Father Simon Says

Have a question about Scripture? Father Simon Says™ is your daily bible study hosted by Father Richard Simon, who jokingly refers to himself as Reverend Know-it-All. Catch up any time at relevantradio.com, the Relevant Radio app, or wherever you get your podcasts.  

Bible Study: (1:57) Rom 3:21-30 Father discusses righteousness and works of the law Letters (22:44) - Thank you for what Father said to a mom whose daughter is becoming a nun (24:16) - Are horror movies sinful?  (29:03) - Peter as elder; why not as Pope?  Word of the Day: Principle (33:24) Callers  (34:54) - Does a catholic sin if they receive communion but don't believe in transubstantiation? (37:37) - Question about the Ceremonial Law, where the priests would do the sacrifice, and no longer needed the priests do the sacrifice?  (40:39) - My sister was a cafeteria Catholic and died earlier this month.   (42:27) - What do you think about the Dia de los Muertos? (49:11) - Priest gestures at mass

Bible Study: (1:45) 2 Tm 4:10-17b Father discusses the very ordinary needs of St. Paul Lk 10:1-9 Father explains St. Luke and his Gospel  Letters (19:12) - Father discusses the liturgy  (20:21- - On receiving communion on the tongue or in the hand (26:58) - Does Jesus give us the power to heal?  (29:24) - Valid sacraments in Eastern Churches  Word of the Day: Deeds/Works (33:30) Callers:  (35:28) - Question about eucharistic adoration: why are there people waving hands at the monstrance? (40:17) - Is it okay to take th Eucharist to kneel and receive on hand? (42:01) - I just came back from Israel and a pilgrimage. When did the conflict start? (47:53) - Relationship between grace and free will

Bible Study: (2:10) Rom 1:16-25 What is a Tzadik? Lk 11:37-41 Who were the Pharisees?  Father Simon has a Professorial Pause discuss the state of the episcopacy  Letters (26:09) - I work for hospice - can we use an orthodox priest in an emergency?  (28:01) - My grandma won't go to Church; what can I do?  Word of the Day: Boundary stone (30:43) Callers:  (35:44) - A co-worker says The Bible can not be the basis for Catholicism because it was written by men. How should I respond?  (39:08) - What is the proclamation of the kingdom, the third luminous mystery? (43:51) - How do I explain that idolatry degrades humanity  (46:34) - What color was Jesus' hair when he was baby? (47:49) - Today is my b-day! (49:44) - I was at a prayer vigil at abortion clinic. The abortion worker, quoted a verse from Exodus, using that as their defense: Exodus 21: 22-23

Bible Study: (1:40) Rom 1:1-7 Who was the queen of the south? What is Talmudic reasoning?  Letters (20:19) - Rosary Novena - can you pray the rosary during chores?  (24:03) - Dowry system  (29:10) - Persistence in prayer & the local pregnancy center Word of the Day: Gospel (35:11) Callers: (37:21) - Question about the Holy Spirit prayer, could you explain when it says 'renews the face of the earth' (42:17) - Question about yesterday's Gospel, clarify about the person who didn't have the garments. Didn't the host provide wedding garments? (47:01) - Priests using only one hand holding the host during consecration?  Could you comment on that?

Bible Study: (2:06) Jl 1:13-15; 2:1-2 What is a minister?  Lk 11:15-26 Jesus' authority, unclean spirits, & Beelzebul Letters (18:43) - Holy Spirit appearance in Scripture (21:52) - who else makes the sign of the cross? (25:35) - Do the deceased send signs from heaven?  Word of the Day: Camel (31:49) Callers (39:41) - Important writings of Ratzinger and what he could recommend?  (40:43) - I have a 25 year old daughter planning to enter the cloister in the spring, and I'm a newer Catholic.  I don't understand the reasoning for the Cloistered life. (44:29) - I'm Jewish, and the Torah there is no Devil.  And it was changed to fit Christian Theology.  Could you comment? (49:20) - Comment on sister who entered cloister.  Sister entered and changed family dynamic for the better.

Bible Study: (2:45) Mal 3:13-20b Who was Malachi?  Lk 11:5-13 The importance of persistence in prayer Letters:  (19:50) - I agree with Fr. Simon about music!  (24:10) - Grief & Gratitude  (27:21) - Prayer journaling  (29:42) - We don't build the kingdom of God  Word of the Day: Suppose (36:23) Caller:  (38:36) - When was the Exile in Isaiah exactly written and also about the taking of Babylon by the Persian empire? (40:20) - Diff between friar and priest? (42:00) - Difference b/w  messianic and Hasidic? (45:37) - Question about Eye of the Needle translation? (50:22) - What is sackcloth?  

Bible Study: (1:53) Jon 4:1-11 How do we talk about Jonah in a way that kids don't lose respect for the Scriptures?  Father discusses the difficulty of forgiveness  Lk 11:1-4 Father breaks down The Our Father  Letters (20:30) - Policy about dogs in Church  (21:51) - Too often the music at mass is too loud!  (27:20) - Our daughter wants to get confirmed  Catechism for adults: https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/uscca/files/assets/basic-html/page-23.html (28:55) - Lutheran beliefs about the Eucharist  Word of the Day (33:31) Callers:  (36:33) - What do you think about me giving everything to charity instead of my family? (38:51) - Grandson asked why you have to confess venial sins if you are forgiven by going through mass? (41:47) - How to deal with family members who don't believe in the pope and what to say to them? (47:06) - Did people from the old testament have to wait to see Jesus until opened the gates of Heaven? (49:38) - Thou shall not worship strange gods vs false gods. What is the difference?

Bible Study: (1:59) Jon 3:1-10 Did Jonah really exist?  Lk 10:38-42 The good part & the better part How do we choose the good part?  Letters (18:38) - Mary appreciates Father's comments on music & the liturgy https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html Word of the Day: Anxious and worried (30:26) Callers:  (34:09) - In the Hail Mary, it says 'Blessed is the fruit of the womb'. How could Mary still be a virgin? (36:30) - Are unicorns bad? (37:27) - I'm legally blind, and searching for a good audio bible? https://bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio (37:54) - What does he think about what's happening in Israel? (44:17) - Does God also love the devil? (47:07) - The use of Greek in liturgical prayers? (48:21) - I appreciate his diatribe and his soapbox and enjoy hearing his perspective. (50:16) - There are unicorns, they have them in California, outside of Bakersfield, and they are unicorns.  They are one-horned goats

Bible Study: (2:19) Jon 1:1–2:1-2, 11 Was Jonah alive in the belly of the whale for three days?  Letters (21:27) - My son and his wife used IVF  https://www.ncregister.com/news/frozen-in-time-catholic-ethicists-discuss-the-fate-of-the-estimated-1-million-human-embryos-on-ice#:~:text=The%20bishops%20wrote%20that%20%E2%80%9Cthe,'%20or%20unwanted%20human%20beings.%E2%80%9D https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/no-way-out-what-to-do-about-a-frozen (24:43)  - Kneeling at communion  Word of the Day: Neighbor (35:40) Callers (38:23) - Should the pronouns of the mass be changed. Using 'his' or gender neutral? (44:21) - Thank Fr. Simon on what he said, about music.  I've felt that way and the music is depressing.  What do you think? (48:14) - Music is very very important, if not good music, people tend to get bored.  (50:02) - You commented and quoted that Mothers who are constantly weeping for their children, and God's mercy.  Where did you get that quote?