Soul Searching: The Church of the Nativity Podcast

Alleluia Christ is Risen! Because Christ is alive we no longer need to look for life amongst the dead and fallen ways of this world. The Lord is Risen Indeed, Alleluia!

Christ is risen! But that is not the miracle of Easter. The miracle of Easter is forgiveness. The miracle of Easter is that God loves us! If Jesus loved Judas enough to wash his feet, then certainly God Loves you more than you can possibly imagine! Alleluia, Christ is Risen! The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

During the institution of the Last Supper, the night that Jesus washed the disciples' feet, he told them he was giving them a new commandment to love one another. Father Jason explores whether this was an off hand remark of Jesus or a central theme to the Gospel.

The night before Jesus was tortured and crucified, he prayed for the entire world, the Gospel of John tells us. Could you imagine being that empathetic while facing imminent pain and suffering? Jesus' empathy changes the world, and on Good Friday we practice that same empathy so that we can be more like Jesus; so that we can practice empathy in a world too full of suffering; so that God can use our empathy to continue to change the world.

Father Jason explores the danger that Mary of Bethany went through in order to annoint Jesus' feet with nard just before his final week in Jerusalem. Her courage leads us to ask, "For who, for what are we willing to risk our very lives simply to say thank you.?"

Seminarian David Goodpaster gives us refreshing look at the story of the Prodigal Son by focusing on the role of the father in the story. This forgiving parent is not only an image of God but also our guide to be forgiving in our call to be agents of reconciliation.

Father Jason reflects on the fact that sometimes we have to press through the pain of life. Our broken hearts are transformed by God when we are open and vulnerable to that transformation.

Father Jason invites us to the observance of a Holy Lent and challenges us to enter into Lent with our intentions set on God. We are challenged to take on Holy Habits in Lent not to show others how pious we are; rather to imitate the Holy Habits of Jesus so that we might grow to be more like Jesus.

Father Jason rounds out the season of Epiphany and invites us to descend the mountain into the season of Lent. He invites us, in the name of the Church to holy journey of Lent, to journey with Jesus to Jerusalem, to the Cross, and to the Resurrection.