STSG20 – The Parables of Jesus (PART 2) – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 19- Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran -The Parables of Jesus (PART 2)

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Episode 20 –

The Parables of Jesus (part 2)

Through His parables, Jesus both conceals and reveals.

As Sharon teaches us in this lecture,
Jesus uses the parables to reveal the truths of the Kingdom.
Yet, he conceals his true identity as Messiah so that his plan for salvation will not be thwarted before the appointed hour of his death on the cross.
As Sharon shows us, these parables have an even deeper richness when seen through Middle Eastern eyes. Understanding the cultural details contained in parables such as the Sower or the Prodigal Son helps us to appreciate the power of these amazing stories.
Sharon’s lecture breathes new life into our understanding of these familiar stories.

Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your every day life.

“Seeking Truth” is an in depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net

STSG22 – The Miracles of Jesus (PART 2) – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 22 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran -The Miracles of Jesus (PART 2)

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Episode 22 –

The Miracles of Jesus (part 2)

In this lecture, Sharon illuminates the miracles of Jesus in the most beautiful way.

As we learn this week, Jesus demonstrates dominion over the elements as he calms the storm on the Sea of Galilee.

Arriving on the other side of the sea, Jesus then displays his Lordship over Satan as He heals the Gerasene demoniac, driving a Legion of demons into 2000 swine, who then hurl themselves over a cliff into the sea.

The power of these miracles comes alive in Sharon’s presentation, with Old Testament prophecies jumping off the pages as they are fulfilled one by one.

Yet, in the gentle, quiet healings of Jairus’ daughter and the woman with a hemorrhage we learn even more of Christ’s plan of salvation for a new Daughter Zion.

In a conclusion that is both rich in scholarly insight and flowing with pastoral mercy, Sharon brings us to the realization that we only have to reach out to receive the abundant healing that God desires to lavish upon us.

“You have called me” – St. John Damascene from the Office of Readings

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From The Statement of Faith by St. John Damascene, priest

You have called me, Lord, to minister to your people

O Lord, you led me from my father’s loins and formed me in my mother’s womb. You brought me, a naked babe, into the light of day, for nature’s laws always obey your commands.

By the blessing of the Holy Spirit, you prepared my creation and my existence, not because man willed it or flesh desired it, but by your ineffable grace. The birth you prepared for me was such that it surpassed the laws of our nature. You sent me forth into the light by adopting me as your son and you enrolled me among the children of your holy and spotless Church.

You nursed me with the spiritual milk of your divine utterances. You kept me alive with the solid food of the body of Jesus Christ, your only-begotten Son for our redemption. And he undertook the task willingly and did not shrink from it. Indeed, he applied himself to it as though destined for sacrifice, like an innocent lamb. Although he was God, he became man, and in his human will, became obedient to you, God his Father, unto death, even death on a cross.

In this way you have humbled yourself, Christ my God, so that you might carry me, your stray sheep, on your shoulders. You let me graze in green pastures, refreshing me with the waters of orthodox teaching at the hands of your shepherds. You pastured these shepherds, and now they in turn tend your chosen and special flock. Now you have called me, Lord, by the hand of your bishop to minister to your people. I do not know why you have done so, for you alone know that. Lord, lighten the heavy burden of the sins through which I have seriously transgressed. Purify my mind and heart. Like a shining lamp, lead me along the straight path. When I open my mouth, tell me what I should say. By the fiery tongue of your Spirit make my own tongue ready. Stay with me always and keep me in your sight.

Lead me to pastures, Lord, and graze there with me. Do not let my heart lean either to the right or to the left, but let your good Spirit guide me along the straight path. Whatever I do, let it be in accordance with your will, now until the end.

And you, O Church, are a most excellent assembly, the noble summit of perfect purity, whose assistance comes from God. You in whom God lives, receive from us an exposition of the faith that is free from error, to strengthen the Church, just as our Fathers handed it down to us.

A Novena to the Immaculate Conception – Day 5

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O God,
who by the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
did prepare a worthy dwelling place for Your Son,
we beseech You that,
as by the foreseen death of this, Your Son,
You did preserve Her from all stain,
so too You would permit us,
purified through Her intercession,
to come unto You.
Through the same Lord Jesus Christ,
Your Son, who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, world without end.

