
(47:20) Responsorial
(1:03:01) Second reading
(1:18:44) Gospel Reading
(1:41:31) Final Thoughts
The first reading is the very beginning of the Acts of the Apostles, which is when Jesus ascends into heaven and tells them of the "Promise of the Father" the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Church responds with psalm 47, which acclaims God who has chosen to rule Israel directly as king, and, through Israel, reveal His power and plan of salvation to the whole world.
The second reading from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a about how we are to understand the Church and Christ's place in it and over us as Head. In being "seated at the right hand of God", Jesus is Lord of all creation which includes the highest choirs of angels. Christ leaves us the Holy Spirit to make us members of the body of Christ and build the kingdom of God on earth.
Lastly, the Gospel is Mark's rendition of the ascension of Jesus, where He instructs His disciples to go and preach the gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and then on to the whole world. Through us as His hands, he asks us to work the extraordinary miracle of ordinary love, which the world desperately needs. Little by little, Christ sends His disciples to conquer the world for His kingdom, not through violence and manipulation, but by little acts of great love right where we find ourselves.
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1h 53min
May 08, 2021 Ep 12: EASIER SAID THAN DONE (Love One Another as ALL are welcome)
Description: You may be relieved to hear that this is a relatively short episode but it is still just as potent. Of course, you are still encouraged to use timestamps. Please like, share, comment, subscribe, rate, and all that good stuff to help us out. Most importantly, please pray for us. We are praying for you!
Readings for the Sixth Sunday in Easter: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050921.cfm
Time Stamps:
(2:18) Check In
(4:45) Theme of Readings
(9:29) 1st Reading
(29:34) Responsorial
(41:02) 2nd Reading
(1:03:00) Gospel Reading
(1:18:24) Final Thoughts
The common thread running through the readings is the theme of koinonia which is Greek for communion, fellowship, community, and friendship.
These readings explore the central place of God’s love for us as the source and foundation of Christian communion, the love we are called to have for one another. Love is the modus operandi of the Church because it is the heart of God--the core of who God is. By analogy, love is the “saltiness” of us who are called to be the “salt of the earth.” Without love, it is impossible to really call ourselves disciples of Christ.
The first reading from Acts of the Apostles reveals how God had his sights, not just on the chosen people of Israel but on the whole world. “God shows no partiality.” All are called into the folds of His love. A very important reminder in an increasingly partisan and polarized world.
The responsorial psalm indicates that this was God’s plan for the world from the beginning, well before the time of Jesus in the flesh. It is a cause for joy and for “new songs” to be sung.
The second reading continues with our journey through John’s first letter. Having already stated that we are God’s children and that we remain in Christ through keeping the commandments, chiefly, the command to love one another as Christ loves us; John roots this statement in God’s love, or rather, in the fact that “God is love.” Love is fundamental to who God is and so it is especially fundamental to our identity as God’s children. Love is not a “feeling” but rather a commitment--to will the good of the other.
The Gospel is a snippet of Jesus’ Last Supper discourses with His disciples. Among Jesus’ last words before entering into His passion, Jesus gives them the commandment to love one another as He has loved them. Having reached the point where He has communicated to the disciples everything He has heard from His Father, Jesus now pronounces them friends as opposed to servants or slaves. This elevates us to a new relationship and new way of being since we are given the opportunity to peer into the plans of God--to build a kingdom of love. #BlazeMinistry707 #ProjectWhetstone #Catholic #CatholicPodcast
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1h 28min
May 01, 2021 Ep 11: AUTHENTIC DISCIPLESHIP
In this episode, we discuss the readings of the Fifth Sunday in Easter (5/2/21)
The common thread running through the readings is authentic discipleship. What are the signs of a true Christian disciple? How can we “check” ourselves? What questions should we ask ourselves as we examine our conscience?
Feel free to use the time stamps and listen to some now, some more later. We have a lot to share. And if you find this helpful, it is a great encouragement to us if you rate, share, and subscribe to the podcast.
(1:58) Check-In about first 5 months of 2021
(14:34) Themes of todays readings
(17:30) 1st Reading
(50:41) Responsorial
(1:07:45) 2nd Reading
(1:40:40) Gospel
(2:06:50) Final Thoughts
Saul, also known as Paul, was an infamous persecutor of Christians who suddenly converted and became one of Christianity’s most important voices. How could his fellow Christians know his conversion was the real deal? Paul is vouched for by his friend as well as by his own actions and preaching.
The responsorial psalm highlights the importance of our praise of God for the evangelization of people in present times and future generations. The selection from John’s letter builds upon the statement of last week’s second reading, that we are children of God.
