Father Simon Says

2 Sm 7:18-19, 24-29 Father shares one of his 'most hairbrained theories' about the Scriptures  Mk 4:21-25 Is the bushel basket what we think it is?   Letters Father explains what a parable means  Why was the Gospel preach to the death?  Email asking with clarification about Romans and the Jewish faith Word of the Day: Priest   Callers:  How do we understand God's mercy and his justice  Ecclesiastes 11:1 'Cast thy bread upon thy water, for thou shalt find it after many days' Could you explain this verse. How do we understand contrition? Commenting on The soldier that touched the Ark of the Covenant and connecting to Peter and David. He would like to get Fr. Simon's reaction Question about the light and the first eastern star

2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13 The Bible doesn't sugar coat unsavory historical details  Mk 5:1-20 Is the Devil a good theologian?  Letters: I don't want my family to know my sins, is God going to tell them to my family?  Word of the day: "Love is," ETC Callers Is one more important than the other, the body or the blood?  How big of a loss is it to not receive the Blood of Christ at Mass? Will the sacrifices I make, eventually bring my children back to the Church, like going to mass twice a day?   Question about today's scripture and interpretation regarding the Gospel including the use of the word of 'Legion'

2 Sm 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17 Father explains why the human family is dysfunctional  Letters:  What does counsel the doubtful mean?  How do I pronounce Nehemiah?  Can I insert my son's name in the litany of St. Joseph Can you recommend the history of words and languages? Word of the day: Kingdom (again!) Callers: About St. Thomas Aquinas about life begins 40 days after conception; could you clarify? Do you think Aquinas ripped up the Theologica because he realized that you don't have to understand? Why are there no Old Testament saints? I had a miscarriage years ago, and could you have a miscarried baby baptized?

2 Sm 7:18-19, 24-29 Father shares one of his 'most hairbrained theories' about the Scriptures  Mk 4:21-25 Is the bushel basket what we think it is?   Letters Father explains what a parable means  Why was the Gospel preach to the death?  Email asking with clarification about Romans and the Jewish faith Word of the Day: Priest   Callers:  How do we understand God's mercy and his justice  Ecclesiastes 11:1 'Cast thy bread upon thy water, for thou shalt find it after many days' Could you explain this verse. How do we understand contrition? Commenting on The soldier that touched the Ark of the Covenant and connecting to Peter and David. He would like to get Fr. Simon's reaction Question about the light and the first eastern star

2 Tm 1:1-8 Father explains what the word priest means and the roles of Timothy, Titus, and Paul  Did Jesus design a structured Church?  Mk 5:1-20 What does it mean to say Jesus is LOGOS?  Letters: Aquinas defines love to will the good of the others; is that are we to love God?  Was St. Peter considered first among equals?  Word of the day: Bishop Callers: Question about Jewish people not allowed to drink blood, and relating to the Eucharist and drinking his blood? My son has been diagnosed w/cancer and I've been praying.  Is it okay to pray for the intercession of my late grandmother for my son. What should I do if I find the Eucharist (host) on the floor a day after, after a children's mass? What does he think about Taize prayer?

Acts 22:3-16 Father explains the cultural and religious dynamics of today's reading  Letters: How do we understand the Hebrew word, "Bar"? Why didn't David build the temple?  Does the priest have to say the correct words of absolution for confession?  Word of the day: Light  Callers: Question about woman deacons in the Church Question about the translation of the word Eucharist 

2 Sm 5:1-7, 10 Father discusses what scholars are confused about regarding today's reading Mk 3:22-30 What does Baal mean?  Father explains what the sin against the Holy Spirit is Letters: Father gets a letter from Dan about Wisdom 1:14 Father talks more about the seven deadly sins  Wouldn't the Shroud have been a bloody mess?  Word: Strongman Callers:  I have a fallen away friend and would like suggestions on how to bring her back to the faith How do I counsel a friend who is divorced?  How did the Church get her authority?  What happened to the gifts that Mary and Joseph received from the Magi?

Father talks about the seven deadly sins, especially anger Mk 3:13-19 Are we supposed to be sons and daughters of thunder?  Letters  Is anger used to work God's will?  Why is the word cardinal said in between the first and last name of a cardinal?  Father is asked about the cadaver synod  Word of the day: Twelve Callers: Can you describe the paschal mystery in a nutshell? At the end of the world, I thought it was only going to be heaven and hell. What about all the unborn children?

1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7 Why was David a man after God's own heart? Mk 3:7-12 What does it mean for Jesus to say he's the Son of Man?  Evangelism: what does it mean?  Letters What if Pilate freed Jesus?  Reader asks about the relativizing of the mosaic law Word of the Day: uniformity  Callers  Why are there two creation stories? Can ask a priest to do ad ad orientem worship? 

1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51 Father explains why the David and Goliath story is important to him  Father talks about the sinful anger of our times  Letters:  Why did God put the tree in the garden?  Why does Jesus use David as an example to prove what he is doing is OK?  Word of the day: Violent Callers: I disagree with Father's point on anger; is it always a sin? What does he think about that point? At the end of daily morning mass I asked the daily mass goers not to be late for mass. Was this out of anger? There's a passage in bible regarding Sodom/Gomorrah, can you help me with a dispute I'm having with a friend? 

