Wadi Cherith

Send us Fan Mail We unpack why only Matthew and Luke tell the Nativity, how their details differ, and what those differences mean. We trace genealogies, geography, and symbolism to show how theology and history meet in the manger. • Matthew and Luke as distinct Nativity witnesses • Gospels as theological narratives, not biographies • Genealogy patterns and the five women • Joseph’s justice, mercy,...

Send us Fan Mail We revisit the late-90s classic The Matrix to test its theology and philosophy, challenge the simulation hype, and ask what “real” means for faith, freedom, and love. From Gnosticism to “tasty wheat,” we weigh symbols against substance and land on a call to choose the concrete world. Intro music provided by Holly Serio

Send us Fan Mail We celebrate Halloween by diving into The Twilight Zone as a trove of modern parables that press on fear, conscience, and hope. Rod Serling’s craft opens space to talk about mob panic, prejudice, premonition, mental health, and a Christian view of death without preaching.  It's not necessary to be familiar with the episodes we discuss prior to listening, but there are spoiler...

Send us Fan Mail Wrestling with God takes on literal meaning in the remarkable story of Jacob. As we dive deep into Genesis, we uncover a patriarch whose life defies our expectations of what a "biblical hero" should be. This episode challenges our sanitized understanding of faith. The biblical narrative doesn't whitewash Jacob's flaws or present his journey as a neat moral less...

Send us Fan Mail On March 13, 2013, the world watched as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, clothed simply in a white cassock and stole, setting aside much of the traditional papal regalia. In that moment, he was introduced to the world as Pope Francis. Over the past twelve years, our Bishop of Rome has guided us with a message rooted in joy, humility, and d...

Send us Fan Mail 2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope". The concept of a Jubilee Year comes from the very beginning of Sacred Scripture in the Book of Leviticus. In our examination of this ancient and new idea in our faith we will look at ideas like redemption, reconciliation, and how this revolutionary concept of a year of Sabbath rest, restorat...

Send us Fan Mail Today we discuss our thoughts on the 1946 Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life. You've known George Bailey your entire life, but what can he teach you about responding to the movement of the Holy Spirit within you, duty, family, and angels that appear as talking galaxies? Join us as we once again try to force theology into a movie everyone was just trying to enjoy. B...

Send us Fan Mail "St. Paul preached and people rioted. I preach and they give me tea." -N.T. Wright We've all heard good homilies and we've heard bad homilies. Have you ever wondered what a priest is thinking while he's preaching?  This week's episode of Wadi Cherith is a little different in tone. Instead of diving into a theological or cultural topic, we will be disc...

Send us Fan Mail The Psalms are more than mere words; they are a transformative force in our lives. From personal anguish to shared hope, these texts channel our raw emotions into prayer, offering a space for reflection and empathy. Enrich your understanding of how the Psalms, memorized and recited by Jesus, provide a bridge to a wider human experience and connect us to a rich spiritual tradition....

Send us Fan Mail "Why did it have to be snakes?!" -Indiana Jones, Ph. D. From the Garden of Eden, to the desert, to first-century Jerusalem, serpents appear over and over again in scripture. While snakes are often considered a universally evil symbol, the reality is more ambiguous and complex. Join us as we discuss the use of symbolism in understanding the intricacies of our Faith. Intro...

Send us Fan Mail Learning a new language is one of the most challenging and rewarding endeavors a person can undertake. Join us as we discuss what the Bible says about language, what we can learn by studying a new language, and how ancient language plays a role in the way we understand our Faith. Intro music provided by Holly Serio

Send us Fan Mail This is not a podcast for the faint of heart.  Song of Songs is a controversial, passionate, and "earthy" book of the Bible which explores both human and divine love. Join us as we walk with King Solomon, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Teresa of Avila, and some of your favorite popes in exploring romantic love in this beautiful corner of sacred scripture.  Intro music pro...

Send us Fan Mail The cultural phenomenon Barbenheimer took the movie world by storm during the summer of 2023. As both films gear up for the Oscars,  we discuss surprisingly convergent theological themes like faith's intersection with physics, the reality of death, and the search for meaning and identity in these two hit movies. Warning-spoilers. This episode was recorded live for Theology on...

Send us Fan Mail Two thousand years ago something happened in the night sky that inspired stargazers from the east to find a mighty king who had been born in Israel.  For centuries astronomers and theologians alike have attempted to discover just what those wise men saw. Join us as we explore the meaning behind the Star of Bethlehem that led the Magi to the newborn Christ in Matthew's Gospel....

Send us Fan Mail "Let nothing disturb you"-- That is St. Teresa of Avila's advice to anyone who desires to grow in their relationship with God. Join us today as we discuss this holy woman and doctor of the Church who pushed the boundaries of theology and spirituality during the height of the Spanish Inquisition. In this episode, we discuss some misconceptions about the Spanish Inqui...

Send us Fan Mail For this year's Halloween episode we are joined by guest host Fr. Pat Arensberg as we discuss the popular book and movie series, Harry Potter. Join us as we discuss the use of magic in literature, our sense of uniqueness in the spiritual life, sacrifice, and complex moral characters. Intro music provided by Holly Serio

Send us Fan Mail Fr. Alex Roche and Fr. Anthony Dill discuss and debate the creation stories in Genesis. Evolution, Creationism, God’s Providence, Enlightenment Deism, human agency, work, loneliness, selfishness, boundaries, and love will all be mentioned in this conversation.  This episode is part of an 8-part series of educational and theological talks on our role as stewards of God’s Creation,...

Send us Fan Mail This podcast focuses on seeing God in unexpected places, but today we discuss an essential theological concept- "apophatic" or "negative theology". Following the thought of great theologians like St. Gregory of Nyssa, Pseudo-Dionysius, and St. Maximus the Confessor, we discuss God's transcendence and unknowability. Join us to discover what this ancient the...

Send us Fan Mail Wadi Cherith is back, and we're here to discuss the Book of the Prophet Jonah.  Join us as we discuss mercy and hypocrisy, death and resurrection, fish and mammals, all in this short but powerful book. Intro music provided by Holly Serio

Send us Fan Mail Join us to discuss our favorite decade. Stone Temple Pilots, girl altar servers, OJ Simpson, and more. "Don't have a cow, man" Intro music provided by Holly Serio

Send us Fan Mail Scrooge, Marley, Tiny Tim, Fozzy the Bear, and Billy Murray! If you love Christmas, you'll join us for this special holiday episode as we discuss the theology of Charles Dickens' beloved story, A Christmas Carol . "Merry Christmas to us all; God bless us, every one!" Intro music provided by Holly Serio

Send us Fan Mail Join us as we try a new Halloween tradition, trying to take turns creating and narrating a scary short story. Intro music provided by Holly Serio

Send us Fan Mail Join us as we discuss the ins and outs of the very first book written in the New Testament, St. Paul's First Letter to the Thessalonians. Intro music provided by Holly Serio

Send us Fan Mail Join us for another trip to the 19th century to look at the vocation and work of the Father of Genetics, Gregor Mendel.  Intro music provided by Holly Serio

Send us Fan Mail We live in a work-obsessed culture where time is only well-spent if it's spent getting something. Join us to discover why our down-time is much more closely related to our relationship with God than our work time. In particular we will discuss our own favorite hobby--motorcycles! Intro music provided by Holly Serio