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THE ORTHOCHATTHE ORTHOCHAT EPISODE 59: FR. PATRICK CARDINEIn this 59th installment of THE ORTHOCHAT, we sit down with Fr. Patrick Cardine to discuss the western rite of Orthodoxy, community building, and how to find yourself in the 21st century world. Please share and let us know your thoughts on the episode through the comments feature on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, and leave us a star rating on Spotify. God and the Theotokos be with you all.St. Patrick Home: https://www.stpatrickorthodox.org/St. Patrick Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StPatrickOrthodoxChurchSt. Patrick Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5...2025-05-223h 39
LoricaEpisode 237: Except Your Righteousness Exceed…So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Today Our Lord sets forth the standard of conduct for his followers. Fr. Patrick reflects on this commandment, its implications for Christian thought and action, and one of the greater temptations to...2024-08-0920 minLoricaEpisode 236: Go Forth Among The Nations…“Henceforth ye shall be fishers of men”
These are the Lord’s words to the Apostles, and to everyone who would follow him when they are called. “Go out to the nations, and shine as a lamp on a hill; drawing men out of the darkness and depths.”
And yet, we often fish the night away and greet morning empty-handed. The net tears and breaks and we are left bruised and battered with nothing to show. Often the boat feels as though it may be dragged down into the waters, leaving us to the cold, unfeeling deep.
How...2024-08-0813 minLoricaEpisode 235: There Will Be Great Rejoicing…The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Behold the great mystery - the Herdsman who will not suffer even one of his flock to be lost, but will himself go into the brambles and thorns to retrieve them. Yea, though I walk the depths of the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me.
Fr. Patrick discusses spiritual warfare, the power of peace, and trust; and what God himself tells us is the way of Life.2024-08-0711 minLoricaEpisode 234: Whoever Shall Eat…“I am the way, the truth, and the life” saith the Lord of Hosts, “except ye eat my flesh, and drink my blood, yet have no life in you.”
Is it not said that we are as we eat? Is it not true that the matter we consume is the same matter of which we are comprised?
.…is it really so surprising that the God of body and spirit should save us with the same means by which we fell?
On this Blessed Feast of Corpus Christi, Fr. Patrick reflects on the great mystery of...2024-08-0710 minLoricaEpisode 233: Whatever You Ask…Supernatural Provision, prosperity, wealth, abundance.
All of these have been promised by many in the name of our reading today. Some have even promised direct material gain from it. Riches, a new car, a full tank of gas, a pantry full of incredible delicacies.
Will we really be given anything we ask for?
Are there no limits to this promise?
Ought we ask for anything at all?
Today Fr. Patrick discusses the true abundance and provision of God. The real, supernatural blessing of The Lord. And the only true request worthy...2024-08-0520 minLoricaEpisode 232: In The Midst Of His EnemiesChrist is Risen! Alleluia!
The Lord is risen from the dead, and has trampled death underfoot. How is it that we still experience sickness and sorrow? What last holdout must death have that we must pass through it to reach the Lord?
Fr. Patrick talks about peace and joy reigning in the midst of sorrows. And finding Our King as he reigns among his enemies.2024-08-0411 minLoricaEpisode 231: Doubt No LongerChrist is Risen! Alleluia!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
Today Fr. Patrick preaches the hope and...2024-08-0413 minLoricaEpisode 228: I Will Keep Thy Commandments“As was his custom”
These are the words used by St. Luke the Evangelist to describe the prayer life of Christ. Yesterday we were given an example in Mary, sister of Lazarus, of piety, devotion, and sacrifice. But what of the Lord himself?
Today Fr. Patrick discusses the piety and devotion of the Son of God. The perfect manifestation of the Law of God, who lacks nothing in his love for the Father and Spirit. In his lived experience, and shining Gospel we find every answer to our lives. For his righteousness is everlasting, and his...2024-08-0319 minLoricaEpisode 227: For The Love of God“But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
The age in which we live seeks to divorce Religion and Spirit. To put a rift between a heartfelt, genuine faith - and any real, tangible acts or expressions of that faith. “Be spiritual, not religious” is a maxim found on many street corners and rear windshields.