1 Sm 16:1-13 Father shares his theories about who David was   Mk 2:23-28 What does it mean that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath? Father talks about evangelism  Letters:  What has more of a supernatural effect; the Spirit or the written word of God?  Where does the Church's teaching about communion and sin come from? Word of the day: Offering Callers: What is the significance of the priest wersing the humeral veil during Benediction? Mathew 9:16-18 Explanation about using the old wine skins. Where did Herod and Pilate get the authority to kill John the Baptist and Jesus?

1 Sm 15:16-23 Why do we use oil for anointing?  Does God ask for violence?    Letters:  Did Mary wear a head cover?  Did Jesus really use a chalice?  Why wasn't Jesus named Emmanuel?  When can I find ideas to have silent time listening to the Lord?  Word of the day: Builder  Callers: My wife had an abortion 30 years ago.  I thought it was ok, then I went to confession but just can't get past it. Can you help, Father?  What is your opinion on noise before Mass, like people talking etc. Who are the 'associates' in the morning offering? How do we know we are in a good relationship with God? Why do we refer to the Blessed Mother as Mary and not Miriam?

Mk 2:1-12 What does forgive mean?  Letters: The love of our children can never be repaid, what does that mean?  Was the blessed Mother there for the birth of John the Baptist?  Word of the Day: Astonishment  Callers: What are Father's thoughts on Liberation Theology?  Question about the Creed.; what does it mean that 'He rose again?' Who was Deborah in the Old Testament? Do the Jewish people still believe that the Savior will come from Bethlehem?

1 Sm 4:1-11 Father talks about why non-belief and superstition are two sides of the same coin Letters Why don't more schools offer the trades? Am I obliged to go to mass? I'm concerned about COVID exposure?  Word of the Day: Mercy Seat  Callers:  My son-in-law is visiting. His stepfather is dying but not baptized. Is it valid for my son-in-law to baptize him because the family doesn't want a catholic priest Question on how we know that Jesus died for all people? Question about today's Gospel-- Jesus couldn't go back to the synagogue after healing a leper because he was considered unclean. Is this true? Do you know what happened to Noah's Ark

1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20 Father talks about marriage and annulments  Mk 1:29-39 In light of this passage, Father talks about celibacy and marriage Letters: Father receives a letter about sedevecantist masses Word of the Day : pharmakiaCallers  Does holy water maintain it's efficacy if you add water to it? What is your opinion on the pig heart transplant. The man who plays Jesus in the Chosen converted from Orthodox to Catholicism. Why did he need confirmation if he received it as a baby when he was Baptized Orthodox?

1 Sm 1:9-20 Father talks about the relationship between food and religion Mk 1:21-28 What does it mean that Jesus spoke with authority?  Letters: Is there are a good journaling Bible for my 17-year-old?  Ignatius Journaling and Note-Taking Bible: Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition: Ignatius Press: 9781621641902: Amazon.com: Books When I go to sleep at night, I say my rosary; is that OK?  Why do you dis on Eagle's Wing?  Writer thinks God is a hypocrite  Letter about receiving indulgences  Word of the Day: Shiloh  Callers:  What is the definition of Hesed? What the difference between the innocence of Eve and Mary What is the root of the word Sorcerer? Is it the same as the root for Pharmacy?

1 Sm 1:1-8 What's the significance of your surname?  Mk 1:14-20 Where do we encounter God's royal nature?  Letters Father gets multiple letters about end-of-life issues  Word of the day: Begotten Callers: What was the word that was used in Greek or Aramaic,  'This is my Body' and more specifically the word 'This' Dr. Cindy, a bioethicist and physician, responds to end of life issues Are you allowed to use 'spit'  to baptize someone in case of emergency and no water is available, like in wartime? 

1 Jn 4:19–5:4 Father talks about the difficulty of real love and how we conquer the world  Letters: What were the papal states?  Father answers a letter about depriving someone of nutrition  Is Mary's question to the angel an act of discernment?  Word of the Day: Synagogue  Callers: Jesus said no one great than John the Baptist - does that include Mary? What is the heresy of Jansenism and does it affect us today? When was Latin started in the mass? My niece doesn't want to baptize her daughter, what should I tell her? 

1 Jn 4:11-18 What does it mean to have God's spirit? Father tells a story about serving the poor as a pastor.  Mk 6:45-52 Jesus 'passing by' is actually a manifestation of his divinity  Letters: Father consoles a listener who is the only one in her family that practices the faith  My wife and I want to give a book to parents of a girl that will marry their son. They are looking for a book on the importance of going to mass Word of the Day: Amen Callers  In Genesis 2:17 and 3:3 and is there another interpretation of the word 'die' in these two verses. How can I keep up my faith while my husband wants a divorce? Who's Epiphany was it, was it the Wise Men or was it Jesus? If someone has grounds for an annulment,  but chooses not to person the annulment process, is their marriage valid

1 Jn 4:7-10 What is love? Father explains different types of love Mk 6:34-44 Did Jesus really work a miracle today?  Letters Father talks about the Jews and saying the name of the Lord Why did the Church institute the vigil mass?  Can I have a mass said for a deceased Jewish man?  Why are we born in sin?  Word of the Day: Metanoia  Callers  Most accurate English translations of the Bible? The sacrament of confirmation and the proper age of the sacrament? What is the biggest issue facing the church today? Adam and Eve were supposed to be our original parents and they had children; how did the world populate?