What God is Not

Today we conclude our series of the liturgies for Great and Holy Week. This week’s episode covers Great and Holy Friday, Great and Holy Saturday, and Pascha Sunday.This is our 200th episode. We're so grateful to our listeners for your prayers and support!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 we continue our series of the liturgies for Holy Week. Today's episode covers Presanctified Liturgy on Holy Wednesday, matins for Holy Thursday, and Divine Liturgy on Holy Thursday.References:The Year of Grace of the Lord by A Monk of the Eastern ChurchIsaiah 61:1-3 Therapy of Spiritual Illnesses by Jean-Claude LarchetFollow 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're kicking off a three part series where we walk through the liturgies for Holy Week. Today's episode covers Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.References:The Year of Grace of the Lord by A Monk of the Eastern ChurchGreat Lent by Fr. Alexander SchmemannBehold the BridegroomUseless but not WorthlessMonday Readings: Matt 21:18-43, Ezekiel 1:1-20, Exodus 1: 1-20, Job 1:1-12, Matt 24:3-35Tuesday Readings: Matt 22:15-23:39, Ezekiel 1:21 - 28, Exodus 2:5-10, Job 1:13-22, Matt 24:36 - 26:2Wednesday Readings: John 12:17 - 50, Ezekiel 2:3-3:3, Exodus 2:11-22, Job 2:1-10, Matt 26:6-16Episode 200!We're celebrating our upcoming episode 200 by hearing from you! Record a 20-30 second video (or audio only) clip talking about how the podcast has impacted your life. Upload to your Google drive and then share with dbratnick@gmail.com so our friend David can compile. Your videos can be vertical or horizontal. We may not be able to use all the submissions but look forward to watching them! Thanks for your support.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 reflects on the encounter of Simeon and Anna with the child Jesus when Jesus was presented in the Temple. Fr. Michael also shares some creative ideas for almsgiving that you can incorporate during the Great Fast and even throughout the year.Episode 200!We're celebrating our upcoming episode 200 by hearing from you! Record a 20-30 second video (or audio only) clip talking about how the podcast has impacted your life. Upload to your Google drive and then share with dbratnick@gmail.com so our friend David can compile. Your videos can be vertical or horizontal. We may not be able to use all the submissions but look forward to watching them! Thanks for your support.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 continues her discussion from a few episodes about the ache and longing we have in our hearts for eternity. She talks about the exodus and pilgrimage through this life, the goods that we can ache and long for, and how ultimately earth is not our home.References:Into Great SilenceKristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid UndsetThe Ache Speaks with Mother PetraThe Ladder of Divine Ascent by John ClimacusPsalm 137Episode 200!We're celebrating our upcoming episode 200 by hearing from you! Record a 20-30 second video (or audio only) clip talking about how the podcast has impacted your life. Upload to your Google drive and then share with dbratnick@gmail.com so our friend David can compile. Your videos can be vertical or horizontal. We may not be able to use all the submissions but look forward to watching them! Thanks for your support.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

On this week's episode, Fr. Michael works through some ideas he has for a homily he's giving later that day. He talks about the need to be cognizant of the work God is doing in our lives, our heads, and our hearts. References:Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid UndsetThe Ladder of Divine Ascent by John ClimacusEpisode 200!We're celebrating our upcoming episode 200 by hearing from you! Record a 20-30 second video (or audio only) clip talking about how the podcast has impacted your life. Upload to your Google drive and then share with dbratnick@gmail.com so our friend David can compile. Your videos can be vertical or horizontal. We may not be able to use all the submissions but look forward to watching them! Thanks for your support.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 takes a mini-topic request on recent Byzantine saints and also talks about fasting. Her discussion on fasting covers some of the reasons she likes fasting, the ways she can grow, and then some general practicalities on fasting.References:Father Vasyl LonchynaWhat Suffering is Not with Mother IlianaThe Ladder of Divine Ascent by John ClimacusFollow 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 uses the story of Zacchaeus as inspiration for this week's episode. He talks about the childlikeness found in Zacchaeus as well as his curiosity. Fr. Michael talks about all the ways that Zacchaeus' sin is pointed out to us in the Gospel, yet we see his quick repentance and conversion.References:Luke 19: 1-10Follow 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 shares about a recent experience rock climbing. She talks about healthy and unhealthy fear, recognizing the help that others around us provide, and ultimately how rock climbing relates to the spiritual life.References:Scruples and the SacramentsThe Four Loves by C.S. LewisFollow 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're joined by Kristin Molitor from the Institute for Ministry Formation. Kristin talks about the fawn response to danger, perceived danger, and trauma. We talk about where the fawn response can show up in our relationships well after trauma or danger has passed. We talk about the concept of spiritual bypassing or spiritual platitudes and how those can be a way of us ignoring our deeper feelings and emotions.References:Institute for Ministry FormationTheosis and Tribulations by Stewart J DunnFollow 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