What God is Not

This week Fr. Michael talks about anamnesis and relates it to our day-to-day life. He talks about the origins of anamnesis in Liturgy and how we can remember the good God has done in our individual prayers. He also talks about epiclesis and the interplay with anamnesis. Fr. Michael talks about how anamnesis can be twisted and used in an evil way, not just in the good way we encounter during Liturg...

This week we start out with a mini-topic on the icon of the Trinity. Then for the main topic, Fr. Michael reflects on a prayer that is said during matins where we beg God to save us through the intercession of the holy martyrs. He relates the intercession of the martyrs to gift giving. Fr. Michael talks about everything surrounding gift giving, both the intention of the giver and the vulnerability...

We're joined again this week by special guest, Fr. Chris. Fr. Chris is back with us to talk about Tolkien and Lord of the Rings. Fr. Chris talks about the difference between authority and power; mind and forming matter vs mind over matter; and the use of technology in our lives and how we can feel ourselves being controlled by it instead of us controlling technology. References: Tolkien-ology...

This week we're joined by special guest, Fr. Chris Seith. Mother Natalia and Fr. Chris talk about Aragorn's Today is Not that Day speech and how it relates to the spiritual life. Fr. Chris talks about some of Tolkien's intentions in writing the book, how technology plays a role in the book, and how we can learn from that. References: Searchers of the Lost - Fr. Nathan's Podcast...

This week Fr. Michael reflects on nostalgia, and the ways it can be manifest in both good and bad ways. He talks about how nostalgia is a way of thinking about the transcendent that we experienced in the past, which is ultimately our longing for heaven. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the...

This week Fr. Michael reflects on Psalm 63, which he has felt the Lord calling him to give as a penance in confession. Fr. Michael walks through some of the verses in the Psalm and contemplates some ways we can link the passages to our daily life. References: Psalm 63 (or 62 if you're in the Septuagint) Unwisting Legion Pilgrimage: We're going on pilgrimage! You can find all the details...

This week Mother Natalia and Fr. Michael reflect on the entrance of their friend and spiritual daughter, Maddie, into Christ the Bridegroom Monastery. Mother Natalia then reflects on one of her favorite stichera that we sing during the Nativity, and encourages us to reflect on it in this week leading up to the celebration of Nativity. References: Introduction   to   the   Devout   Life   by   St....

This week Fr. Michael reflects on a passage in Luke where Jesus encounters the man living with the legion of demons, which he then casts out. He talks about how the devil twists the truth and beauty and the world, perverting it which leads to sin. He sees this both in the man inhabited by the demons but also in the townspeople. Fr. Michael talks about ways we can also have this same distortion in...

This Mother Natalia talks about her recent experience on a long run and how that compares to the spiritual life. She breaks down her run into three parts, each of them equating to us persevering in holiness. References: Rekindling Wonder by Fr. Chris Seith Akathist of Thanksgiving Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michae...

This week Fr. Michael takes inspiration from Matthew's gospel to talk about Jesus not being accepted as a prophet in his own home. Fr. Michael takes this further to talk about the ways we can be jealous of others, even of the good that they're doing. He talks about living with hardship and trying to not be jealous of others who are having different experiences than us. References: Protoe...

This week Mother Natalia shares something that she asked for in prayer. She shares how that impacted her as she tried to remember that as she went about her day. Mother Natalia makes a suggestion to us on how to incorporate this into our lives as well. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twitter Christ the B...

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 F...

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. Refer...

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 th...

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 Sen...

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...

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 your...

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 Fi...

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&a...

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 Metr...

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 Instagra...

This week Mother Natalia reflects on self-worth despite no visible evidence of contribution to the greater good. This comes after she got COVID and struggled with fatigue, which impacted her day-to-day operations at the monastery. References: Useless but not Worthless Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTube ! Join our Goodreads Group Fr. Michael's Twit...

This week Fr. Michael takes inspiration from a parishioner who asked for grace from his family as he was going to have a difficult week. Fr. Michael talks about the need for patience and grace that we all should be giving to our family members, our monastic brothers and sisters, and our friends. He links this with Genesis 9 and the way Noah's son's treated him in his nakedness, recognizi...

This week Mother Natalia takes a mini-topic suggestion from one of our Patreon supporters and talks about it for a full episode! She talks about attachments to people, including family and celebrities, and how those can be wrongly ordered. She talks about differentiating between relying fully on God and our need to have others in our lives since "it's not good for man to be alone."...

Today we're joined by special guest Ivy Gates. Ivy and Fr. Michael met each other on the #redbusbestbus during a Holy Land pilgrimage. Ivy talks about authenticity and it's importance in her life. Fr. Michael shares some examples of Ivy living out her authentic self during pilgrimage and how that impacted him. Follow and Contact Us! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook We're on YouTu...