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John, Chapter 10, verses 22-30 In today's podcast, we look at the opposite side of the coin from yesterday's pod.  Yesterday we had to ask ourselves if we desire to be led and how best to hear the voice of God.  Today, we focus on our God's desire to lead us and how the only thing that can take us out of the grasp of God is our very self.   Original Score written and performed...

Gospel of John, Chapter 10, verses 1-10 The Fourth Sunday of Easter is generally called Good Shepherd Sunday.  Appropriately, we focus around that time on Jesus as our Good Shepherd, which we do today and tomorrow.  Good Shepherds know their sheep...and their sheep know them.  The sheep hear the shepherd's voice and they follow.  Which begs the questions - do we hear?  And...

Gospel of John, Chapter 6, verses 52-59 Jesus doubles down on His language, making it clear that He is not just talking in metaphors.  His Body is real food.  His Blood is real drink.  So what will we do with that information?  Is it too much for us?  Will we stay or will we go? Original Score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Gospel of John, Chapter 6, verses 44-51 Jesus continues talking to the crowds (read: us) on two levels.  The first is how we yearn and long for something beyond us - and that emptiness and longing can never be filled by anything other than God.  But the second - and He is becoming more and more explicit about this - is that His Flesh is what fills that yearning.  So how do we make s...

Gospel of John, Chapter 6, verses 35-40 Ever wonder what the will of God is for your life or for a situation?  Jesus answers that question not just once, but twice in our Gospel today.  And it's good news! Original Score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Gospel of John, Chapter 14, verses 6-14 We step away from the 6th Chapter of John's Gospel to celebrate a feast day - that of Ss. Phillip and James.  And within it, we hear an interaction between Jesus and Phillip: Phillip wanting to see the Father and Jesus slapping his head with the palm of his hand.  But here's the best news Jesus gets to remind us, too - when we hear and see and touc...

Gospel of John, Chapter 6, verses 22-29 Jesus, after feeding the 5,000 and walking on the water, is pursued by the crowd.  However, Jesus is not flattered by their attention.  Instead, He challenges them by asking what their intentions are in pursuing Him.  It's a good question and one that remains as strong all these years later.   Ss. Athanasius and Thomas, pray for us....

The Gospel of John, Chapter 6, verses 1-15 We move three chapters later in John's Gospel, and experience one of the great signs in all of the New Testament - Jesus feeds the 5,000.  We begin a pattern that, I'm sure, will be with us all next week: John's great Eucharistic theology.  It begins today with some obvious ties to the Last Supper.  It also includes both reassurance and mis...

Gospel of John, Chapter 3, verses 31-36 Jesus continues with some of the same themes we have heard these past few days, primarily focusing upon the place from which we draw our life.  Those who draw life from heavenly realms speak and act and testify to what comes from above.  Those who draw their life from earthly realms do the same.  It doesn't make us bad people - it just reveals...

Gospel of John, Chapter 3, verses 16-21 Jesus, in His conversation w/ Nicodemus, talks about the essence of who God is and, because of that, what God is about.  God is love.  That's the underlying motive for all God does.  And so what does that look like?  It looks like saving, not condemning.   Original Score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Gospel of John, Chapter 3, verses 7b-15 There's really only one thing the spiritual life boils down to - and that is this: from where are our thoughts, our actions, our attitudes and our visions born?  Are they born from above or below?  Everything else will fall in line behind that decision.  In today's Gospel, Jesus points to the same idea. Original Score written and performed by...

Gospel of John, Chapter 20, verses 19-31 Rather than look at the Gospel of the Day today, we go back 24 hours and read the Gospel from the Second Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday.  Our God doesn't leave us languishing in our guilt, our fear, our despair.  Rather, God seeks us out and calms us w/ His very presence.  For the essence of mercy is forgiveness. St. Mark, pray for us...