But who can actually separate these two? Can love be true and genuine if it is devoid of action and expression?
Fr. Patrick takes on piety and devo...2024-08-0217 minLoricaEpisode 226: A King Like No Other..“Let the proud be confounded, for they go wickedly about to destroy me; but I will be occupied in thy commandments.
I am small and of no reputation; yet do I not forget thy commandments.”
Behold: the Humble and Holy Man. He who fills the hungry with good things, but sends the rich away empty. Who puts down the mighty from their seat, and exalts the humble, and the meek.
Fr. Patrick today reflects on the greatness of humility; and the God who loves it - and is perfect in its practice.2024-08-0212 minLoricaEpisode 225: A House Divided…Our Lord is on the battlefield, sword in hand; and is making his way to the place of his ultimate victory. Met with the propaganda of his enemies today, he proclaims the certainty of their doom, and sets the terms for those who would ally with him in the great battle.
Fr. Patrick discusses faith, unity, and the call to action today. It is not enough to not be evil. It will not do simply not to hurt someone. The bare minimum has fallen away, and it is time to choose a side.2024-08-0211 minLoricaEpisode 224: Who is this King of Glory?As we march the long and winding road to Jerusalem and Good Friday, surrounded by penitent reminders of what is to come. We are given a curious detour up Mt. Tabor. And though it is not given full celebration until later in the year, we witness the Transfiguration of Our Lord. One last brilliant revelation before the darkest moment that will ever come to pass.
Fr. Patrick talks about faith and hope in the midst of this Lenten journey. And reflects on the power of knowing who it is we really serve.2024-08-0214 minLoricaEpisode 223: The Teachings Of The Lord Are Tried By Fire“The Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength”
Lo, the time for battle has come! Into the wilderness our Great Champion has gone before us, and we are to follow. For who is God beside the Lord? Who teaches our hands to make war, and makes bronze bows of our arms. He has set out to destroy all those who would harm his creation. “I shall pursue and overtake them, and will not turn until they have fallen. They shall cry out, even to the Lord, but none shall hear them; and I shall...2024-08-0226 minLoricaEpisode 222: Where the Scattered Seed Shall Fall…“Cursed is the ground in your labors. In toil you shall eat from it all the days of your life.
Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field.”
The seed of the Gospel has been scattered in every direction, and it shall land on every heart. But it is up to us to till the ground and prepare to receive it. We must drag away the heavy rocks, and break the hardened shell of a well-trodden path. And then we shall spend our days tending to weed...2024-08-0222 minLoricaEpisode 221: God is a Righteous JudgeFairness. Equality. Justice. We call out for these things ceaselessly. We constantly seek after and await the prize we have decided is our due reward.
But what happens when the scales are really balanced? When every person is given an equal share of the perfect, loving, overwhelming, generosity of God are we really satisfied? When our brother is restored to a new inheritance, having already squandered what he had, are we glad he is home?
Today Fr. Patrick prepares to enter the Lenten season with a meditation on one of the greatest dangers in the...2024-08-0116 minLoricaEpisode 220: All Good Things…To whom is salvation promised? In whom do the Saints find joy and rest? What does a faithful community look like?
“I thank God upon my every remembrance of you.”
These are the words which begin St. Paul’s address to the Church at Phillipi. And they are followed by all manner of confident and joyful proclamations from the Great Apostle concerning both their conduct, and their trajectory.
Today Fr. Patrick discusses salvation, and direction. And the proper context for trusting in God’s promises.
~ Whence an arrow is pointed, there it shall...2024-07-3113 minLoricaEpisode 219: Through the Eyes of FaithThe Lord will surely come, and will not tarry. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will manifest himself to all nations.
Why must so much be hidden from us? Truth is often so shrouded in mystery, and buried beneath symbols and types, that we can hardly see it at all.
Fr. Patrick takes on the device of parable itself today, and sheds some light on darkness as a vessel for the truth.2024-07-3016 minLoricaEpisode 218: Wheat and Tares“If God is good, why is there evil?”
“If God is all-knowing, how has an enemy snuck something by him?”
