

Father Simon Says
Relevant Radio
Father Simon Says™ is your daily bible study hosted by Father Richard Simon, who jokingly refers to himself as Reverend Know-it-All.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 5, 2024 • 51min
Father Simon Says - July 05, 2024 - Hearing God Speak [Encore]
Bible Study: (2:40) Am 8:4-6, 9-12 Father discusses the manifestations of the Holy Spirit Enjoy this delightful encore from July 1, 2024, about today's readings! Mt 9:9-13 What was a tax farming system? Letters (22:51) Why was John the Baptist the least in the Kingdom of Heaven? Did Jesus drink the fourth cup? When the Pandemic hit I ceased going to the Pentecostal Church and began going to the Catholic Church but am struggling. Word of the Day: Telones (35:15) Callers (37:38) Spiritual direction, about my job situation? My employer is now to starting to pay for travel for out of state abortions. What should I do? (42:16) Can my dog sense evil? (46:34) I need guidance on how to come back to the Church after missing for a year. (48:47) Which songs should I play for my wedding?

Jul 4, 2024 • 51min
Father Simon Says - July 04, 2024 - On What Authority? [Encore]
Enjoy this delightful encore show from June 30, 2022, on today's gospel readings. Mt 9:1-8 (1:41) Is the covenant with the Jews superseded? Letters (21:30) Father talks about the faithful having a right to good liturgy I'm distressed that certain Jews support abortion rights Does someone need to be in a state of grace to be a lector? Can I pray in my car? I've been married and divorced three times, can I get married again in the Catholic Church? Word of the Day: Orthodox (33:08) Callers (36:30) How could I get my son to forgive me? (43:47) Question about IVF. Responding to what you said, 'If we don't believe in the teaching of the Church, you're not Catholic'. So if you believe in IVF, are you not considered Catholic? (47:42) Caller asks Fr. Simon about a Scott Hahn book, "The Fourth Cup"

Jul 3, 2024 • 51min
Father Simon Says - July 03, 2024 - Saint Thomas
(1:42) Bible Study: JN 20:24-29 What is the take away from this passage? Jesus is always with us EPH 2:19-22 What does it mean to be a corner stone? Father explains in an interesting way (19:48) Break 1 (20:46) Letters: Father Simon answers questions from first Corinthians and how Paul could be an Apostle. (32:06) Break 2 (32:51) Word of the Day: Capstone (39:10) Phones: Jesse - Mark 2:17, why the difference in interpretation compared to different bibles as one version said, 'to repentance'? Matt - Question about freemasonry? How to explain to a friend what freemasonry in. My friend doesn't have a Christian background? Gloria - You said that if Luther got a hold of the Dead Sea Scrolls, he'd think differently about works. Could you explain? Jason - deciding b/w episcopalian and Roman Catholic. Almost seems indistinguishable. Question about the Papacy?

Jul 2, 2024 • 51min
Father Simon Says - July 02, 2024 - Trust
(2:09) Bible Study: AM 3:1-8; 4:11-12 Father explains how the Jews struggled with monotheism MT 8:23-27 Father explains the purpose of prophecy (22:07) Break 1 (22:51) Letters: Father answers questions about whether or not you can make up your own act of contrition for confession, can you wear polyester scapulars, how to respond to someone who says Catholics are not Christian and what is the proper wine need for consecration. (32:50) Break 2 (33:54) Word of the Day: Rebuked (36:49) Phones: Carolyn - Question about Sunday's readings? and the significance of the number 12 for the number of years in hemorrhage and 12, the daughter's age? Bill - Must I pray for only world peace in my rosary, as requested by Our Lady of Fatima, could I pray for other intentions as well? Julie - I've been invited to a baptism at a Baptist church. If I do go, what should I NOT do? Thomas - I went to a wedding for my cousin's daughter. Would a church recognize a wedding where they had a woman minister? Greg - About Last Sunday's Gospel. Question about 'synagogue official'?

Jul 1, 2024 • 51min
Father Simon Says - July 01, 2024 - Gift of Children
(3:05) Bible Study: Am 2:6-10, 13-16 God doesn’t send us to hell, He finds us there. Mt 8:18-22 Father unpacks the difficulty of this Gospel reading. Why Jesus came to ear (24:08) Break 1 (25:27) Letters: Father answers Questions about how to talk to a child about how babies are conceived and how to deal with worry and death? (34:30) Break 2 (35:24) Word of the Day: Scribe (37:03) Phones: Dinorah - Is it okay to spread ashes in the ocean? Johnathan - Question about having sexual relations with my wife, at the risk of being pregnant again after having several kids and adhering to Church' teaching? Nicole - Luke 2:23: Question about 'Law of the Lord' and where is that?

