What God is Not

This week Fr. Michael uses the Letter to Diognetus (chapters 5 and 6) as a jumping off point for our episode this week, inspired by  Deacon Michael Hyatt's episode on this same topic. Fr. Michael talks about the paradox of being in the world but not of it.References:40 Days with the Church FathersChrist the Bridegroom Monastery's Typikon St Mary of Jesus Crucified - she was canonized a saint May 17, 2015Orthodoxy by G.K. ChestertonPoustinia by Catherine DohertyMother Natalia and Father Michael's presentation on God with Us OnlineFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a textSupport the show

This week we continue our "Meet the Nun" series with Mother Iliana! Mother Iliana talks about suffering and sickness, and how we encounter God in our suffering. She also talks about visiting the sick and how allowing others to visit you when you're sick helps them fulfill Jesus' command to visit the sick.Mother Iliana wrote a blog post about her reactions to the war in Ukraine and recognizing that Jesus is with her and the people in Ukraine. It's a worthwhile read and a good bookend to what you'll listen to in today's episode. References:Matt 25: 31-46Romans 8:28Mother Teresa - movie shot by Sir Richard Attenborough on Mother TeresaThe Hiding Place by Corri ten BoomAlways Good by Andrew PetersonFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitEmail us! whatgodisnotpodcast@gmail.comSend us a textSupport the show

This week Fr. Michael uses Isaiah 10:15 as a jumping off point to talk about recognizing God's hand at work in everything, even in the things that we're good at. Many times we're aware of the work God is doing in our life in relation to "bad things" or things we're working on, but we may not always be aware of the work God is doing in our life for things that come naturally to us.References:Isaiah 10:15For the Life of the World by Alexander SchmemannFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitEmail us! whatgodisnotpodcast@gmail.comSend us a textSupport the show

This week we're joined by Fr. Jeffrey Dufresne who gave a homily on sin that inspired Mother Natalia! Mother Natalia talks about sin as a sickness, how this sickness can spread to others, and how we can seek healing for our sin.References:The Calling of St. Matthew by CarravagioFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryEmail us! whatgodisnotpodcast@gmail.comSend us a textSupport the show

Trigger warning - some discussion on the realities of the Holocaust.This week Fr. Michael talks about having a personal relationship with Jesus after hearing a talk from Monsignor Shea at SEEK2022. He talks about obedience, sin, and death, and how those all impact a personal relationship with God. We've also got a mini-topic this week suggested from a patron on our Patreon group. This week's topic is cultivating a spirit of gratitude.References:Night by Elie Wiesel [or Darkness or Dark as Fr. Michael called it. :-)]News:We'd love to have you join us for a live recording of the show, Tuesday, March 29th, at Holy Resurrection Parish in Euclid, Ohio. Vespers begin at 5:30, potluck vegan dinner at 6:15ish, and recording at 7ish. You're welcome to join us for part of all the event, no RSVP needed. Please bring a vegan dish to share.Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryEmail us! whatgodisnotpodcast@gmail.comSend us a textSupport the show

This week Mother Natalia walks through the differences between destitution and poverty following a homework assignment she gave one of her spiritual daughters. Mother talks about how poverty is the lack of any barriers between us and God, and how that should be our long-term goal. Mother Natalia talks about the poverty Adam and Eve had before the fall.Mother Natalia challenges us to approach the Lord with trepidation and ask Him to show us where we're living in a destitute manner.References:Christ the Bridegroom TypikonThe PhilokaliaThe Four Loves by C.S. LewisNews:We'd love to have you join us for a live recording of the show, Tuesday, March 29th, at Holy Resurrection Parish in Euclid, Ohio. Vespers begin at 5:30, potluck vegan dinner at 6:15ish, and recording at 7ish. You're welcome to join us for part of all the event, no RSVP needed. Please bring a vegan dish to share.Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryEmail us! whatgodisnotpodcast@gmail.comSend us a textSupport the show

This week Fr. Michael shares his vocation story. He starts early - with his grandparents - and then makes his way to childhood and college years. Fr. Michael shares how the Lord worked in his life to show him the peace and joy he'd receive as a priest.References:Father Michael on Chris Stefanick's showFather Michael's vocation episode on Catholic StuffFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryEmail us! whatgodisnotpodcast@gmail.comSend us a textSupport the show

This week Mother Natalia talks about Zaccheus, the searching he did to find Jesus, and how that searching is in response to Jesus searching for him. This is the same in our lives. We are searching for Jesus as a response to Him searching for us. Mother Natalia talks about how Zaccheus was "all in" with Jesus and how that's a model for her life, including in her response to hospitality.Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryEmail us! whatgodisnotpodcast@gmail.comSend us a textSupport the show

We were featured on SEEK in December and we're dropping the episode here in case you missed us! Father Michael and Mother Natalia share stories of their friendship, how SEEK played a part of their lives, and then talk about Divine Liturgy.SEEK is an annual retreat put on by Focus the Fellowship of Catholic University Students. SEEK 22 is wrapped, but put this on your radar for SEEK 23.References:The Orthodox Study BibleMere Christianity by C.S. LewisEpisodes on the Mystery of Crowning with Fr. Joel BarstadPart 1Part 2Part 3Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryEmail us! whatgodisnotpodcast@gmail.comSend us a textSupport the show

This week we’re joined by special guest Casey Dail. Casey talks about her experience as a foster mom and the balance she has to practice of attachment and detachment. She links some of her experiences to the ecstasy experienced in the cross.Casey recently started a coaching practice. If you’re interested in working with her or would like to know more about her experience as a foster mom, you can email her (caseydail@hotmail.com) or message her on Facebook.References:Hosea 11:3Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de CaussadeFrom Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age by University of Mary PressA Hidden Life (Trailer)Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryEmail us! whatgodisnotpodcast@gmail.comSend us a textSupport the show