Roar Like The Lamb

The world’s need for mercy is reflected in our own, personal need for forgiveness. Dealing with the reality of our sin and God’s desire to forgive us will change the world. Fr Sam’s beard is for sale.

Show notes: 

Beard Fundraiser Link: https://checkout.square.site/merchant/ML1JVGM9SVQMX/checkout/OPOQVHMFV2COBWW5PDCC6EHX

Isaiah 43:1-7

1 But now thus says the Lord,

he who created you, O Jacob,

he who formed you, O Israel:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.

2

When you pass through the waters I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you.

3

For I am the Lord your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I give Egypt as your ransom,

Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you.

4

Because you are precious in my eyes,

and honored, and I love you,

I give men in return for you,

peoples in exchange for your life.

5

Fear not, for I am with you;

I will bring your offspring from the east,

and from the west I will gather you;

6

I will say to the north, Give up,

and to the south, Do not withhold;

bring my sons from afar

and my daughters from the end of the earth,

7

every one who is called by my name,

whom I created for my glory,

whom I formed and made.”

Probably a multi-part episode, we’re looking at the landscape of a world that is deeply divided and suffering. For example, we experience some division on the pronunciation of the word “pusillanimity.” We get over it. The late Francis Cardinal George once wrote: “In the United States, everything is permitted, even encouraged. … But, while practically everything might be permitted, practically nothing is forgiven. By contrast, in the Church much is not permitted. … But while much is not permitted, everything can be forgiven. Our culture pulls us towards vengeance, our faith towards mercy.” The lack of mercy in the world doesn’t have to be permanent. Our faith teaches us to bring mercy into the world, to bring forgiveness and healing. And speaking of healing, listen to how Paola fixed a toilet. Mercy, Lord, sweet mercy!

Show notes: Check out the good work of the John Paul II Healing Center: https://jpiihealingcenter.org

St. Josephine Bakhita is an amazing example of forgiveness and healing, one who not only showed mercy to those who sinned against her, but also became an instrument of God’s mercy for so many people. The movie about her life is a powerful watch! https://watch.formed.org/products/bakhita-from-slave-to-saint

Do you think it’s possible to connect coffee beans extracted from cat poop to reflections on Holy Week? SPOILER ALERT: it’s not. But we try anyway. Holy Week is great and it gives us that necessary reset to put our lives back in proper order so that we can enter more deeply into a relationship with God.

Show notes:

Fr. Sam provides definitive Biblical and theological proof that Paola is wrong about cats, and dogs are superior. Also, a robust discussion of the reality that effective ministry can't be done alone. God is at work in the Church! We all can play a role in the Church's mission and ministry. The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. Pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, pray for faithful people willing to share their gifts and talents for the sake of the good work of the Gospel, pray to know your own gifts so they can be shared!

Sharing the Gospel is difficult, but often most difficult within the Church. In certain situations, talking about Jesus is easy - someone's never heard of Jesus, someone expresses an interest in the Gospel, you have nothing to lose by talking. But sometimes it's a lot harder - what if this congregation doesn't like what I say and writes to the Bishop? What if people aren't receptive and won't come back to our ministries? In this episode, we wrestle with the challenges and joys of preaching the Gospel.

Episode Description: Paola skipped her reading assignment! Ha! But this year of St. Joseph that Pope Francis has called is exciting and we’re going to look at his apostolic letter Patris Corde, and open up some of the 5…or 7…characteristics of St. Joseph that are important for this year. In this year, let us go to Joseph (Ite ad Ioseph) and find in him a model of Christian living.

Show notes: “Ite ad Ioseph” is pronounced “EE-tay ahd YO-sehf”

Check out Pope Francis’ letter Patris Corde, http://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_letters/documents/papa-francesco-lettera-ap_20201208_patris-corde.html

Episode Description: Paola got “peace” as her word of the year. Now Fr Sam shares his word, “freedom.” There’s discussion of the teaching office of the Church, the risks of mansplaining, why clericalism is just the absence of spiritual fatherhood, and how the spirit of freedom that comes from Christ gives us everything we need to be witnesses of the Gospel.

Show Notes:

Paola sneezed, but she does not have covid. Everything is OK.

The three “munera” or “office/duty” of the priest are the “munus docendi” - the teaching office; the “munus regendi” - the kingly/ruling office; the “munus sanctificandi” - the sanctifying office.

Romans 8:14-17:

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.”

Paola hikes with llamas. Fr. Sam likes Cheerios.

In this episode, we explore the need for and dangers of competition in a Catholic ministry setting. Is being competitive antithetical to good ministry?

Show Notes: the Litany of Humility https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/litany-of-humility-245

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,

Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being loved,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being extolled,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being honored,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being praised,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being preferred to others,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being consulted,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being approved,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being humiliated,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being despised,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of suffering rebukes,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being calumniated,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being forgotten,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being ridiculed,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being wronged,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being suspected,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be chosen and I set aside,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be preferred to me in everything,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

With no preparation and no idea what the topic is, Paola and Fr. Sam sit down to record. Spoiler alert. Paola cries. But it’s the best kind because it’s about the way God is moving powerfully in the hearts of people. So listen in and find out how the Lord worked through SEEK21 and in other ways to transform hearts and lives.

Show notes:

From St. Teresa of Avila

Christ has no body but yours,

No hands, no feet on earth but yours,

Few things in life are as challenging as conflict and correction, whether you are the one who has to do the correcting or the one being corrected. But the Christian life demands a willingness, in charity, to call our brothers and sisters in faith to greater virtue and holiness.

Show Notes: 

For some self-reflection check out: Litany of Fraternal Correction by Clare McCallan

If for some reason you’re not already listening to the #1 podcast out there, do yourself a favor and subscribe to “The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)”

We reference “Crucial Conversations” a great book that helps you learn how to address conflicts head-on while maintaining interpersonal and personal peace. Check it out: Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition https://www.amazon.com/dp/0071771328/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_elZcGbB5ZYH3S?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1