What God is Not

This week Mother Natalia reflects on two listener emails. One talks about welcoming people at church and the ways we can be stretched. Another talks about recognizing the humanity in Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia in the beginning episode banter. Mother Natalia also reflects on a passage in a book by Metropolitan Anthony Bloom.References:The Inmost Self with Dr. Gerry CreteLiving Prayer by Metropolitan Anthony BloomFollow 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 Fr. Michael talks about the various aspects of Jesus we can encounter in confession. He highlights Jesus as healer, teacher, and judge. Fr. Michael talks about how we can naturally limit our understanding of Jesus to just those three components at a specific time, but how Jesus has many parts of His character that we can encounter all at once.Follow 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 Mother Natalia reflects on self-worth despite no visible evidence of contribution to the greater good. This comes after she got COVID and struggled with fatigue, which impacted her day-to-day operations at the monastery.References:Useless but not WorthlessFollow 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 Fr. Michael takes inspiration from a parishioner who asked for grace from his family as he was going to have a difficult week. Fr. Michael talks about the need for patience and grace that we all should be giving to our family members, our monastic brothers and sisters, and our friends. He links this with Genesis 9 and the way Noah's son's treated him in his nakedness, recognizing his dignity and vulnerability.References:Gen 9: 18-29Follow 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 Mother Natalia takes a mini-topic suggestion from one of our Patreon supporters and talks about it for a full episode! She talks about attachments to people, including family and celebrities, and how those can be wrongly ordered. She talks about differentiating between relying fully on God and our need to have others in our lives since "it's not good for man to be alone." She talks about recognizing when we may be placing our reliance incorrectly and how to pivot back to God.Want to suggest a mini-topic? Become a supporter on Patreon!Follow 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

Today we're joined by special guest Ivy Gates. Ivy and Fr. Michael met each other on the #redbusbestbus during a Holy Land pilgrimage.Ivy talks about authenticity and it's importance in her life. Fr. Michael shares some examples of Ivy living out her authentic self during pilgrimage and how that impacted him.Follow 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 Fr. Michael talks about an encounter he had in Rome, and how that encounter led him to consider his weaknesses and other people's wisdom. He talks about how we sometimes weaponize other people's weaknesses instead of recognizing their dignity as a person.References:Stop It - Bob NewhartFollow 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 Mother Natalia continues her topic on discernment, talking about what not to do but also what to do. She also talks about ways that we see the resurrection in our lives, and the way that St. John saw it, not with the physical presence of Jesus (although he did see that too!) but with his initial viewing of the burial clothes. She talks about how important those signs are in our lives to help our belief and the beliefs of others.We also have a mini-topic this week, where Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia list their favorite traits of each other.References:Co-Authoring My LifeWhat Discernment is NotOrientale LumenLetter to DiognetusMarks of a True ChristianChastity: Reconciliation of the Senses by Bishop Erik VardenWant to suggest a mini-topic? Become a patron on Patreon!Follow 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

In this episode, they discuss the importance of multiple experiences in discernment, the challenges of navigating vocation and celibacy discernment, and respecting the wishes of the couple in wedding events. They also touch on setting dating expectations in Catholic circles and overcoming fear in the discernment process.

This podcast discusses letting God work through us, authors of scripture being in sync with the Holy Spirit, and charismatic renewal in Byzantine Churches. Father Michael shares insights on co-authoring life and the importance of guidance from the Holy Spirit.