Father Simon Says

2 Kgs 11:1-4, 9-18, 20 What's the big deal with syncretism? Mt 6:19-23 Why is money an important thing?  Letters In the light of the Gospel, how will married couples relate to each other in heaven?  Listener writes in about how many days Jesus spent in the tomb 2 Tim3:7--does this apply to abortion?  Can you change godparents?   Did the Magisterium mishandle the Pentecosta...

Mt 6:7-15 Father talks about the importance of Fatherhood and breaks down the Our Father Letters Why didn't the Sadducees believe in angels? Why is it OK to scatter relics of the saints? Why did Jesus say "God makes the sun rise on the bad and good alike."? Gen 1 and the Trinity--why don't the Jews believe in the Trinity? Jews say Jesus didn't fulfill the prophecy of 3 days and three nights--how d...

2 Kgs 2:1, 6-14 How strong is the power of prophecy?  Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 Should we pray publicly?  Letters Can Father chant the Ketchup bottle again?  I've been to parishes where a layperson organizes confession; they have an MC with a clipboard too. Why?  Word of the Day: Sons of the Prophets  Callers  Comment on Lines for confession:  At my church, we have a perso...

1 Kgs 21:17-29 When we do evil, we get evil Mt 5:43-48 How do I love my enemies? Letters I've accumulated many Catholic items and I don't want to let them go; what should I do with them? Kathleen thanks Father for playing 'Back in the Saddle Again.' Father Simon talks about the importance of good liturgy  Word of the Day: Tax Collectors Callers How to answer friends who asking me to go to the...

1 Kgs 21:1-16 What's the sin of Jezebel? Father warns against using religion for one's personal gain Word of the day: Scoundrel Callers Can Father explain the Ascension? Is it okay to do a Eucharistic service without a priest or deacon?  When did baptisms start for 'regular' people?   What are Father's thoughts about replacement theory?  If you have holy water in a bottle,...

1 Kgs 19:9a, 11-16 What are boundary stones? And why aren’t we better than our ancestors? Letters Should we evangelize the Amish?  What is the Catholic teaching on the perfect government?  Mary comments on St. Paul's preaching and why his sermon 'bombed.'  Letter about the devil hating Latin Bob writes about Fulton sheen and a young Chinese woman 'Little Li' Mary Ellen- there...

1 Kgs 18:41-46 Father tell us who Elijah is like?  Mt 5:20-26 What is real righteousness?  Letters How can we teach Floridians to dress more appropriately for mass?  Can we change the term 'un-born' children to 'un-delivered' children? A reader asks about the future in heaven--can God reveal the unseen world to us?  In Ezekiel when it says "I saw water flowing from the Temple,"...

1 Kgs18:20-39   What's the religious context of 1 Kgs?  Word of the Day: Fulfill Letters: What did Joseph feel when he found out Mary was pregnant?  Did he go with Mary to visit Elizabeth?  Is there a good children's Bible I could use?  David from San Antonio writes about a time when an Extraordinary Minister 'consecrated' the host while simulating the mass. Was this wrong...

1 Kgs 17:7-16 Who was Jezebel and why was she significant?  Mt 5:13-16 How does salt really lose its taste?  Letters Where were Mary, Martha, and Lazarus when Jesus was crucified?  Listener: woman should be encouraged to have children, not persuaded to have an abortion Isn't an argument for abortion, "it would be better that this person hadn't been born?" Listener gives a comment ab...

Gn 3:9-15, 20 What is the enmity that is put between the woman and the man? Letters Steve asks about Peter being the Vicar of Christ, Revelation, and Jerusalem, "the great city" What does it mean, "to carry all mankind on one's shoulders?" in reference to the Divine Mercy Chaplet? Pamala has a prayer for priests to share In the holy land, people avoid the heat of the day, would it have been unusua...

First Reading: Acts 25:13b-21 Father talks about what it meant for Paul to be a Roman Citizen, and how Paul was able to escape torture and death on several occasions. Letters Father answers emails - Catholics can use Pain killers! Word of the Day Agape Callers Mercedes - What does it mean when you hear the words, 'farewell discourse'? Gwen - Question about 1st Fridays.  Supposed to...

Acts 22:30; 23:6-11 Father explains the founding story of our civilization Callers Advice for best scripture for friend as friend does wicca and witchcraft? What are Father's thoughts on comparing the glorified bodies of Jesus and Mary?  Has God ever done something twice on a holy day?  Since we believe that cremation is okay, but not scattering the ashes, why are relics okay and spreadi...

