What was it about Jesus that compelled Simon, Andrew, James, and John to immediately abandon their livelihoods and follow him the moment he called to them? In this episode Fr. Nathaniel and Jim McNeely explore the irresistible magnetism in Christ's call and how it represents a radical invitation into a new reality marked by the the arrival of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus' gaze and words, charged with the cosmic destiny of the moment, instantly transformed these fishermen into fishers of men. As we discuss, there is an ecstatic quality to this encounter, where the disciples were willing to leave everything behind, propelled by the erotic charge and intimacy of Christ's call.

Moving from law to gospel, from the old covenant to the new, Jesus' invitation ushers in a paradigm shift focused not on circumcision of the flesh but circumcision of the heart. It's a call to desire, relationship and identification with Christ himself. We unpack the contours of discipleship as eros, fear, and intimacy with God on a mission to redeem the world. Dropping their nets, leaving father and livelihood behind, the fishermen enter into lifecreating storm of the Kingdom inaugurated in Christ. Are we willing to find ourselves caught up in it as well?

This podcast involves reading and discussing the Scriptures for Epiphany 3B. They are:

Our texts for this week:

Our reflective conversation following the readings dwells on the glory of Christ revealed in our Christmas scriptures. We explore the paradoxical nature of the Word made flesh, how Christ fulfills yet transforms the law and prophets, and we unpack how Jesus embodies surprising grace and love, the bridegroom who passionately delights in His bride, the Church.

We push back on conceptions of Jesus as merely a new Moses giving harsher commandments, stressing that He shatters all boxes that constrain our view of God. No longer under law but under grace, we are now free as beloved children of God. We tie these themes back to Advent anticipation, being both prepared yet astonished anew at the miracle of the incarnation. We dwell on retaining childlike wonder at this mystery, not letting the Christmas story become mundane familiarity.

Our texts for this week:

Our conversation dwells on interpretations and implications of the Advent scripture passages, particularly contrasting perspectives on the meaning of Mary’s virginity. We explore how we often project assumptions onto biblical texts rather than taking them as they are. We explore (and push back) on Ambrose’s view equating virginity with a higher spiritual calling. Overall, we stress the importance of retaining a childlike wonder at the miracle of Jesus’ birth rather than letting the Christmas story become mundane familiarity. We tie these themes back to Advent’s sense of eager anticipation for Christ’s coming, being prepared yet astonished anew. There is also examination of how God works in unexpected ways through obscure individuals like Mary, subverting human control. We return frequently to the theme of the mystery and glory of the divine made flesh dwelling among humanity.

We're trying a new format for the virtual lectio! After the prayer and reading the texts, Fr. Nathaniel chats with Jim McNeely about a Gospel take on the texts of the week:

The conversation explores the themes of repentance, anticipation, righteousness, justice, mercy and boundless love throughout the texts. Focusing on the figure of John the Baptist, they consider his testament as embodying the culmination of the Old Testament Law and his role in preparing the way for Christ. The scholars use the passage from Isaiah to explore the creation of a new heavens and a new earth, contemplating the relationship between law, prophecy, and angelic and demonic voices. The discussion highlights the tension between human perceptions of justice, righteousness and salvation and God's acts of grace in light of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.

Here is a Virtual Lectio for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year B. Our texts for this week are Isaiah 40:1–11, Psalm 85, II Peter 3:8–18, and Mark 1:1–8. Then the poem "Advent," by Patrick Kavanagh.

A guide to praying with the virtual lectio can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Reconciliation Lectio is produced out of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reconciliation Anglican Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you benefit from this offering, we encourage you to support us via our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EasyTithe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of our content and influence future programming via our Patreon community: the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reconciliation Reflectionary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Here is a Virtual Lectio for the first Sunday of Advent, Year B. Our texts for this week are Isaiah 64:1–9a, Psalm 80, I Corinthians 1:1–9, and Mark 13:24–37⁠. Then the poem, "Advent Sunday," but Christina Rosseti

A guide to praying with the virtual lectio can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Reconciliation Lectio is produced out of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reconciliation Anglican Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you benefit from this offering, we encourage you to support us via our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EasyTithe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of our content and influence future programming via our Patreon community: the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reconciliation Reflectionary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Here is a Virtual Lectio for the last Sunday of Ordinary Time in Year A -- Christ the King Sunday. Our texts for this week are Ezekiel 34:11–20, Psalm 95, I Corinthians 15:20–28, and Matthew 25:31–46. Then two poems: George Herbert's "Thanksgiving" from The Temple, and John Donne's "Hymn to God, my God in my Sickness."

A guide to praying with the virtual lectio can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Reconciliation Lectio is produced out of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reconciliation Anglican Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you benefit from this offering, we encourage you to support us via our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EasyTithe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of our content and influence future programming via our Patreon community: the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reconciliation Reflectionary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Here is a Virtual Lectio for Proper 28 of Year A. Our texts for this week are ⁠⁠⁠⁠Zephaniah 1:7, 12–18, Psalm 90, I Thessalonians 5:1–10, and Matthew 25:14–30 Then we'll read GK Chesterton's poem, "The Donkey."

A guide to praying with the virtual lectio can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Reconciliation Lectio is produced out of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reconciliation Anglican Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you benefit from this offering, we encourage you to support us via our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EasyTithe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of our content and influence future programming via our Patreon community: the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reconciliation Reflectionary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Here is a Virtual Lectio for Proper 27 of Year A. Our texts for this week are ⁠Amos 5:18–24, Psalm 70, I Thessalonians 4:13–18, and Matthew 25:1–13. Then we'll read William Blake's poem, "The Divine Image."

A guide to praying with the virtual lectio can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Reconciliation Lectio is produced out of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reconciliation Anglican Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you benefit from this offering, we encourage you to support us via our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EasyTithe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of our content and influence future programming via our Patreon community: the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reconciliation Reflectionary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Here is a Virtual Lectio for Proper 26 of Year A. Our texts for this week are Micah 3:5–12, Psalm 43, I Thessalonians 2:9–20, and Matthew 23:1–12. ⁠⁠⁠Then we will read Malcolm Guite's poem, "All Saints."

A guide to praying with the virtual lectio can be found ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

The Reconciliation Lectio is produced out of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reconciliation Anglican Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you benefit from this offering, we encourage you to support us via our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠EasyTithe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You can also find more of our content and influence future programming via our Patreon community: the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reconciliation Reflectionary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.