With this in mind, John reminds the Church that key characters of a child of God include keeping the commandments of Jesus and, above all, love. Lastly, the Gospel is about Jesus’ I Am statement: I Am the true vine. It is of essential importance that a Christian stay connected to Jesus and “remain in [Him]” by keeping His commands. This is the only connection that can truly bear the fruit of salvation. However, in our freedom, we can overly attach ourselves to vines that are not necessarily good for us. So it behooves us to, daily, “unplug” and attach ourselves to the true vine of Christ, through silence, prayer, reading God’s Word, and being an active part of the Church community.
( https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050221.cfm )
Thank you and pray for us, we are praying for you!
#BlazeMinistry707 #ProjectWhetstone #SundayMass #CatholicPodcast
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2h 23min
April 26, 2021 Ep 10: NO GOD NO PEACE KNOW GO KNOW PEACE
4/25/21: The 4th Sunday in the Easter Season....In this episode we break down the readings from the Fourth Sunday of Easter( https://bible.usccb.org/Bible/readings/042521.cfm ) . The common theme throughout the readings is the exhortation to know the Lord and His goodness and thereby come to know ourselves and the salvation God offers us. It is a call to personal relationship with God through intimacy and mutual understanding. Through getting to know God, you will understand just how good and therefore trustworthy and loving God is.
Time Stamps
(4:53) Theme for readings
(8:17) Relationship with God vs Building Intimacy with God
(22:44) 1st Reading
(48:08) Responsorial
(1:04:35) 2nd Reading
(1:29:11) Gospel Reading
(1:47:28) Final Thoughts

Peter and John, having healed a well-known crippled beggar at the temple, proclaim that it is the name of Christ who is the source and that salvation for all comes through Jesus' name. In the responsorial, we return to psalm 118 which is the psalm about the rebuilding of the temple and, this time, focusing on the goodness of God. The second reading is John's letter to the Church reminding us that we are truly children of God and, like Christ, that means we have been set apart--made different from the rest of the world--in a profound way. Lastly, John's Gospel reading is one of Jesus' famous I Am statements: I am the Good Shepherd. A shepherd is supposed to take care of and protect the sheep of his flock. Despite the failure of the leaders of Israe to do so, God sends Jesus to shepherd Israel (as promised in Ezekiel 34) and intends to be the Good Shepherd even to the point of dying for His sheep--us, His Church.
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2h 1min
April 18, 2021 Ep 009: WITNESS IN WORD & DEED (3rd Sunday of Easter)
The tomb is still empty! Thank you for rejoining us after our little break. We hope your Divine Mercy Sunday was blessed and fruitful. This episode, we discuss the readings from the 3rd Sunday in Easter. Here is a link: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/041821.cfm
Remember to TAKE YOUR TIME and use the timestamps!
(3:00) Easter Check-In
(13:22) Theme of today's readings
(16:10) First Reading
(35:08) Responsorial Psalm
(41:54) Second Reading
(59:19) Gospel Reading
(1:19:25) Final Thoughts
The theme for this week is witnessing to word and deed. When we say God is faithful, we mean that what God promises, God fulfills and that we can count on God’s Word. As His people, the Church is entrusted with the tradition of faith begun in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; brought to fulfillment in Jesus, continued in Peter and the Twelve, and carried on in the Church today through us until “the end of the age.” The primary content of that tradition is all that God has said and done. And so, we too are called to a Holy “integrity” and be faithful to God’s Word in our deeds “in and out of season.”
The first reading (as all the first readings in the Easter season) is from the book of the Acts of the Apostles, which is a beautiful book about how the Twelve carry on the mission of Christ doing and saying many of the very same things their Lord did before them. Here Peter and John, after miraculously healing the lame beggar at the temple, explain that it was not their own holiness that is at work but that of Jesus whom they rejected. But here is an opportunity to make up for their mistake and trust in Jesus. We take a moment here to discuss the canon of scripture and what that means for us as Christians. To learn more you can read about it in CCC 120-141 ( http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p1s1c2a3.htm#IV ).
The responsorial is the fourth psalm, “Lord, let your face shine on us.” This poetic phrase is asking God to smile upon us, His people, and look on us in favor and delight, much like how a parent might look upon their child. The psalmist encourages others to likewise trust in God much like a child trusting their parent because they know God to be good and trustworthy.
The second reading is from the first letter of John who urges Christians to be like God in that we too should be faithful to Jesus’ commandments and “keep” them by, first, knowing them, but also abiding by them. Try as we might not to, when we do mess up Christ is there to speak on our behalf as our Advocate.
Lastly, the Gospel reading is of a resurrection appearance of Jesus to a group of disciples. It takes place immediately after Jesus appeared to two disciples who were on the road to Emmaus (cf. John 24:13:35) and then returned to Jerusalem to share their encounter with the other disciples. As they were doing so, Christ again appears showing everyone that He had truly resurrected in body and soul (hence the eating of the fish) and that everything from His miracles, rejection, passion, death on a cross, and resurrection was all a part of God’s plan made known to us through scripture the scriptures--the law of Moses, the psalms, and the prophets. God had said he would do it and it has been accomplished through Christ (cf. Isaiah 46:11, Ezekiel 24:14).
