Oro Valley Catholic

Genesis 22 brings us the story of God's command to Abraham to sacrific his only son, Isaac. Another weird story! So what is going on? What choice do you really have in life? This week on OVC. Reading: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/022524.cfm Music by St. Mark Choir pursuant to One License Annual License w/Podcasting # A-726294 Art: Abraham and Isaac before the Sacrifice, School of Rembran...

"Christ suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that he might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, he was brought to life in the Spirit. In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through wate...

Purgatory is where many of us first taste the joy of Heaven because we start to learn to understand our lives lived here on Earth and our great dependence on the love of God and neighbor. A beginner's guide to purgatory is part of an introduction to heaven, this week on OVC. Readings for the 6th Sunday of OT: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021124.cfm Everything You Ever Wanted To Know Abou...

The Barbie movie is one of the highest grossing pictures of all time. Nominated for best picture, it's director, Greta Gerwig, and the leading actor, Margot Robbie, were both snubbed. The movie is remarkable, though, for several reasons that are explored in OVC. Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020424.cfm Music: Music by St. Mark Choir pursuant to One License Annual License w/Podca...

Sr. Sydney Moss, a Salesian sister, is this week's guest on OVC. When do you have to decide what to do with your life? Sr. Sydney's advice is to explore, learn about yourself and then you will know when it is right. As the heart of vocation is the divine call to love, whether in marriage or religious life. Listen to Sr. Sydney's great story and apply it's lessons to your own desire for vocation or...

The Thirds Sunday of Ordinary Time is Sunday of the Word of God. Catholics think about the Word of God differently than some other Christians and Islam. Learn more about the Word of God this week on OVC. Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson on the Bible by Dr. Christopher Kaczor: https://www.wordonfire.org/articles/sam-harris-and-jordan-peterson-on-the-bible/ Readings for the 3rd Sunday in OT: https://b...

John the Baptist was asked in the Gospel for the 3rd Sunday in Advent, "Who are you?". He answered, "A voice crying in the wilderness..." How would you answer that question? That very question was asked our our priests in America. There answers were thoughtful and not altogether surprising. You can read about them here: https://catholicproject.catholic.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Catholic-Proje...

Sloth, the spiritual sin of thought, word and deed. How to combat sloth in our lives? Perseverance! Show up on time - practice care in speech - be intellectually curious about important matters. Avoid silly, time-wasting diversions. Welcome to life! Jesus says in today's Gospel - "Watch!" Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120323.cfm Music by St. Mark Choir pursuant to One License An...

The Feast of Christ the King describes what eternal life is like. Ultimately, how we treat the least of God's people is how we treat God. Christ is a very different king who gives eternal life. Compare him for instance to the Epic of Gilgamesh, a far more ancient story about a king who searches for and loses eternal life. This week on OVC. Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112623.cf...

Matthew 25 is all about the last things; death, judgment, heaven and . If we are like the wise virgins from last Sunday, we are prepared. If we are like the wise investors from this week, we show a return to the master. So much depends on whether we see God as a loving Father or as a harsh and calculating master. This week on OVC. Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111923.cfm Music:...

The powers that be question Jesus authority to teach. Jesus answers by affirming the Pharisees authority to teach, but more importantly to practice what they teach. If you are going to talk the talk, walk the walk - right up Mr. Calvary. Matthew 23 this week on OVC. Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/110523.cfm Music by St. Mark Choir pursuant to One License Annual License w/Podcasti...

Hey guys ... do you love anyone enough to be moved to tears? What does it means to love with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength? Vulnerability! You got lots to lose. More this week on OVC. Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102923.cfm Music by St. Mark Choir pursuant to One License Annual License w/Podcasting # A-726294

Jesus is asked by the Pharisees and Herodians if he pays the tax to the Emperor of Rome. A coin stamped with Caesar's image is produced. Jesus then asks whose image appears on the the human person. God or the Evil Empire? A timely discussion for the chaos of today. This podcast refers to a program aired on 10-18-23 on the Catholic University Vimeo channel entitled "Weird Religion" that can be foun...

Marriage in the Catholic Faith is a sacrament that points towards and makes present the union of Christ and the Church. In this podcast, I talk about the meaning of the sacrament. Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/101523.cfm Music by St. Mark Choir pursuant to One License Annual License w/Podcasting # A-726294

Chaos reigns! Israel invaded, Iran calls for a Islamic uprising, China more aggressive, Russia and Ukraine in stalemate. In Washington, the Speaker of the House is overthrown for no particular purpose - just devilment. The Lord talks about a vineyard and firing the tenants who mismanage God's world. Jesus came to save us from something more that the world is not nice enough. Evil is having its day...

St. Therese of Lisieux was a playwrite within her own convent. One of her last plays was, "The Triumph of Humility." The real drama was the role of humility in her own life. More on that in this episode of OVC. Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100123.cfm Music "Alleluia" by St. Mark Choir pursuant to One License Annual License w/Podcasting # A-726294

Jesus uses a vineyard as a metaphor to describe the New Jerusalem and eternity. St. Augustine said that, for the workers in the parable, they all received the same pay because eternity is incapable of being subdivided. So what is the eternal City of God? Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/092423.cfm Music: "Alleluia" by St. Mark Choir pursuant to One License Annual License w/Podcasti...

Psychedelics and bellbottoms are back. Is God just a brain event or are we encountering the reality of God's presence in the the natural world. OVC says God is not a trip, good or bad, but eternal life. "Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will suffer the LORD's vengeance, for he remembers their sins in detail. Forgive your neighbor's injustice;" Sir. 2...

In October, 2023 the final phase of the Synod on Synodality will occur in Rome. There is a lot of controversy surrounding it. The Gospel for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time is a very topical Gospel. The level of distrust that the German Synod has cause has inflamed what otherwise would appear to be an exercise in Church listening and communion. What separates conflict between friends and dominati...

Last week Christ gave the keys of the kingdom to St. Peter and told him that the power of the netherworld would not conquer the Church. This week, Jesus says that he will, himself, conquer sin and death on the cross. Peter has objections. We might also. Why should we trust the Lord, this week on OVC. Readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090323.cfm M...

Ideology is an idea about how the human world operates. By its nature, it is directed towards this world. Communism, liberalism, nazism, conservative, progressive and liberal are all ideologies - some better, much better, that others. But the Catholic Faith is not an ideology - Catholics may have hopes for this world, they might even be arch ideologues - but the Faith entrusted to St. Peter promis...

Jesus travels to the land of the Gentiles to fulfill the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, ministering to him, loving the name of the LORD, and becoming his servants— all who keep the sabbath free from profanation and hold to my covenant, them I will bring to my holy mountain and make joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and sacrifices wil...

Hundreds of teens, including our St. Mark LifeTeen group, had the opportunity to attend Steubenville back in July. Listen to our teens tell their story about how much they loved the weekend and how they've created long-time bonds with God and friends!

All the Gospels tells stories of Jesus doing what God does. This Sunday, Jesus is transfigured before the disciples. It is, however, not the only time where Jesus does what the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob does. This week on OVC. Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080623.cfm "My Song is Love Unknown" by St. Mark Choir pursuant to One License Annual License w/Podcasting # A-726294

Wisdom and the Kings of Israel? In Deuteronomy 17, God warns Israel about kings, wives, money and horses - read power, , money and war. Some old problems, same old results. Is there a different way? Think about God's kingdom and earthly politics this week on OVC. Readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/073023.cfm Music by St. Mark Choir pursuant to One License Annual License w/Podcasting...