Soul Searching: The Church of the Nativity Podcast

In second week of our sermon series on the Psalms of Advent, Father Jason examines the biblical standard of leadership as presented in Psalm 72. A clear understanding of this standard gives us a tool to measure by when picking leaders at all levels of the church and society.

For the first episode of our teaching series on the Psalms of Advent, Father Jason explores Psalms 122 and 72, the psalms ascribed to the first two Sundays of Advent in Year A of the Lectionary Cycle.

Links to sources:

James L. MaysPsalms in the Interpretation series.

https://www.amazon.com/Psalms-Interpretation-Commentary-Teaching-Preaching/dp/0664234399/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=James+L.+Mays+Psalms&qid=1575481781&sr=8-2

Jason Byassee on WorkingPreacher.org

https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=4295

Father Jason begins a sermon series on the Psalms of Advent with Psalm 122, an ancient pilgrimage hymn sung as we people would ascend to Jerusalem for high holy feasts. Father Jason explores the spirituality of pilgrimage as we begin our Advent Pilgrimage to the Feast of the Nativity (a.k.a. Christmas).

Father Jason explores the practice of gratitude in an interview with Jenny Emerson, LMFT. Ms. Emerson, who is also Fr. Jason's big sister, tells a personal and vulnerable story of how a practice of gratitude helped her navigate a very dark time in her life and ultimately drew her closer to God.

Fr. Jason previews and promotes upcoming special episodes of the podcast.

In the third and final episode of our series on the Gospel According to Luke, Fr. Jason explores two prayers of the contemplative tradition that emerged from the Passion/Crucifixion Narrative in Luke. He discusses how he used these prayers interwoven with Jesus' critiques of money and power that lead to Jesus' death to build to a musical climax. The Resurrection is also portrayed musically as the funkiest event ever.

To hear all three movements of the piece go here:

https://soundcloud.com/barefootpriest/sets/luke

Fr. Jason draws on the parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge and the Prophecy of Jeremiah to encourage us not to lose heart; for the days are surely coming when the love of God shall reign.

In part 2 of our 3 part series on the Gospel of Luke, Father Jason examines the theological themes from the middle section of Luke's Gospel, the so called travel narrative. He also discusses how he protrayed these themes in the second movement of the music he wrote for his thesis in Seminary.

Hear the whole piece on Soundcloud:https://soundcloud.com/barefootpriest/sets/luke.