These questions have plagued Christians since the very beginning, and can be not only disheartening, but destructive to our faith if we are not careful. Today Fr. Patrick presents the answer the Lord himself gives in the Scriptures; along with some hope-filled refreshment for the long road of life.2024-07-2913 minLoricaEpisode 98 - This world is burningThis is a test of keeping your bearings, of good judgment and discernment about what is true, about what matters, about who butters your bread, about what kingdom you belong to, where do you draw your breath, what is the source of your life? Whose your mother? Everything that can be shaken is shaking right now, are you shaken? Confused and destabilized? This world will burn, the kingdom of God alone will remain.2020-06-1518 minLoricaEpisode 97 - You will live- will you live wellIn times like these when everything has been thrown into disorder and chaos, when our lives have been disrupted by threat of sickness and death and loss of property and comfort we must be courageous and steady in our faith and in our living as well. There is no more important time than in this to live orderly.
We shall go on living- if you are a follow of Christ that is what you shall do, you shall live, that is not a prophecy that you will not get sick itis a fact- whether you get sick...2020-03-2312 minLoricaEpisode 96 - Remember O man thou art dustThe symbolism of ashes goes all the way back to Genesis chapter 3 where God is telling Adam the consequences of his sin. He tells him that the ground, the earth has been cursed and now since Adam broke the fast and ate the forbidden fruit his eating from now on –all the days of your life- will be in sorrow. He goes on:
Through thorns and thistles and sweat and toil and pain will Adam eat and to make matters worse- in the end his eating will not result in life anyway. His painful eating will prolong his painful li...2020-03-1619 minLoricaEpisode 95 - Contend ye with the old serpentWhen you said I will fast and I will pray, and I will deal with my besetting sins over the next 40 days you picked a fight. And whatever this confrontation may mean we must not remove the demonic element from this discussion.
And we can be valiant because we have been armed with the ashes of penitence. Our foreheads have been sealed with the mark of Christ, we have been branded as his own and our victory is assured by His Resurrection. This call to battle was issued on Ash Wednesday at the conclusion of the imposition...2020-03-0915 minLoricaEpisode 94 - Your future ever present before the face of GodThe life of Jesus of Nazareth did not unfold before the eyes of God, it was all of it- always present before Him, His Birth, Passion and Glorious Resurrection the whole life fully present, His glory was present in his birth and in his death, there was no uncertainty about how things would end up.
Your life too- for all the doubt, uncertainty and vacillation, for all the weariness and wandering- your life, your whole life past present and future is all present before the face of God, God knows you in this way, even the you...2020-03-0216 minLoricaEpisode 93 - The noble bear fruitOne of the most basic fundamental duties of a Christian soldier is to be attentive to their thoughts. This is where the battle will be won or lost. We are admonished to take every thought captive. It is astonishing to realize how many people do not understand the critical battle ground of our thoughts. If you do not do something about your thoughts, if you do not take this seriously and address this you will lose the fight.2020-02-2414 minLoricaEpisode 92 - If you run you will win!Whether you know it or not everyone here today is a runner, a boxer, an entrepreneur, a vineyard worker, this is what you are, it is what God made you to be and you will never be happy until you start running, boxing, buying and investing, pruning and harvesting. Now the good news is this- if you run you will win, if you box you will overcome, if you buy you will get rich, if you prune you will reap a great harvest- it is guaranteed- you can have total confidence in the outcome if you only engage- be courageous...2020-02-1716 minLoricaEpisode 91 - The solution to the problem of evilJesus does not provide the answer that so many are demanding of God on their own terms, shaking their silly little fists in the face of the one who died for them. But he does give an answer, he gives the only answer that will enable man to endure and make it safely through this stormy trip. It is up to us whether we will