Father Simon Says

Wis 7:22b–8:1 What is real wisdom? Lk 17:20-25 Where will God’s royal nature appear? Is Jesus’ Kingdom political? Mass Hysteria: Father reads a letter about some of the church songs from the 70s Word of the day: Cross and Crucifix Letter: Do my prayers count? Question about the three days of darkness; what is it? Father talks about marriage in the ancient world Dad asks about his agnostic son who struggles with the Genesis story

Wis 6:1-11 Father talks about wisdom and politicians Lk 17:11-19 What’s the meaning of leprosy in the law? Mass Hysteria: Father talks about incense at mass Word of the Day: Master Callers Did we all arrive from Noah’s and his family? Does God love everyone? Where does priestly celibacy come from?

Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12 What is Ezekiel’s vision about? 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17 Who is the historical Jesus? Jn 2:13-22 Father explains who the money changers of the ancient world was Mass Hysteria: Father talks about ancient temples and Church architecture Letters: Father answers another letter about quoting St. Augustine and St. Francis regarding anger. Father wars about even righteous anger Letter about following mass during ornate organ music Word of the Day: Zeal Callers: Should we pray for aborted babies? How do we get the Church to lower the music at Church? If someone is a non-Catholic, and commits a mortal sin, and couldn’t go to confession, how could he receive grace? How do you know what God wants you to do for your vocation?

Wis 1:1-7 What is justice? Father also explains different kinds of love. Lk 17:1-6 Father talks about the real meaning of scandal and why we should be wary of little scandals Mass Hysteria: Father recommends listeners study 1 Sam 15:23 Letters: Letter about the distinction between performance vs praise during mass Question about who can be a Confirmation sponsor Word of the Day: Stuff Callers: Is there such thing as righteous anger?  Francis de Sales and Augustine said something about anger in your heart.  Some tell me that Jesus was angry when he cleared out the temple.  Is it advisable for a priest to employ righteous anger in his preaching? Can you explain the seal of confession? Is there an age requirement for the validity of faith?

Rom 14:7-12 Father says we’re members of a universal Church; what does that mean? Lk 15:1-10 Father talks about meeting a shepherd turned seminarian who gives insight about going to find lost sheep Mass Hysteria: Father talks a bit more about funerals & a caller Letters Letter regarding the contradiction between faith and works Listener can’t find a book of the bible in her mother’s high school Bible Bridget says she likes Mass Hysteria and says listening Gregorian Chant is good for her! Word of the Day: Let this cup Pass! Callers: The name Jesus is a contraction of two Aramaic words, ‘God Saves’  Could you clarify? I’ve started doing the Holy Souls Novena.  I’ve done cemetery, rosary.  However what mysteries should I be doing?

Rom 13:8-10 Is St. Paul un-American? Lk 14:25-33 What does it really mean to love our parents? Do we have to sell everything to follow Jesus? Mass Hysteria: Father talks more about Church architecture Letters: Can you baptize an aborted baby? Father answers another question about yoga Can I receive communion before confession? Word of the Day: Called Callers: My son and fiancé living together.  When they visit us, they are in separate bedrooms.  But when we visit them for Thanksgiving, are we giving them the wrong message if we stay at their house? What do Jews think about the soul and body separation?  

Wis 3:1-9 Father tells a story of a goldsmith Rom 6:3-9 What does it mean when we give our lives to Christ? PS 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 Father talks about a controversial section of the passage Mass Hysteria: Letter about the physical structure of Churches Letters: Did Jesus reject the teachings of his fellow Jews about heaven and hell? Do Jews believe in reincarnation? Word of the day: Visitation Callers: Can catechumens receive plenary indulgences could receive them? Is it an article of faith that God has a specific plan for your life?