Jun 28, 2024 • 51min
Father Simon Says - June 28, 2024 - St. Irenaeus
(6:35) Bible Study: 2 KGS 25:1-12 Father Talks about the temple MT 8:1-4 Father talks about leprosy. And the power of centurions (20:16) Break 1 (27:37) Letters: Father answers questions about what it means to offer it up, the separation of Church and state and answers Questions about today’s reading. (36:58) Break 2 (37:31) Word of the Day: Chaldean (39:41) Phones: Ken - You do such a great job! I listen to you every day! So grateful! Olga - Was the Book of Esther written before or after the return from exile? Young Thomas – Was Jesu all knowing? Ed - I think your mom taught me in La Grange, IL. Is that where you are from? Linda - Ezekiel Chapters 2 and 3. 'Eat what is before you.' Does this prefigure the Eucharist?

Jun 27, 2024 • 51min
Father Simon Says - June 27, 2024 - Forgiveness
(1:49) Bible Study: 2 Kgs 24:8-17 Father talks about the history of these readings. Mt 7:21-29 How do you know you are from the Lord? Father answers this. (20:55) Break 1 (21:50) Letters: Father answers letters about the orthodox Church, the meaning of the word Jew, whether a person can be Buddhist and Catholic and the Traditional Latin Mass vs the Novus Ordo. (37:24) Break 2 (38:13) Word of the Day: Fool (40:54) Phones: Christina - Question about forgiveness, how to forgive someone? Don - Is it okay to pray the shorter version of the St. Michael prayer? Nathaniel - Is it okay to have lay people do communion services and is that necessary? Cathy - Question about those fear at the boat in the Gospels? At mass, they were talking about Apostles in the boat being frightened. Priest said they're fully surrendering to God.

Jun 26, 2024 • 51min
Father Simon Says - June 26, 2024 - Kingdom
(1:52) Bible Study: 2 Kgs 22:8-13; 23:1-3 Father unpacks the history in this reading Mt 7:15-20 Father explains what fruit is. (21:53) Break 1 (22:47) Letters: Father answers questions about how to know when the scripture is literal or figurative, how Eucharistic miracles match up with the spiritual reality of the Eucharist and Is God ashamed of us. (34:41) Break 2 (35:31) Word of the Day: Kingdom (42:23) Phones: Mike - Question about dome of the Rock, do historians know where the Dome of the Rock in situations to the temple. Was it part of it? John - What's the difference b/w evangelizing with our life and evangelizing by word & deed?

Jun 25, 2024 • 51min
Father Simon Says - Junee 25, 2024 - Pearls Before Swine
(1:51) Bible Study: 2 KGS 19:9B-11, 14-21, 31-35A, 36 Father gets into some really obscure stuff which you probably haven’t heard. PS 48:2-3AB, 3CD-4, 10-11 Father talks about what it means to not throw your pearls before swine. (21:15) Break 1 (21:55) Letters: Father answers questions about the great pyramids, where the best place to donate gifts, who are the psalms addressed to, how baptism works, and the meaning of the Sunday Gospel. (36:31) Break 2 (37:17) Word of the Day: Thlipsis (40:59) Phones: Donna - What do you think about particles that fall on the floor during communion, would that be casting your pearls before swine? Daniel - When we pray the rosary or any prayers that are repeated like the Our Father, Hail Mary, why repeat? Patrick - Could I baptize my grandson in the hospital, until I could get him officially baptized? Claire - A funeral today in a Catholic and the man is a known Mason, and not Catholic. Why would a funeral be there, and should I say something to the pastor?

Jun 24, 2024 • 51min
Father Simon Says - June 24, 2024 - Solemnity of John the Baptist
(2:47) Bible Study: Father talks about Saint John the Baptist (19:43) Break 1 (20:24) Letters: Father answers why deacons can be married, how Jesus experienced God the Father and gender roles, what it means to be in communion, (32:33) Break 2 (33:29) Word of the Day: Solemnity (38:59) Phones: Bill - Gen 1:3 What did he mean by light when he says let there be light? What kind of light is he talking about? Nathan - when was the pope recognized as the pope. I heard they went to constitute instead of the Pope back in the day. Why did they do that and when did it change?