Father Simon Says

Rom 8:12-17 What is natural law? Lk 13:10-17 Who does Luke blame for the woman’s infirmity? Mass Hysteria:  Will the song I’m listening to stand the test of time? Letters Letter about the offertory prayers; Father talks about addressing God at mass Listener disagrees with Father about the cantor volume at mass Word of the day: Flesh Callers: Caller asks about St. Paul’s comments on the flesh If one were to touch the risen Jesus–would he have felt warm? Caller calls in about Chesterton’s Orthodoxy When did the Mass come to be known as the Mass? James son of Zebedee and James the brother of Christ, is there a difference? Question about mathematician Wolfgang Smith I have non-Catholic friends and my friends ask why Jesus is on the cross when you buy a crucifix

Rom 7:18-25a Why did Paul go West? Father explains What’s so fascinating about Paul’s cultural life? Lk 12:54-59 What is human idolatry? Mass Hysteria: Father reads a letter about languages at mass Letters Letter about Della Reese and Mahlia Jackson My daughter did Yoga at gym class–is that OK? Word on Fire: Orthodoxy Callers: Could you recommend a good book about Mary?  I’m a Protestant and want to know more. What is the Church’s position about the Jews & salvation? If I hang the rosary from my mirror in my car and pray the rosary, is that okay? I recommend Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary by Brant Pitre, for the caller who asked about Mary Am I okay going to my sister’s house, even if she practices Buddhism?    

Rom 6:19-23 What does it mean that Romans went from lawlessness to lawlessness? Lk 12:49-53 What does the word baptism actually mean? Mass Hysteria: Father explains why his approach to mass isn’t grim Letters: Letter about the 9th commandment; Father relates the question to St. Irenaeus Listener asks a question about being open to life after infertility Letter disagrees with Father about cantors using microphones Word of the Day: Sin Callers : How would father advise an orthodox catholic to maintain their tranquility in todays church? and when they encounter heresy, how do we speak up for the truth?  Regarding the holy spirit when he was baptized, did he receive the holy spirit at birth or was it later? The finding of the child Jesus in the temple is a joyful mystery but also one of the seven sorrows of Mary. How can this be? Who are the three Mary’s in the Bible?

Rom 6:12-18 Father goes into detail about the Talmud because he thinks the letter to the Romans is Talmudic Lk 12:39-48 Who is the wise servant, how are we saved, and who is the thief? Mass Hysteria: Father talks about masses that are more about the priest than the Father Letters: Question about handholding at mass Letter about those who badmouth the Blessed Mother–is it sinful? Word of the day: Obedient from the heart Callers: If Angels are inside or outside of time? Question about the consecration timeline at the last supper Muslims view Jesus as a prophet, not as savior. Can Catholics think of Jesus as prophet AND Savior?  

Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21 Father thinks this first reading is really complicated; he explains why that is, and what’s really going on in The Letter to the Romans Mass Hysteria Father talks about the nature of the devil, evil, and the liturgical calendar Letters Father follows up with a caller who talked about Catholics advising Kennedy to legalize abortion Father talks about the divine and human natures of scripture Father answers a question about hymns at mass Word of the Day Vigilante Callers Is there a difference between soul and spirit? Does Father know the history of the opening antiphon and communion antiphon If there’s a patron saint or patron saint couple for those who are separated? Could Father explain the doctrinal basis of Natural Family Planning?

2 Tm 4:10-17b Father describes why this text from Paul is so poignant as well as why Paul might ask for papyrus rolls. Lk 10:1-9 What does Jesus mean by “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” Mass Hysteria Father plays a clip from Screwtape Letter’s about the danger of ‘the same old thing’ Letters: Listener writes in about Church music Question about Jesus naming re-naming Peter Where did Communion on the tongue originate? What’s the difference between the Bethlehem of Galilee and Bethlehem of Judea Does baptism during mass distract from Mass? Word of the Day: Apostle Callers: What does Fr. Simon know about Synod on Synodality? Question about Brown Scapular and the blessings Difficulties with my three sons getting them to mass–how do I proceed?  

Lk 11:47-54 Father talks about fatal accommodation, and the problems with modern biblical scholarship Mass Hysteria: will Moon River bring young people to Mass? Why isn’t Mass an expression of who I am? Letters What the difference between apostle and prophets Father talks about sacrifice, ecumenism, and mass Father responds to a letter about Jonah Word of the Day: Apostle Callers: When we read the Bible, it’s what God says to us, not what we say it means. Prophets see things clearly from God’s point of view. Question about Mary going into the temple and if women were allowed, and why didn’t Joseph speak? What’s Father’s opinion on a specific song, ‘Shelter Me’?

Rom 2:1-11 Why does Paul write, “the Jew first, and then the Greek?” Lk 11:42-46 Father explains what rue is from today’s Gospel, describes what the Pharisees were up to, and explains proper piety Mass Hysteria: Jesus always goes for quality over quantity Letters: Are all bugs forbidden to eat under kosher law? why do we only emphasize St. Francis’ love of creation? Are the Knights of Columbus like the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher Word of the day: Partiality Callers: A kid in faith formation class asked a tough question– how would you respond? I understand that some priests consulted with the Kennedy’s and said that pro-choice was the way to go. Is this true? If so what are the implications? What is meant by ‘the word of God is living’ in Hebrews 4:12    

Rom 2:1-11 Why does Paul write, “the Jew first, and then the Greek?” Lk 11:42-46 Father explains what rue is from today’s Gospel, describes what the Pharisees were up to, and explains proper piety Mass Hysteria: Jesus always goes for quality over quantity Letters: Are all bugs forbidden to eat under kosher law? Why do we only emphasize St. Francis’ love of creation? Are the Knights of Columbus like the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher Word of the day: Partiality Callers: A kid in faith formation class asked a tough question– how would you respond? I understand that some priests consulted with the Kennedy’s and said that pro-choice was the way to go. Is this true? If so what are the implications? What is meant by ‘the word of God is living’ in Hebrews 4:12    

Rom 1:16-25 What’s so wrong with health kicks? Lk 11:37-41 Jesus reclined at table–what did that mean? Father talks about putting a hedge around the law; what’s a hedge? Mass Hysteria: Father reads a couple of letters regarding bad church music Letters: Father talks about deliverance Why is the real presence of Jesus not part of the Creed The listen’s parish changed the word Wife to Spouse in Psalm 128 Word of the day: Faith and righteousness Callers: Are venial sins forgiven in the penitential rite of the mass? Do you still need to confess these venial sins at your next confession? Why is the song “City of God” heretical? I just saw a bumper sticker that says ‘I love Jesus because I am Muslim.’  What does this mean? What happens to our guardian angel when we die?