In what ways is prayer used to gain the favor of men, to bargain for position, or even to gossip and control others?
Fr. Timothy Lowe submits to the critique of Matthew's Gospel which warns about heaping up empty words and praying in order to be seen by men. A father provides for his children, and Our Father in Heaven knows what you need before you even ask. We can't keep secrets from Him anyway. As Matthew instructs, "When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." Fr. Timothy reminds us, like Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, it is in the acceptance of the simple prayer, "Thy will be done." Read the full episode transcript here.
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Does your parish have a dedicated outreach or missions and evangelism team? Fr. Evan Armatas boldly suggests that the Great Commission cannot be sequestered to committee - it must be at the heart of parish life!
Reflecting on Hebrews 13 where the Apostle Paul summarizes, "Do not neglect to good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God," Fr. Evan demonstrates how there's always room for one more at the table. He affirms that the degree of diversity within the parish directly correlates to the degree of parish health. Fr. Evan shares how the Great Commission is inextricably linked to parish health in his new book, Reclaiming the Great Commission: A Roadmap to Parish Health. The book is written as a practical guide for parish leaders to digest and implement in order to reclaim the Great Commission toward parish health. Read the full episode transcript here. 
Reactions to Black Friday and Giving Tuesday range from enthusiasm to disgust. Many just feel conflicted with the commercialization of the holidays which is intended as a time for thanksgiving, spending time with loved ones, and extending acts of mercy and generosity as the Lord graciously offers His Son for the salvation of all.
How do business and nonprofit leaders who strive to serve the Lord respond to the pressure of these events? How do consumers and patrons respond in light of their baptism in Christ? Fr. Timothy Lowe turns to Matthew's Gospel which critiques our motivations surrounding Black Friday and Giving Tuesday in light of Christ's Sermon on the Mount. Read the full episode transcript here. |
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