Liturgy Live

This week on the podcast Fr Ian and Alanna start out with 2 different perspectives on Ecclesiastes and how to go about reading it and the possibilities of approaching this particular book of Scripture. We have a good disagreement that ends in the same outcome, we just take different routes to get there. The second reading we talk about how we are called to seek what is above and to have heavenly goals so that what might seem like vanity is storing treasures in heaven. In the Gospel we talk about the reality that we are not in control. Hoarding materials, and spiritual gifts will harm you in the end, they are to be given to build up the community.

This week on the podcast we talk about service through suffering. In the first reading Alanna connects the symbolism of the story to the symbolism of the New Testament. Service in suffering under the "tree" brings forth fruit, and new life. Abraham serves God with a good and ordered attitude and does not complain to the Lord. His service through the suffering brings forth the announcement of the upcoming birth of Isaac. In the second reading we talk about St Paul and when he talks about the sufferings that are lacking in Christ. We discuss what that really means mystically and how we are to participate in it. Specifically we focus on praising God in the midst of our sufferings. In the Gospel we review the story of Martha and Mary, and we touch on the active vs the contemplative life. What was really happening in this story and why did Jesus respond to her in this way? We also touch on how physical busyness can lead to spiritual sloth.

This week on the podcast we talk about the Good Samaritan. In the first reading we talk about how Moses is telling the Israelites that the answer is not in a far off place, it is in their hearts, given to them by God. To please follow the laws and statutes, in order to avoid the curses just laid out before them. In the second reading we talk about the primacy of Christ and how he is the first, Uncreated, and of the New Creation. The Gospel we talk about Augustine's Allegory of the parable of the Good Samaritan.

This week we talk about the readings for the 14th Sunday. In the first reading we talk about the imagery of the comforting mother that Isaiah gives us and how it prefigures our comfort being delivered from the Blessed Mother, and also our Mother the Church. In the second reading we talk about boasting in the cross of Christ. Living in Christ and bearing your sufferings has more to do with your salvation than whether or not you have been circumcised. In the Gospel we talk about how Jesus sends out the 72 elders to go out and harvest for the Lord the prepared "crops". We are both the labourers and the crop. Jesus is giving a lesson also in how to take rejection, and also how to handle rejoicing in success. Follow us on Twitter. @LiturgyLive