Rv 7:2-4, 9-14 Father explains the mystery of the book of Revelation 1 Jn 3:1-3 What does it mean to be pure of heart? Mt 5:1-12a Father explains what it means to bless God Mass Hysteria: Why do we have the bells at mass? Letters: Father talks about looking up at the people during mass Letter about the orans position at mass Word of the day: Halo Callers: Question about John 19:14 and about Jesus and the Passover Father explains the various calendars present during Jesus’ time Protestant belief in Faith Alone and the word Alone? Was the word ‘alone’ in the original transcript?

Rom 9:1-5 Why are there are rules changed in the Church? What does Isaac represent for Christians? Lk 14:1-6 What is dropsy and Pharisee-ism? Father explains Mass Hysteria: Father goes through the lyrics of the song The Anthem Letters: Question about the sons of Zebedee in the throne of glory Word of the day: Misse Callers Caller asks Father about the nature of papal infallibility Question about the roots of the word prayer Question on origin of the liturgical calendar, and liturgy of the word and who developed it?

Eph 2:19-22 Father talks about inclusive meaning of the term family in the ancient world Lk 6:12-16 What’s the greatest reality in the life of the Father? Where there 3 James’ or 2 in the New Testament? Mass Hysteria: Father listens to a selection from a polka Mass and talks about true worship Letters: Father reads a letter asking about the laws of Moses Word of the day: Kill Callers: Caller had a question about the demon Belial (what does the name mean?) In Hebrews, Jesus is referred to as the image of the invisible God–what does that mean? When was the first Mass celebrated using the basic format we have today?

Rom 8:26-30: Father talks about God’s purpose for us What is the biblical sense of glory? What does the redemption of our bodies mean? Mass Hysteria: Father talks about liturgical practices other than mass Letters: Caller’s brother assists at Byzantine Divine Liturgy and asks if singing was thrust on Roman Liturgy Listener who is converting to Catholicism asks for help defending the Catholic Church Question about Pharisees and Catholic law Word of the Day: I recline Callers: Friend fell away from the faith and he’s convinced he’s going to purgatory. can a non practicing Catholic go to purgatory?

Rom 8:18-25 What does St. Paul and entropy have to do with each other? What is our eternal destiny? Mass Hysteria:  Father talks about the true nature of funerals Letters: Father talks about getting to know one’s pastor at a parish Caller writes about the Filioque clause–did the Church add it to the creed? Word of the Day: Futility Callers: Why do we call him St. Michael the archangel? All saints day is a holy day of obligation, is it one this year? What does it mean to be spiritual but not religious? Why did some some of the words at mass change in 2011? Caller wants to thank father for suggesting she take some RCIA classes; she’s becoming Catholic

Rom 8:12-17 What is natural law? Lk 13:10-17 Who does Luke blame for the woman’s infirmity? Mass Hysteria:  Will the song I’m listening to stand the test of time? Letters Letter about the offertory prayers; Father talks about addressing God at mass Listener disagrees with Father about the cantor volume at mass Word of the day: Flesh Callers: Caller asks about St. Paul’s comments on the flesh If one were to touch the risen Jesus–would he have felt warm? Caller calls in about Chesterton’s Orthodoxy When did the Mass come to be known as the Mass? James son of Zebedee and James the brother of Christ, is there a difference? Question about mathematician Wolfgang Smith I have non-Catholic friends and my friends ask why Jesus is on the cross when you buy a crucifix

Rom 7:18-25a Why did Paul go West? Father explains What’s so fascinating about Paul’s cultural life? Lk 12:54-59 What is human idolatry? Mass Hysteria: Father reads a letter about languages at mass Letters Letter about Della Reese and Mahlia Jackson My daughter did Yoga at gym class–is that OK? Word on Fire: Orthodoxy Callers: Could you recommend a good book about Mary?  I’m a Protestant and want to know more. What is the Church’s position about the Jews & salvation? If I hang the rosary from my mirror in my car and pray the rosary, is that okay? I recommend Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary by Brant Pitre, for the caller who asked about Mary Am I okay going to my sister’s house, even if she practices Buddhism?    