hear what Jesus tells us with faith and love, and trust because we know Him, we know he is trustworthy, he is true and good and just and we know that he loves us, really...2020-02-1016 minLoricaEpisode 90 - Behave like a ChristianIf you are a Christian you have declared your allegiance to this kingdom. You are no longer a member of the world kingdom, even though you physically still exist in this world you are not of it, you are from above, your citizenship is in the kingdom of God and you are a member of the Family of God. And our society has different rules and a different way of life. We live here in God’s house.2020-02-0420 minLoricaEpisode 89 - In the midst of the TempleLife is in the temple because Jesus is in and is the Temple and that temple as far as we are concerned is the liturgically gathering Apostolic Eucharistic Church. This is where we fulfill the very meaning of our existence, to offer ourselves to God in sacrificial worship as a community. We do this for one reason only because it is right, this is the only reasonable response of the creature to His creator.2020-02-0317 minLoricaEpisode 88 - The Woman intercedes for us allThe mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.” Jesus does not respond, there is only silence and yet there is so much for us to lean in that space of silence. Her confidence, her trust and faith ring out in the silence. In the empty pause when the Word did not speak - the Woman without much ado confidently gives a command that has echoed throughout the ages. With this command and her fiat spoken to the angel, the Woman has taught the world about the one thing most important- “Whatever He says to you, do it.”2020-01-2018 minLoricaEpisode 87 - The Family is made holy in the TempleThe family becomes a true reflection of the divine society only in as much as they flourish in the Church, otherwise they can become a stumbling block to salvation. Jesus makes it clear in this story that his earthly mother has no rights over him which are at odds with His heavenly Father. The family is a sacramental union of divine life but only if it is subservient to the Church, to the Family of God in the Spirit.2020-01-1316 minLoricaEpisode 86 - The Word reveals His NameTypically when a husband and wife have a baby they have the privilege to choose a name for their child. In the case of the naming of Mary’s baby things went a little different than usual. As far as I am aware this is the only known case in history where the baby… actually named himself.2020-01-0612 minLoricaEpisode 85 - Ye Infant Martyr FlowersWhat a glorious faith we have that mocks the fruitless foe that can do nothing to hurt God’s children; the more we are assailed the more we are blessed who trust in God if only we become like these innocent babes.2019-12-2910 minLoricaEpisode 84 - He hid in flesh among usThis is the irony of it. The immaterial God who cannot be seen has made himself known by becoming a man. In olden times he manifest himself in fire, smoke, or a burning bush, He hid in the rock and behind a thick curtain. But now he comes and is, Jesus of Nazareth, Mary’s boy. And yet- while He makes himself so very accessible and vulnerable he becomes more hidden. His manifestation in the flesh becomes a cloak. He takes form and in so doing becomes to many imperceptible.2019-12-2616 minLoricaEpisode 83- Christmas Midnight Mass 2019“For while all things were in quiet silence, and the night was in the midst of her course, Thy almighty word leapt down from heaven from Thy royal Throne, as a fierce conqueror into the midst of the land of destruction.”2019-12-2513 minLoricaEpisode 82 - When your out of sortsThere is only one power and force in this world which can keep me from being close to Jesus and that is me. And I know what I must do. I must stop looking for someone to blame. I must stop looking to temporal things to make me happy, I must repent.2019-12-2320 minLoricaEpisode 81 - 70 years in BabylonWe are still in Babylon preparing to enter the eternal city. The sooner we embrace this reality the sooner we can find Christ in the midst, the sooner we can experience the comfort of the comforter.2019-12-1614 minLoricaEpisode 80 - Maranatha Come Lord Jesus!Maranatha! is the bold cry of the Christian who is ready and desirous of the coming of the Lord. Why bold? Because he knows full well that that coming means judgment, but his conscience is clean, he is ready and anxious for the judgment because for those who love God the judgments means eternal joy, final deliverance, absolute perfection.