Gospel of John, Chapter 21, verses 1-14 In this extraordinary epilogue to John's Gospel, we hear the story of the reclamation of Peter.  It's our story, too.  Rather than running from our sin and hiding from God, God invites us back to the very place of it and transforms it into forgiveness.  It, too, is the story of Easter.  Death to Life.  Original Score written and perf...

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 24, verses 35-48 One of the ways Jesus makes Himself known to us?  By bearing His humanity to us.  As the Gospel of Luke moves toward its conclusion, Jesus stands before His friends and invites them to be witnesses of His presence to all the world, beginning today.

Gospel of Luke, Chapter 24, verses 13-35 Today we hear a story of despair and hope, dreams lost and recovered, feeling alone and being accompanied.  In this story of the disciples traveling on the road to Emmaus, we see ourselves and realize that our God will not leave us in our own hurt, but will draw near to us even though we know nothing about it. Original Score written and performed by Br...

Gospel of John, Chapter 20, verses 11-18 Mary Magdalene is weeping outside the tomb of our Lord on Easter Sunday morning...until the "gardener" shows up.  Then everything changes.  Holy Saturday becomes Easter Sunday.  Many of us live in the same place, waiting for the change to come.   Original Score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 28, verses 8-15 My friends, we have entered the Holy of Holies - the Octave of the greatest feast of the Church year.  Special guest today is my daughter, Bridget.  We talk about our thoughts on this reading as well as what Easter means to us.   Original Score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Book of the Prophet Isaiah, Chapter 52:13 - 53:12 Instead of reading the full passion of the Lord, according to John today, we hear from Isaiah the beautiful passage of the Suffering Servant (this being the fourth reference).  Then we simply spend the rest of the time today talking about Good Friday, and what this means to us.  And what this says about God. Original Score written and per...

Gospel of John, Chapter 13, verses 1-15 As Lent draws to a close this evening, and we begin the feast of the Sacred Triduum, we hear the Last Supper story from John's Gospel.  On this episode we talk about the gift of the Eucharist and how God uses it to remain with us.  We also explore the ties between Passover and the Eucharist and where Eucharist points us in the passage we hear today...

Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 26, verses 14-25 Today we hear the story of Judas going to the Chief Priests and offering to betray Jesus.  But just why did he do so?  The truth is, we will never know.  I explore some possibilities, as well as talk about God's great trust in humanity and our choices.  I don't think I would have as much trust as God does... Original Score written and...

Gospel of John, Chapter 13, verses 21-33, 36-38 On the night before He dies, just after Jesus washes the feet of His friends, Jesus's heart is troubled.  And so He shares that grief with those around the table.  But they don't see it coming.  And with false bravado, they cloak themselves in illusion.  The pieces on the chess board are just about set.  Original Score writte...

Gospel of John, Chapter 12, verses 1-11 Jesus is at the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary following the raising of Lazarus when Mary does something extravagant, intimate and beautiful.  But instead of seeing the love and beauty behind the action, all Judas could see was a waste of resources.  Which side of the line do we fall upon? Original Score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Gospel of John, Chapter 10, verses 31-42 It sounds as if we pick up today exactly where we left off yesterday - but actually two chapters have passed in between.  Jesus is embroiled in conflict again.  Why this time?  Similar reasons.  This time he stated "The Father and I are one".  And the people are upset because of apparent blasphemy.  But let's take a closer look...

Gospel of John, Chapter 8, verses 51-59 After spending the entire week in Chapter 8 of John's Gospel, we reach the end.  And in it, Jesus says something curious: "Whoever keeps my word will never see death."  Just what, exactly, is Jesus saying here?  I speculate but welcome your thoughts as well.   Original Score written and performed by Bridget Zenk

Gospel of John, Chapter 8, verses 31-42 Jesus changes His focus from the Pharisees and begins to hold a mirror up to those who have recently come to "believe in Him."  The results aren't much better.  This mirror shows some actions that these "believers" don't want to see.  They dodge, avoid and eventually lash out at Jesus.  Sound familiar? Original score written and performed...