Amen.

O Lord, who, by the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary,
did prepare a fitting dwelling for your Son,
we beseech you that as by the foreseen death of your Son,
you did preserve her from all stain of sin,
grant that through her intercession,
we may be favored with the granting of the grace
that we seek for at this time…

(State your intention here…)

O Mary of the Immaculate Conception,
Mother of Christ,
you had influence with your Divine Son while upon this earth;
you have the same influence now in heaven.
Pray for us
and obtain for us from him
the granting of my petition if it be the Divine Will.

Amen.

For the complete 9 day novena visit the Discerning Hearts:

The Immaculate Conception Novena page

RN-1- Introduction and Value # 1 – Jesus Christ – Regnum Novum w/ Omar Gutierrez

Episode 1 – Regnum Novum: Bringing forth the New Evangelization through Catholic Social Teaching with Omar Guiterrez – Introduction and Value # 1 – Jesus Christ

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From episode … 1. Jesus Christ

You may not believe how many advocates of social justice are only too ready to chuck Jesus out the window in order to get you to buy their plan. One such program of which I’m familiar actually includes materials that deny the divinity of Christ, several times, and deny the salvific work of the cross. As Pope Paul VI and Pope Benedict XVI have said, the Social Doctrine is evangelization. If it is not rooted in the truth, then it can be manipulated to mean whatever one wants it to mean. The truth is quite simply, Jesus Christ who, as Gaudium et spes states, reveals man to himself. The Social Doctrine and the work of charity must stem from an intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ so that they might serve the whole person and point back to Christ.

Omar F. A. Guiterrez, M.A., studied Theology at the Franciscan University of Steubenville and at the Angelicum in Rome. He holds a Master’s of Arts degree in Theology from the University of Dallas. He has worked for the Church in various capacities including as a teacher and administrator. His expertise includes Catholic Social Teaching, and his writings on the subject have appeared in several national Catholic newspapers and periodicals. He’s also the author of “The Urging of Christ’s Love: The Saints and The Social Teaching of the Catholic”

Also visit Omar’s “Discerning Hearts” page Catholic Social Teaching 101

A Novena to the Immaculate Conception – Day 4

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Amen.

O Mary, Mother of God,
endowed in your glorious Immaculate Conception
with the fullness of grace;
unique among women
in that you are both mother and virgin;
Mother of Christ and Virgin of Christ,
we ask you to look down with a tender heart
from your throne and listen to our prayers
as we earnestly ask that you obtain for us
the favor for which we now plead…

(State your intention here…)

Amen.

For the complete 9 day novena visit the Discerning Hearts:

The Immaculate Conception Novena page

STSG23 – Multiplication of the Loaves (PART 1) – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 23 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran -Multiplication of the Loaves (PART 1)

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Episode 23 –

The Multiplication of the Loaves (part 1)

Multiplication of the Loaves
(Mt 14,15; Mk 6,8; Lk 9; Jn 6)

“Looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people” (Mk 6:41).

Other than the resurrection of Jesus, the multiplication of the loaves is the only miracle described in all four Gospels.

The importance of this miracle cannot be overstated.

Sharon illuminates the importance of this miracle within the big picture of God’s plan of salvation.

The multiplication of the loaves is a hinge between the Old and New Covenants.

It connects Passover with the Heavenly Feast of the Lamb.

It connects the daily gift of manna in the desert with the never-ending gift of Eucharist.

It connects the Bread of the Presence from the old temple with the Bread of Life found in Jesus, the new temple.

STSG24 – Multiplication of the Loaves (PART 2) – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 24 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran -Multiplication of the Loaves (PART 2)

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Episode 24 –

The Multiplication of the Loaves (part 2)

Multiplication of the Loaves
(Mt 14,15; Mk 6,8; Lk 9; Jn 6)

“Looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people” (Mk 6:41).

Other than the resurrection of Jesus, the multiplication of the loaves is the only miracle described in all four Gospels.