Acts 20:28-38 What is the council of elders?  Letters What should Catholics do if they think abortion is bad for Catholics but ok for non-Catholics. What should I do?  Listener ponders if St. Paul had a pork chop after lifting the restrictions on pork? How do songs get approved for liturgical use?  How do we protect ourselves from evil spirits?  Are there resources for children...

Father discusses this bible: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-new-testament-lattimore/1119742004 Zep 3:14-18a Did Jesus sing? Rom 12:9-16 What's sincere love? Lk 1:39-56 Who was the second person to accept Christ? Letters I have an atheist wife and we just listened to Psalm 37 on Bible in a Year. Can you explain? Was Absalom an anti-type of Christ? Word of the Day: Sincere Callers Gina asks ab...

Gospel - Jn 16:20-23 We are going through a valley of tears here on this earth.  But it's more than that, we are here on this earth to learn something. We must learn how to sacrifice. Letters Email – Do damned souls become demons? Email - regarding tragedy in our nation. Email - I want to hear what people mean when they say they would like to hear from you at a later time? Word of...

First Reading  Acts 18:1-8 Paul went to Athens to try to win the people over with intellectual arguments because the people of Corinth were living a life of immorality with the Priestess of the false goddess Venus. Letters: Email – Have you ever heard the phrase “learn to Obey oh Dust”? Email - How can I get more summer visitation with my daughter? My Ex doesn't want to give...

First Reading -  Acts 17:15, 22—18:1 While we should try to inflict suffering on ourselves, the Christian doesn't try to avoid pain, but rather embrace it. We find meaning in suffering by uniting it to Jesus Christ  and the suffering he endured with his Cross.  Letters: Abe - Is it okay to sing Pan de Vida in Church? Jesus – Would an Angel show up to a person as an Angel...

Acts 16:22-34 What do Paul and Silas show us?  Jn 16:5-11 Why is it good that Jesus is on the heavenly throne?   Letters My 10-year old son wants to know what "take what I say with a grain of salt" means Why do the readings talk about a certain number of fish caught There seems to be a lot of antisemitism in early Christianity; how do we understand this? Word of Day: Convict Callers Is t...

Acts 16:11-15 Why do we use Holy water at mass? Jn 15:26—16:4a How do we hear the voice of the Holy Spirit? Letters What should I do if my co-worker is into crystals?  Father answers a question on divination Word of the day: Intoxicate Callers Some cultures use marijuana spiritually; what does Father think about that? I smoked since teen years Marijuana, but stopped, and I just want to...

Acts 15:22-31 Can we eat meat sacrificed to idols? Letters Why did Pilate and Herod become friends? Why is Egg Harbor called Egg Harbor? When Ez says water is flowing from the side of the Temple, where was that? Word of the Day: Eucharist Callers Is it a sin to smoke marijuana?  Can Father help me distinguish these passages? Matthew 5:39 & 1 Corinthians 5:13

Acts 15:7-21 How did one become a priest in ancient times?  Jn 15:9-11 How did the Father love Jesus?  Word of the day: Apocalypse  Letters When we kneel during the Passion narrative, what are we supposed to do?  Can God do evil?  Will the promises made by the Lord for those who pray the chaplet apply to me?  What does eternal security mean (Jn 10) Is my confirmation...

Acts 15:1-6 Father discusses the religious and cultural dimensions of circumcision Jn 15:1-8 God’s purpose is to do what in our lives? Letters Can Catholics see R-rated movies? My friend is being charged $200 for a baptism; is that OK? Can priests watch secular TV shows? Why does Father talk about Pentecostalism? What’s the tradition about where Lazarus went? What is spy Wednesday? Wha...

Acts 14:19-28 When has the Church been strong? Jn 14:27-31a What was one of the great messianic expectations? Letters What is the Holy Communion fast? What's Father's take on Ez 20:25-26? Listener talks about her experience of confession and forgiveness Listener asks Father Simon about Milton's Paradise Lost Word of the Day: Believe! Callers  When we die do we go right to heaven?  Is it...

Jn 14:21-26 What does Logos really mean? How can we speak by the Holy Spirit? Father explains both Letters Father explains some Church customs in light of Grecian bonfires Listener asks about the "Lamb of God" at mass Sam asks if Judas had to betray Jesus to fulfill Scripture?  Someone told me that the Eucharist isn't Jesus if the host touches the ground; what should I say?  Word of...

Acts 13:26-33 Father explains the linguistic details of today's reading Jn 14:1-6 Does the Bible talk about paved streets of gold?  Letters Listener thanks Father for talking about the Shroud of Turin  If a person created a robot, would it have a soul?  What's the virtue of Christian hope?  Listener has an idea about how to get Catholics to pray the rosary  Was Tiberius a...