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#ProjectWhestone
#CatholicPodcast
#SundayMass
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1h 30min
April 04, 2021 Ep 008: RISE TO YOUR NEW LIFE (Easter Sunday)
Happy Easter! Alleluia and Glory to God in the highest! Thank you for tuning in and being with us for this special episode. It is Easter, a time where the Church celebrates our Lord’s victory over death, rises from the grave, opens the path to heaven for all to follow. So the theme for the readings we hear is rising to new life. The Paschal Mystery is the mystery of our salvation. Christ was not raised simply for His own sake, but for all. As Christ rises to new life, He brings us with Him.
Take Your Time, Gnaw on Each Section
(2:30) - Gratitude and History in the making
(4:24) Jeremey's Quotes/T-shirts and The Teruel Tales
(12:28) Technical Talk on when LENT really ends and that's not TODAY
(15:22) Theme: Raised To New Life
(19:17) 1st Reading
(37:44) Responsorial Psalm
(55:00) 2nd reading(s)
(1:05:42) SEQUENCE before the Gospel...What is that?
(1:17:26) Gospel Reading
(1:35:57) Final Thoughts and Invitations to you
The first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles and Peter is taking the first step in proclaiming the gospel to the world and its people beyond Jerusalem. The Church today is worldwide, because Peter took this step. The Responsorial psalm, psalm 118, is a psalm of great rejoicing. At the time the psalm was written it was when Jerusalem welcomed back the Hebrews who had been exiled and were allowed to rebuild the temple. This is a type of the resurrection. The second reading options are exhortations by St. Paul to the Colossians and the Corinthians. Both have the message of living out a life of virtue and holiness in imitation of Christ because that is the path to resurrection. The sequence is a unique feature of the Easter Sunday mass. It is a poem or hymn, a piece of sacred art inserted into the mass as an aid to our worship. It is the Victimae paschali laudes or Praises of the Paschal Victim. It is a fruit of the Church’s reflection on salvation history. And, lastly, the gospel reading from John is the discovery of the empty tomb by, first, Mary Magdala who goes to tell Peter and John. They find the tomb void of Christ but the burial cloths are still there. This is the first joyful cry of the Church for the Easter season: “The Tomb is Empty!”
Just a note on upcoming events regarding this podcast, we will be taking a break and will not release an episode for the Second Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy Sunday) but we will return with a new episode for the Third Sunday of Easter. In the meantime here is a reflection on the Easter theme of new life by Jeremy.
https://aliistradere.wordpress.com/2021/04/01/a-new-commandment-a-new-humanity/
And remember to take advantage of the time stamps. Pray for us as we pray for you! Christ is risen!
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1h 43min
March 28, 2021 Ep 007: PREPARE yourself to be SET APART (Palm Sunday)
This is a special episode for a special day in the Church’s calendar: Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week in which the Church prepares to celebrate the Paschal Mystery, one of our faith’s central mysteries of faith. Being such a special liturgy at the beginning of a week “set apart”, this episode is also especially long. So, again, feel free to use the timestamps particularly with regard to the events of Holy Week in the Church which we discuss during the Gospel reading.
(6:20) Lent Check-In
(9:53) Theme of Readings
(13:42) Why an extra reading before Mass starts?
(22:30) 1st Reading
(35:15) Responsorial and the 'Dark Night of the Soul'
(55:40) 2nd Reading
(1:11:56) Gospel Reading
(1:42:39) Helpful Tips to 'Prepare' for Holy Week and Easter
The Paschal Mystery is the set of events in Christ’s life by which Christ saves us from sin and paves the path to heaven. The events are the passion/suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. Being the Sunday before Easter, Palm Sunday’s theme is to prepare for this great mystery of salvation, this set of moments by which God fulfills the plan He set in motion and has been preparing His people for since the beginning.
Palm Sunday begins unusually with a processional gospel, a reading of the story of Jesus coming into Jerusalem and being welcomed as a conquering hero and king of Israel. Of course, Jesus fulfills their hope in ways beyond their expectation but it is fitting nonetheless. The first reading is one of Isaiah suffering servant songs. The scroll of Isaiah has several of these servant songs that speak of an unnamed servant of God who is unjustly persecuted and treated harshly but by this servant’s suffering, God will cleanse the heart of Israel.
Our responsorial psalm is Psalm 22 with the refrain: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Jesus utters these same words from the cross as he experiences a very real, human experience of suffering.