The early Christians did not utter Maranatha with a tepid whimper but with great earnest pleading: Come Lord! The more confident we can say Maranatha the more ready we are for Christmas and the Holy Babe. 2019-12-0222 minLoricaEpisode 79 - We cannot fully embrace the holy babe if we do not adequately fear the judgment.The Penitential fasting season of Advent (not as severe as Lent) uses the theme of the second coming and calls for repentance to prepare the soil of our hearts to fully embrace the seed of Christmas joy. We cannot fully embrace the holy babe if we do not adequately fear the judgment.2019-11-2516 minLoricaEpisode 78 Can you be forgiven but not redeemed?The forgiveness of God is not simply a general attitude of mercy toward us. It is our very real and actual redemption. Can we say God forgives all, yet not all are saved or is it more accurate to say, God has an attitude of mercy and forgiveness towards all but not all are forgiven and redeemed. Our parable helps us to understand why not all are forgiven their debt.2019-11-1124 minLoricaEpisode - 77 Perfect faith requires no signBoth the Centurion and the Nobleman had faith in Jesus. The difference is the centurions faith was perfect and mature and relied solely on the Word of Jesus, the nobleman’s faith was imperfect and weak and required a sign. When Jesus rebukes the nobleman’s faith and refuses to come he is disciplining the nobleman and doing what is needed to perfect his faith.2019-11-0414 minLoricaEpisode - 76 Prayers for the DeadIf someone asks you why we pray for the departed- ask them why do we pray for anyone? God knows what we need, He does not need us to inform him. Jesus is the Mediator, Jesus finished the work, Jesus is our intercessor, He doesn’t need us to pray. Why pray at all?2019-11-0212 minLoricaEpisode - 75 One Hundred Forty Four Thousand & a Multitude that cannot be numberedJohns prophecy to the first Christians is that while apostate Israel will be destroyed- they will survive, they will not go down with old Israel, they will emerge as the remnant, they will endure the coming persecution and tribulation and it will become clear that they are the true Israel the perfected Israel of which the former was a type and a shadow.2019-11-0115 minLoricaEpisode 74 - His crowning achievementWhen He Ascended into Heaven accompanied by the Angelic Host trumpeting His return to majesty as the glorified God-man the conqueror of death and reconciler of creation. He entered into the Heavenly tabernacle and presented before God the Father a new Humanity, Holy and Blameless and he said: “Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.”2019-10-2822 minLoricaEpisode 73 - We have been enriched and received a voiceAnd because we know and we believe we must speak, we must respond to the Word we have received. We have a voice, the Logos has been put into our mouths from the knowledge of the voice and we must bear witness, we must speak the truth to the world and back to God in praises.2019-10-2118 minLoricaEpisode 71 - The arc of our existenceIf we think of our creation as God throwing us into existence and thus propelling us toward a goal the image is not of God throwing a ball-- but a boomerang. The Divinely caused trajectory of our existence is meant to be an arc which comes back to the source. We who came forth from God must return to God.2019-10-1715 minLoricaEpisode 72 - Our virtuous deeds and love of neighbor are part of our sacrificial Worship of GodLove God and Love Neighbor this is everything. This love is manifest thru worship. Worship is the offering of sacrifice which we associate with the direct worship of God but may not realize that the sacrificial deeds we do on the behalf of our neighbor are accounted as sacrifices offered to God and they are pleasing and acceptable to Him. Our good deeds, our love of neighbor are part of our worship of God.2019-10-1418 minLoricaEpisode 69 From benevolent lawgiver to tyrannous despotWhen man became his own god and started fabricating rules the rules he made destroyed love. And this is the constant challenge that Jesus runs into with the Pharisees and lawyers. Their rules are tyrannous and love depleting. God’s rules are life giving and love building. It is not a matter of rules or no rules. Of law being bad and lawlessness being good. The problem is the source and the inner meaning and motivation.2019-10-0715 minLoricaEpisode 68 To slay the dragon you must become a childWe honor the great warrior Archangel this day and celebrate his mighty defeat of Satan, if we want St. Michael to be our friend and defender we must become like a child seated on the lap of Christ. This is how we will