All Episodes
ṣaddîq and yāḵaḥ
This week, Fr. Paul takes the opportunity of our questions to stress the difference between the Hebrew terms ṣaddîq and yāḵaḥ. (Episode 167)
These Words Are Permanent
It’s been nearly two millennia since Matthew’s Gospel was written—that’s roughly 80 generations. Every 25 years, for the last 2000 years, every generation has been war...
Progeny and Lies
In the Bible, Fr. Paul explains, Abe is not honest, the nations look good, and (sorry Plato) life is not about you. (Episode 166)
The Things Which God Destroys
As Matthew 24 consolidates the fall of Jerusalem (and therefore, the fall of Rome) the centrality of St. Paul’s teaching of the Cross comes clearly into view. The glor...
The Roman Household
Today, Fr. Paul begins his discussion of Genesis 20, noting functional parallels with the Roman household in the New Testament. (Episode 165)
The Truth is Not Out There
In Matthew’s gospel, it’s the teaching you follow that controls how you understand what you see. So when “false Christs and false prophets arise and show great signs a...
A Human Being is a Human Being
In this week’s program, Fr. Paul takes questions on Genesis 19 dealing with the action of Lot’s daughters and the trap of reading in translation. (Episode 164)
Escape from Jerusalem
It is human instinct to nest before giving birth, pack before a trip, and plan around bad weather. Safety, supplies, and comfort are the hallmarks of city life—or so w...
Grace is for Free
In today’s program, Fr. Paul notes the interplay between Genesis and Ezekiel and the remembrance of God’s promise to Abraham. (Episode 163)
Fear is the Enemy
Power and ideology are joined at the hip. There’s no point in saying “religious” ideology since (and let’s be honest with ourselves) all ideology in all its forms—secu...
The Just Judge
This week, Fr. Paul begins his discussion of Genesis 19, explaining God’s just judgment in the story. (Episode 162)
The Bible Interprets Itself
When we refer to an interpretation or discuss interpretation theories, we do so to claim authority over the text or to avoid accountability. A written text in any lang...
Put in His Place
This week, Fr. Paul concludes Genesis 18 noting the self-righteousness of Abraham. (Episode 161)
Inscribed on Your Brain
It’s tempting to think that the study of literature—the discipline of hearing and understanding the written word—is more accessible than the so-called “hard sciences.”...
A Whirling Graveyard
It is practically impossible for human beings to consider any question without worrying about what’s in it for them. Unfortunately (or fortunately) for us, the Lord’s ...
A Desolate House
Heralding his Father’s Kingdom, Jesus bookends the conquest of Jerusalem in Matthew with the same words that announced his entrance: “Blessed is he who comes in the na...
Inclusive, Not Exclusive
In today’s program, Fr. Paul explains that circumcision was given to undermine Hellenistic culture. (Episode 158)
The Avenger
Whether fighting for your values or fighting for justice, Matthew’s gospel begs the question: who are you fighting? In human narratives—egotistical by nature—you are t...
Circumcision of the Heart
This week, Fr. Paul begins his discussion of Genesis 17, noting the significance of name changes in the Bible. (Episode 157)
A Light to the Nations
Ancestor worship is as old as dirt. Whether we lift up our ancestors or condemn them, our true concern is how others see us and what our children will think of us. We ...
Beer-lahai-roi
In this weeks episode, Fr. Paul concludes his discussion of Genesis 16, noting the appearance and subsequent itinerary of Beer-lahai-roi. (Episode 156)
False Prophets
In Ezekiel 13, the prophet warns against those who speak their own words, the inspiration of their own thoughts, from their own heart. Such prophets, Ezekiel warns, sp...
Hagar
Elucidating the Hebrew scripture by means of his knowledge of Arabic and drawing upon the Latin text, this week Fr. Paul discusses the mistreatment of Hagar and the in...
Blind Guides
The benefit of following a lectionary is that it forces those in church to hear the assigned reading with no regard for who is present, how they sin, or what they pref...
This is What Sheep Do
This week Fr. Paul reiterates that scripture calls all the nations to live in their cities as though they were sheep in the wilderness. (Episode 154)
Above the Heavens
Be they religious or philosophical, human systems of thought seek to discern what is good and what is evil. The Gospel of Matthew dynamites this approach by usurping h...