The second reading is a Christological hymn about Christ who “humbled himself” to the point of death, and because God exalts the lowly, Jesus is exalted above all because He made Himself the lowest of all.
Finally, in the gospel, we read two chapters of Mark that recount the events of Jesus’ week in Jerusalem from His anointing at Bethany all the way until His being laid in the tomb. The Church remembers all these things through Her liturgies particularly this week of Holy Week through the celebration of the Chrism Mass, traditions of fasting, Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday) ending with the moment we’ve all been waiting and preparing for, which is Easter! If you’ve never been to an Easter Vigil Mass, you are highly encouraged to attend one but, fair warning, plan for about a 2-hour mass or so.
Have a Blessed Holy Week! See you on the other side!
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1h 55min
March 22, 2021 Ep 006: God Makes All Things New...Strive for Perfection (5th Sunday of Lent)
This is a longer episode so feel free to take advantage of the timestamps feature of this podcast. Listen to some now, some later, skip around or repeat sections to gnaw on for deeper reflection. And, as always, thank you for listening!
(2:30) St. Patrick
(8:55) 1st reading
(30:55) Responsorial
(43:34) 2nd Reading
(1:08:10) Gospel
(1:29:17) Final Thoughts
The theme we discerned for the readings of the 5th Sunday of Lent (Year B) is God is doing something new. Salvation history is God’s plan to make the world and his people new again.
The first reading discusses a new covenant in which God plans to write the law of His love on the hearts of His people.
Our response (Psalm 51) is a prayer to make our heart clean and thereby prepared for the sake of God’s purpose.
The second reading from the letter to the Hebrews teaches us about the human heart of Jesus who is like the first priest mentioned in the bible, king Melchizedek.
Being perfected in the sense of completing His mission, Jesus becomes our bridge to eternal life and exemplar of the new life God wishes us to live here and now.
Lastly, the gospel relays Jesus’ mission that the new covenant, which will be instituted in His blood, is going to redefine the people of God. Instead of solely the Jewish people, the elect is going to include all peoples and nations. The mark of the Church will not be based on race or nationality, it will be based on faith and servitude to God. This is the new kingdom of God.
You can find the readings here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/032121-YearB.cfm
Connect with us on IG and facebook: @BlazeMinistry707
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1h 37min
March 14, 2021 Ep 005: Jesus Means "God Saves" (4th Sunday of Lent)
Description: Here we discuss the readings of the 4th Sunday of Lent, Laetare (Rejoice) Sunday. The theme is that God saves. Out of God’s love for us, God sent his Son, Jesus (whose name means “God saves”), to save us particularly from the contradiction of sin. Sin is a contradiction (literally: speaks or declares against) to God’s word.
Where God speaks life and blessing on us and is our great Advocate, sinfulness together with Satan (meaning Accuser) clamors for our death and condemnation. In choosing to sin, we contradict the work God wishes to accomplish in and for us through grace which is to make us a royal priesthood, a holy nation--a people of God perfected in love.
The readings for the 4th Sunday in Lent: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/031421-YearB.cfm
To read about Moses raising up a serpent as mentioned in the Gospel, see Numbers 21:4-9
( https://bible.usccb.org/bible/numbers/21?3=#04021003 ) Edit: it is Laetare Sunday, not Laudare Sunday and Laetare in Latin is another word for rejoice.
Time Stamps
(14:40) - First Reading
(40:54) - Responsorial Psalm
(50:57) - Second Reading
(1:05:00) - Gospel Reading
(1:30:55) - Final Thoughts
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1h 38min
March 07, 2021 Ep 004: BACK TO THE BASICS (3rd Sunday of Lent)
In this episode, we discuss the wisdom of God as found in the readings of the 3rd Sunday in Lent. God’s divinely revealed law is not just a set of arbitrary rules, but a training or teaching in the wisdom of love. Like a parent raising children, God starts us with the “no”s and “do not”s, but leads us to love—love of God and love of neighbor.
The law is ultimately for our good and benefit, which is the wisdom of God’s law. To the world that tends to glorify the self first, the ways of Christ seem foolish and counterproductive.
Nevertheless, we proclaim Christ crucified as the evidence and proof of God’s love for us and as our model and exemplar. Out of love for His heavenly Father, Jesus “cleanses” the temple in the sight of God’s people. His zeal for His Father’s house, at once, shows us how God is willing to fight and die for the purity of our faith and the salvation of our soul, but also how God’s zeal should be lovingly reciprocated by us for God.
Here is a link to the readings of the Third Sunday of Lent: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030721-YearB.cfm
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#CatholicPodcast (5:00) - Cycle Readings VS Scrutiny Readings
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1h 12min

FAQs about Project Whetstone:

How many episodes does Project Whetstone have?

The podcast currently has 24 episodes available.