make his victory our own and the angels will fight for us and bring us to Christ through all the dangers and snares of this world.2019-10-0115 minLoricaEpisode 70 - We are fully alive only when we dieThere is only one way, one door, to finding life, to becoming truly human and that is to be willingly joined to Jesus Christ upon His cross. God has shown us how to live, how to be a human being, we have seen it with our eyes when we have seen him hanging upon that cross. When we see how God has chosen to die we have seen what it means to live.2019-10-0123 minLoricaEpisode 67 - What will you do with this self that you are?What are you going to do? You- no one else, you what will YOU do? Will you become a human being? Will you turn yourself toward the light of your being and fulfill that deep hunger and longing to be the fullness of what you were given in your creation?2019-09-2321 minLoricaEpisode 66 - Seven Sorrows of the BVMOur Lords passion, his suffering and sorrow is his embrace of us in our grief- and thus his embrace of our grief- this is His love for us. He first love us in this way so that we might be able to Love Him in the same way. He enters our grief so that we might enter Gethsemane and pray with Him, so that we might stand at the foot of the cross and die with him, this is how we will also live with him. When we embrace his grief and passion then we will be lifted up on...2019-09-1815 minLoricaEpisode 65 - Our Mothers BirthdayMary is not a doctrine to be figured out or explicated. She is not a conundrum, she is not a concept or abstract philosophical theory to resolve. The Blessed Mary is the Woman who bore the God Man, she is His Mother, she is our Mother- she is a person- She is a person we can know, you don’t solve a person, you know and love a person.2019-09-1021 minLoricaEpisode 64 - Stand fast in the GospelMoreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.2019-09-0517 minLoricaEpisode 63 - God's power is mercy and pityGod’s Almighty power is displayed chiefly in showing mercy and pity. The power of God which transforms all, which brings something out of nothing, which brings the world into existence and your little life into existence, which creates light out of darkness, which brings beauty and goodness out of your own darkness, your own ugliness and sin, which goes into death and thru His embrace of our suffering and death subjecting himself to it he overcomes it’s power and destroys it, all of this is accomplished not by a sheer overwhelming force of raw power, a simple strength whic...2019-08-2616 minLoricaEpisode 62- Jesus weeps for His peopleThe God of the Old Testament is the Same God who hangs upon the Cross. We were made for Him and He comes to claim us for Himself and to give us everything He has for our own enjoyment but He is fire and light and the darkness has no fellowship with the light and that is absolute and cannot be otherwise. We are in great danger when we dispense with all fear and trembling in the Christian life. How many have adopted a presumptuous devil may care attitude and perished along with it. The Fear of the Lord is...2019-08-1911 minLoricaEpisode 61- Make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammonAsterius 4th Century
"When, therefore, any one anticipating his end and his removal to the next world, lightens the burden of his sins by good deeds, either by canceling the obligations of debtors, or by supplying the poor with abundance, by giving what belongs to the Lord, he gains many friends, who will attest his goodness before the Judge, and secure him by their testimony a place of happiness."2019-08-1916 minLoricaEpisode 60 - I met Lucifer in Grand RapidsLate have I loved Thee, 0 Beauty so ancient and so new; late have I loved Thee! For behold Thou wert within me, and I outside; and I sought Thee outside and in my unloveliness fell upon those lovely things that Thou hast made. Thou wert with me and I was not with Thee. I was kept from Thee by those things, yet had they not been in Thee, they would not have been at all. Thou didst call and cry to me and break open my deafness: and Thou didst send forth Thy beams and shine upon me and...2019-07-2918 minLoricaEpisode 59 - We got religion!If Orthodox Christians seek to practice true religion then we must recognize the inherent danger of becoming Pharisaical. Of keeping the rules without paying attention to the inner disposition. We believe that we are to become holy, not just on paper but really holy, that is a dangerous belief, but we must believe it despite the risk.
In the Old they were commanded to walk but they had no legs, in the New we are commanded to fly but now we have wings.
