What God is Not

This week Fr. Michael unpacks two scripture passages that many find hard to receive, especially with our knowledge that God is good and loving.

References:
Episode with Abigail
Mark 11: 12-25, the passage about the fig tree
Exodus 7:13-14, the passage on the hardening of Pharaoh's heart

Episodes on fear of God:

• Be Not Afraid
• Fear of the Lord

Follow and Contact Us!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
We're on YouTube!
Join our Goodreads Group
Fr. Michael's Twitter
Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
Our Website
Our Nonprofit

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

This week we're joined by special guest, Bree Solstad. Bree is a new member of the podcast team and works as our video editor.

In today's episode, Bree surprises Mother Natalia by telling her why she loves her. This conversation expands more into how we see Christ in one another, how we grow in His image and likeness, and how Bree and her husband work together to create each video.

References:
What Tragedy is Not with Bree Solstad

Follow and Contact Us!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
We're on YouTube!
Join our Goodreads Group
Fr. Michael's Twitter
Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
Our Website
Our Nonprofit

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

This week we're joined by special guest, Bree Solstad. Bree recently joined the podcast team as our video editor. Thanks Bree!

Mother Natalia, Bree, and Fr. Michael talk about responding to loss. This can be as the person who experiences the loss or as someone empathizing with the person who experienced the loss. They talk about childlikeness in our relationship with God, and the beauty of the Sacrament of Confession.

References:
Bree's Interview on Edify Podcast
Bree's Interview with Keith Nester
Reflection on the Widow of Nain

Follow and Contact Us!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
We're on YouTube!
Join our Goodreads Group
Fr. Michael's Twitter
Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
Our Website
Our Nonprofit

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

This week Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia talk about SEEK and their theme "Follow Me." They reflect on their experience at SEEK last year as well as the patron saint for SEEK25, St. Joan of Arc.

Follow and Contact Us!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
We're on YouTube!
Join our Goodreads Group
Fr. Michael's Twitter
Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
Our Website
Our Nonprofit

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

This week we're joined by special guests Sandy and Therese. Sandy and Fr. Michael talk a little about Humanality, a group that Sandy helps run. Then Fr. Michael, Sandy, and Therese share about the forming of the outreach from the Proto-Cathedral, what brought them there, and what has kept them there. There's good discussion on community and family.

References:
Leaning In (the episode on fasting)
Humanality

Follow and Contact Us!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
We're on YouTube!
Join our Goodreads Group
Fr. Michael's Twitter
Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
Our Website
Our Nonprofit

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

This week Mother Natalia uses this episode to prepare for a talk she's giving. She talks about accepting the state in which you find yourself. She uses some quotes from St. Faustina to help illustrate the point of keeping close to God in the midst of your struggles. Mother Natalia talks about accepting the will of God in the present moment, even when you don’t like the situation you find yourself in.

We're joined this week by audience of one, Abigail!

References:
He Leadeth Me by Fr. Walter Ciszek

Follow and Contact Us!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
We're on YouTube!
Join our Goodreads Group
Fr. Michael's Twitter
Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
Our Website
Our Nonprofit

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

This week Fr. Michael talks about some of the hidden sacrifices of parents. Fr. Michael talks about the hermeneutics of moms and dads with two separate stories of parents he knows who are living out their ordinary vocation.

There's also a mini-topic this week talking about sainthood in the ordinary life.

References:
A Sacred Beginning: Nurturing Your Body, Mind, and Soul during Baby's First Forty Days by Sarah Brangwynne & Sasha Rose Oxnard
Pray for Us: 75 Saints Who Sinned, Suffered, and Struggled on Their Way to Holiness by Meg Hunter-Kilmer
He Leadeth Me by Fr. Walter Ciszek

Want to suggest a mini-topic? Become a patron on Patreon!

Follow and Contact Us!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
We're on YouTube!
Join our Goodreads Group
Fr. Michael's Twitter
Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
Our Website
Our Nonprofit

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

This week we're joined by special guest Dr. Gerry Crete. Dr. Gerry and Mother Natalia talk about some of their favorite Star Trek episodes and how they relate to parts work.

References:
The Inmost Self with Dr. Gerry Crete
Litanies of the Heart by Dr. Gerry Crete
Dr. Gerry’s Review of Inside Out
Dr. Gerry’s Review of Inside Out 2

Follow and Contact Us!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
We're on YouTube!
Join our Goodreads Group
Fr. Michael's Twitter
Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
Our Website
Our Nonprofit

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

This week Mother Natalia reflects on two listener emails. One talks about welcoming people at church and the ways we can be stretched. Another talks about recognizing the humanity in Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia in the beginning episode banter. Mother Natalia also reflects on a passage in a book by Metropolitan Anthony Bloom.

References:
The Inmost Self with Dr. Gerry Crete
Living Prayer by Metropolitan Anthony Bloom

Follow and Contact Us!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
We're on YouTube!
Join our Goodreads Group
Fr. Michael's Twitter
Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
Our Website
Our Nonprofit

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

This week Fr. Michael talks about the various aspects of Jesus we can encounter in confession. He highlights Jesus as healer, teacher, and judge. Fr. Michael talks about how we can naturally limit our understanding of Jesus to just those three components at a specific time, but how Jesus has many parts of His character that we can encounter all at once.

Follow and Contact Us!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
We're on YouTube!
Join our Goodreads Group
Fr. Michael's Twitter
Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
Our Website
Our Nonprofit

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show