Rom 6:19-23 What does it mean that Romans went from lawlessness to lawlessness? Lk 12:49-53 What does the word baptism actually mean? Mass Hysteria: Father explains why his approach to mass isn’t grim Letters: Letter about the 9th commandment; Father relates the question to St. Irenaeus Listener asks a question about being open to life after infertility Letter disagrees with Father about cantors using microphones Word of the Day: Sin Callers : How would father advise an orthodox catholic to maintain their tranquility in todays church? and when they encounter heresy, how do we speak up for the truth?  Regarding the holy spirit when he was baptized, did he receive the holy spirit at birth or was it later? The finding of the child Jesus in the temple is a joyful mystery but also one of the seven sorrows of Mary. How can this be? Who are the three Mary’s in the Bible?

Rom 6:12-18 Father goes into detail about the Talmud because he thinks the letter to the Romans is Talmudic Lk 12:39-48 Who is the wise servant, how are we saved, and who is the thief? Mass Hysteria: Father talks about masses that are more about the priest than the Father Letters: Question about handholding at mass Letter about those who badmouth the Blessed Mother–is it sinful? Word of the day: Obedient from the heart Callers: If Angels are inside or outside of time? Question about the consecration timeline at the last supper Muslims view Jesus as a prophet, not as savior. Can Catholics think of Jesus as prophet AND Savior?  

Rom 5:12, 15b, 17-19, 20b-21 Father thinks this first reading is really complicated; he explains why that is, and what’s really going on in The Letter to the Romans Mass Hysteria Father talks about the nature of the devil, evil, and the liturgical calendar Letters Father follows up with a caller who talked about Catholics advising Kennedy to legalize abortion Father talks about the divine and human natures of scripture Father answers a question about hymns at mass Word of the Day Vigilante Callers Is there a difference between soul and spirit? Does Father know the history of the opening antiphon and communion antiphon If there’s a patron saint or patron saint couple for those who are separated? Could Father explain the doctrinal basis of Natural Family Planning?

2 Tm 4:10-17b Father describes why this text from Paul is so poignant as well as why Paul might ask for papyrus rolls. Lk 10:1-9 What does Jesus mean by “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” Mass Hysteria Father plays a clip from Screwtape Letter’s about the danger of ‘the same old thing’ Letters: Listener writes in about Church music Question about Jesus naming re-naming Peter Where did Communion on the tongue originate? What’s the difference between the Bethlehem of Galilee and Bethlehem of Judea Does baptism during mass distract from Mass? Word of the Day: Apostle Callers: What does Fr. Simon know about Synod on Synodality? Question about Brown Scapular and the blessings Difficulties with my three sons getting them to mass–how do I proceed?  

Lk 11:47-54 Father talks about fatal accommodation, and the problems with modern biblical scholarship Mass Hysteria: will Moon River bring young people to Mass? Why isn’t Mass an expression of who I am? Letters What the difference between apostle and prophets Father talks about sacrifice, ecumenism, and mass Father responds to a letter about Jonah Word of the Day: Apostle Callers: When we read the Bible, it’s what God says to us, not what we say it means. Prophets see things clearly from God’s point of view. Question about Mary going into the temple and if women were allowed, and why didn’t Joseph speak? What’s Father’s opinion on a specific song, ‘Shelter Me’?

Rom 2:1-11 Why does Paul write, “the Jew first, and then the Greek?” Lk 11:42-46 Father explains what rue is from today’s Gospel, describes what the Pharisees were up to, and explains proper piety Mass Hysteria: Jesus always goes for quality over quantity Letters: Are all bugs forbidden to eat under kosher law? why do we only emphasize St. Francis’ love of creation? Are the Knights of Columbus like the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher Word of the day: Partiality Callers: A kid in faith formation class asked a tough question– how would you respond? I understand that some priests consulted with the Kennedy’s and said that pro-choice was the way to go. Is this true? If so what are the implications? What is meant by ‘the word of God is living’ in Hebrews 4:12