Episode Notes
Notes go here2019-07-2214 minLoricaEpisode 58 - Two hungers and the suffering of choiceWhen God created us He did not create us in motionless static position and then say chose what direction you will go. When man comes into being he is thrown into being, our coming into being is a kinetic event in which God hurls us into existence in a very specific direction. He did not throw us down like a rock in the mud. He throws us toward our beautiful and holy purpose of sharing in His fullness of being. And as long as we are ascending unimpeded in this God induced directional movement there is bliss, it is...2019-07-1517 minLoricaEpisode 57 - The heavy burden of playing God, but our yoke is easy Pentecost III 2019Episode Notes
We often feel like we need to do God’s job for him. That’s a heavy weight to bear, being God - Judge and Jury of the cosmos. A weight we were not designed for. A weight that will crush us if we are not careful. It is a heavy burden holding everyone to account, it is a light yoke to forgive and show mercy to feel empathy for the sinner who is suffering under the weight of their own sin. This is much better than being a critical judge who is eaten up with...2019-07-0812 minLoricaEpisode 56 - God Has Fed Us with His Flesh (Corpus Christi)I assure you there is fire in that chalice, divine fire, the very blood of God who was made Man. There are angels all around this altar standing in awe at the great miracle. That the Glorified Crucified Lord of Heaven and Earth is with us not just Spiritually but bodily and we take him into ourselves, we eat his flesh and drink his blood and we do not even realize what we do but with some measure of fear and trepidation and joy we do it in faith.2019-06-3015 minLoricaEpisode 55 - The Fiery Word (Pentecost)The enemy offers a faux power, it is a power which destroys and tears down and leads to emptiness and annihilation. The power of the Spirit creates and builds up and makes something out of nothing. You have received the Eternal Spirit as your friend and comforter he who hovered over the waters in the beginning and formed the structures and order of the cosmos is in you in the most intimate way. Do you not think He is capable of ordering your life? Of making something beautiful? Is your sin and dysfunction so great that the One who set...2019-06-2913 minLoricaEpisode 54 - Why Are You Standing Here Gazing into Heaven? (Ascension)Not only priest and victim He is also King and Ruler of all. And all of this as God made Man, as your elder brother as your new and true Father-Adam in whom your humanity is ransomed, crowned, and fulfilled.2019-06-2724 minLoricaEpisode 53 - Rogare: Ask And You Shall Receive (Easter V)How important is faith? Without it you cannot be pleasing to God. Faith is what compels you to go search for God because you believe that He exists and that He will reward you with delectable delights if you chase Him down and catch Him.2019-06-2615 minLoricaEpisode 52 - It's Expedient that He Go Away (Easter IV)Jesus endured His cross was glorified, made immortal and went home to majesty while we remain in the polluted world that killed him and wants to kill us. This could be taken as a negative but Jesus says it is for our good and to our advantage that He go away so that He might send another comforter who will not only be with us but in us and be the instrument that will enable us to follow Jesus thru the cross into resurrection-immortality-eternal glory-union with God.2019-06-2416 minLoricaEpisode 51 - This World is Not Canada (Easter III)Your potential for Joy or despair depends on one thing and that is how close you are to Jesus. He has made Himself known to us in various ways, there is a way, a door, to Him if we avail ourselves. But we must also realize that there is an insidious enemy which seeks to prevent us from passing thru that door, this enemy above all else wants to keep us from being close to Jesus.2019-06-2314 minLoricaEpisode 50 - Good Shepherd (Easter II)“You were sheep gone astray but now are returned to the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.”
The image of shepherd and sheep is a life defining metaphor for St. Peter. As he writes the words no doubt St. Peter has in mind his encounter with the Risen Christ some 30 years earlier. It was an early morning on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, an encounter St. Peter would never forget.2019-06-2220 minLoricaEpisode 49 - Show Up and Be PresentEaster I, 20192019-05-2719 minLoricaEpisode 48 - It Pleased the Lord to Bruise HimGood Friday 20192019-05-2115 minLoricaEpisode 47 - Our Best Image of Resurrection is a CrucifixMaundy Thursday 20192019-05-2110 minLoricaEpisode 46 - Repentance is Not Enough-We Needed to Be JustifiedHoly Wednesday 20192019-05-2112 minLoricaEp. 45.5 Holy Monday - His Hour Is Now Come, JudgementJesus: “Now is the Judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out…”
And just a few moments later:
Jesus: “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”
So which is it? Jesus came to die and His death is the judgment of the world and yet he says he did not come to judge the world.2019-04-2415 minLoricaEpisode 45 - Making Sense of the Foolishness of the CrossPalm Sunday 20192019-04-2212 minLoricaEpisode 44 - Things Are Heating UpThose who believed in Him try to stone Him.