The importance of this miracle cannot be overstated.

Sharon illuminates the importance of this miracle within the big picture of God’s plan of salvation.

The multiplication of the loaves is a hinge between the Old and New Covenants.

It connects Passover with the Heavenly Feast of the Lamb.

It connects the daily gift of manna in the desert with the never-ending gift of Eucharist.

It connects the Bread of the Presence from the old temple with the Bread of Life found in Jesus, the new temple.

USCCA1 – “My Soul Longs For You, O God” – Chap. 1 – The United States Catholic Catechism for Adults with Archbishop George Lucas

USCCA1- Episode 1- My Soul Longs For You, O God (Ps 42:2)

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Archbishop Lucas offers insights on the US Catholic Catechism for Adults Chapter 1:

How is our quest for God awakened? God first pursues us; this spurs us to search for him for whom we were made. the Catechism presents three paths through which every person can come to God; creation, the human person, and Revelation. In the next chapter, Revelation will be presented as the greatest and most essential path to God. He is discovered also through creation and through the mystery of our inner life.

The Most Reverend George J. Lucas leads the Archdiocese of Omaha.

For other episodes in the visit our Archbishop George Lucas page

This programs is based on:

More information can be found here.

We wish to thank the USCCB for the permissions granted for use of relevant material used in this series.
Also we wish to thank Teresa Monaghen and Deacon Chuck Adams for their vocal talents in this episode.

IP#270 Jay Richards – The Hobbit Party on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

What fun! I love reading and discussing great authors and their work (especially if it’s someone of the caliber of J. R. R. Tolkien) . Throw into the mix the fundamentals of Catholic Social teaching, a bit of religion, history and politics and suddenly you have a party…“The Hobbit Party: The Vision of Freedom That Tolkien Got, and the West Forgot “ to be exact. Much has written about Tolkien’s religious connotations in “The Hobbit” and “Lord of the Rings”, but authors Jay Richards and Jonathon Witt delve interestingly enough into the political aspects of the novels. For fans of the books (and/or the movies for that matter), this a wonderful source of light which illuminates yet another facet of Tolkien’s incredible literary diamond. Dr. Jay Richards is always great to talk with and what a joy to engage on this topic.

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You can find the book here

“J. R. R. Tolkien is one of the most widely read but arguably misunderstood of the twentieth century’s literary geniuses. In this book, Witt and Richards lift the veil on Tolkien and reveal a political and, yes, economic thinker who constantly surprises readers and whose insights are even more valuable for our time than his own. Tolkien fans who read this book will never think about this great author the same way again.”
— Samuel Gregg, Research Director, Acton Institute Author, Becoming Europe

“This book is a ‘drop everything and read it’ book. Richards and Witt have opened up an often ignored aspect of Tolkien’s work, namely the sense in which his myth bespeaks a political and economic order that stands in stark, even violent, contrast to the presiding power structures that dominate this unhappy globe. It should be made required reading in all courses in political philosophy. It’s a glorious book.”
— Thomas Howard, Author, Dove Descending: A Journey into T. S. Eliot’s “Four Quartets”

Episode 20 –

The Parables of Jesus (part 2)

Through His parables, Jesus both conceals and reveals.

Episode 22 –

The Miracles of Jesus (part 2)

In this lecture, Sharon illuminates the miracles of Jesus in the most beautiful way.

From The Statement of Faith by St. John Damascene, priest

You have called me, Lord, to minister to your people

For the complete 9 day novena visit the Discerning Hearts:

For the complete 9 day novena visit the Discerning Hearts:

Episode 23 –

The Multiplication of the Loaves (part 1)

Multiplication of the Loaves (Mt 14,15; Mk 6,8; Lk 9; Jn 6)

Episode 24 –

The Multiplication of the Loaves (part 2)

Multiplication of the Loaves (Mt 14,15; Mk 6,8; Lk 9; Jn 6)

Multiplication of the Loaves
(Mt 14,15; Mk 6,8; Lk 9; Jn 6)

Multiplication of the Loaves
(Mt 14,15; Mk 6,8; Lk 9; Jn 6)