Passion Sunday 20192019-04-1818 minLoricaEpisode 43 - Pocket Lint for DiamondsLent IV 20192019-04-1315 minLoricaEpisode 42 - Rejoice! The Time of Sadness is OverFeast of the Annunciation 20192019-04-0413 minLoricaEp. 41.5 Ash Wednesday - God Came Looking for the HumanThe purpose of the remembering through ashes is not for morbidity sake. But rather as a means to return to God in humility, repentance and purity of heart. The sacramental and willing embrace of the ashes are an embrace of God’s just sentence upon man and at the same time a plea for His mercy and the power to be redeemed.2019-04-0310 minLoricaEpisode 41 - Let Us Go Up to Jerusalem with JesusQinquagesima 20192019-03-1120 minLoricaEpisode 40 - The Sower Went Out to SowSexagesima 20192019-03-0321 minLoricaEpisode 39 - It's Time to WorkSeptuagesima 20192019-02-2512 minLoricaEpisode 38 - Napping in the StormEpiphany IV - Jesus sleeping in a storm tossed boat is a picture of Christian Maturity. Jesus does not hold your hand while you drown, he does not comfort you and say perish in peace, He destroys your enemies and delivers you from the storm.2019-02-0916 minLoricaEpisode 37 - The Presentation of Our LordIf you're looking for Jesus, He's in the temple.2019-02-0615 minLoricaEpisode 36 - Faith Pleases GodEpiphany III - God Marveled at the Roman Soldier's faith.2019-01-2713 minLoricaEpisode 35 - Wedding at CanaThe Woman intercedes with her Son...2019-01-2216 minLoricaEpisode 34 - All Hail Ye Infant Martyr FlowersFor the Feast of the Holy Innocents: "Never, in fact, would that impious tyrant have been able to benefit these children by the sweetest kindness as much as he has done by his hatred." -St. Augustine2019-01-0308 minLoricaEpisode 33 - A Star, A Sword: From Joy To Sorrow (Sunday After Christmas)God has prepared you an eight course banquet. Don't settle for one or two courses.2019-01-0123 minLoricaEpisode 32 - The Divine Infant (Christmas Day)His manifestation in the flesh becomes a cloak. He takes a perceptible form and in so doing becomes to many imperceptible.2019-01-0110 minLoricaEpisode 31 - Saved By His Nativity (Christmas at Midnight)He made Himself small for us, and we still know him as the Holy Infant.2018-12-2913 minLoricaEpisode 30 - Gabriel Teaches Zacharias the Value of SilenceWhat is it about Mary that attracts God's favor?2018-12-2522 minLoricaEpisode 29 - Heed the Wilderness Voice That You Might Receive the ChristThe forerunner cleanses with water that we might receive the Spirit from the Lord.2018-12-2416 minLoricaEpisode 28 - Is the Baptizer Despairing? I Don't Think SoJohn the Baptist: a monumental example of having faith.2018-12-1611 minLoricaEpisode 27 - God Made the World for Mary, and Mary for JesusWe cannot conceive of Jesus without Mary. On the conception of Mary...2018-12-1110 minLoricaEpisode 26 - He Is Coming. No Need to Hide, We Are Free of ShameAdam, full of guilt and shame hid from God. But we having been washed from an evil conscience should be ready to meet Him. Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.2018-12-0610 minLoricaEpisode 25 - This World Is Not Your FriendThe World is passing away: do not go back for your things, but flee to the Mountain.2018-11-2714 minLoricaEpisode 24 - Jesus Telling Secrets...The secrets of heaven.2018-11-2120 minLoricaEpisode 23 - Love the Bond of Perfection2018-11-2016 minLoricaEpisode 22 - Love YourselfTrue and holy love for self is a gratitude for what God has made...2018-11-1312 minLoricaEpisode 21 - Christ The KingChrist the King Sunday2018-11-0317 minLoricaEpisode 20 - Renew Your Mind and Put On ChristHow do we clothe ourselves with Christ? Get a job.2018-10-1117 min