Episodios

  • Are you Judas (or Peter, or John)?

    Are you Judas (or Peter, or John)?
    Apr 17 2025
    Voiceover/Reading of my article, "Are You Judas, Peter, or John" on my Substack During the mass readings for Palm Sunday, I was overwhelmed by thoughts and ideas that came to my mind as we read the Passion narrative in the Gospel.I usually don’t like this Gospel reading in the mass very much because I always feel awkward reciting the parts spoken by the crowd. I don’t like saying things like “Crucify him!” or “He deserves to die.” But the truth is we always say those things with our actions every time we choose to sin. And it further demands a reflection on this question: In a life that reflects the Gospel narratives today, are we Judas, Saint Peter, or Saint John the Evangelist? How are they different, and why does it matter?Threes CompanyJohn had pure and innocent faith. He was the only Apostle who followed Jesus to his crucifixion. But he, with the other Apostles, also ran away at Gethsemane when Jesus was arrested. Do we do the same in our lives? Do we run away, or turn our back on Jesus?Peter often comes off like a bumbling idiot in the Gospels. His faith is strong but imperfect and sometimes faulty. At times he resists Jesus’ direction. One example: When Jesus told Peter that he would have to go to Jerusalem to suffer and die, Peter responded by saying he won’t allow it. But Peter’s ultimate flub was his three denials of Christ.Then we come to Judas Iscariot. That’s where I’ll focus in this article., especially in contrast to Peter.DON”T MISS the Chat thread link at the end of this articleApostolic DisharmonyJudas - We all know Judas as the betrayer. But St. Peter denied Jesus three times. Isn’t that also a betrayal? I’d say it is, of sorts. But then why does Jesus say of his betrayer, “It’d be better for him had he never been born,” but makes Peter the rock on which Jesus will build His Church? The short answer is that Judas made a choice to pursue his evil, while Peter merely made a mistake. The former was corrupt, while the latter was merely imperfect.“One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, ‘What are you willing to give me if I had him over to you?’”Judas did not come face to face with temptation as Peter did. Judas pursued his evil ambition. He “went to the chief priests .” They apparently did not go to him first. He was also very specific about what he was willing to do, “…if I hand him over to you”. He doesn’t offer to spy or to provide inside information; he doesn’t offer to manipulate the other Apostles away from Jesus. He very specifically offers to hand Jesus over to them. It’s not a minor betrayal but an absolute one.Peter - On the other hand, Peter does not pursue an opportunity to betray Jesus. He also doesn’t betray Jesus for any material gain. It’s also telling that Peter did not go into hiding after Jesus’ arrest but was, up to now, “following Jesus at a distance.”“Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas, the High priest…Peter was following him at a distance…” and “Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard…”.Peter is not close, but he is nearby. He is following, but he isn’t keeping up. So we see here a strong but imperfect discipleship. Sound like something familiar to your own life?When some people recognize Peter as one of the Apostles of Jesus, Peter denies it, ultimately saying, “I do not know the man .” It’s a pretty strong denial, especially considering that earlier in the Gospel, it was Peter who said to Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” and now he is referring to him as merely a man. He knew him truly when no one else did yet—as the Christ, and as the Son of God. Now he denies him totally.But in the end, we must acknowledge that Peter faltered while Judas chose. Peter tripped along the right path, but Judas walked steadily on the wrong one. And now it comes time to ask ourselves the hard questionAre You Judas?We have to ask ourselves a very uncomfortable question at this point; a question that’s as uncomfortable as shouting “Crucify him!” in the middle of mass. That question is, “Am I Judas, or am I Peter?” Do you freely choose your sins, or do you merely make mistakes out of human weakness? Are you an intentional betrayer or an accidental one? Do you pursue occasions for sin, or are those occasions introduced to you, putting you to the test? Do you pass the test?We all sin. We all need mercy. We all need God’s grace in order to change our lives. But sometimes we can be too hard on ourselves. We see ourselves as Judas when we may just be “Peter”; perhaps even John, whose fleeing from Gethsemane was the least of the “betrayals”. On the other hand, some of us see ourselves as John or Peter when an honest examination of our consciences may reveal that we are sometimes more like Judas.Whoever the Apostle you reflect, always return to Jesus. This is Holy Week, and it’s the ...
    Más Menos
    8 m
  • Crisis of Modern Masculinity

    Crisis of Modern Masculinity
    Apr 14 2025

    In this special free episode of the Catholic Adventurer Podcast, we explore the crisis of modern masculinity. Originally intended as a casual check-in, this discussion evolved into a thorough examination of the struggles men face in today's world. We touch on the impact of feminism, the emotional challenges men encounter, and the broader cultural shifts that have contributed to this crisis. The host encourages listeners to share their thoughts and emphasizes the importance of true masculinity, which is rooted in quiet strength and integrity. Future episodes will continue this conversation, providing a more in-depth analysis with guest co-hosts. Chapters, Chat link, and related links below

    Join or View the Chat (While it’s still open!)

    Chapters

    * 00:00 Introduction to the Catholic Adventurer Podcast

    * 01:29 The Crisis of Modern Masculinity

    * 02:30 Audience Engagement and Future Plans

    * 04:10 The Impact of Feminism on Masculinity

    * 07:27 The Role of Men in Society and the Church

    * 09:19 Defining True Masculinity

    * 11:08 Personal Reflections on Masculinity

    * 17:23 The Importance of Male Role Models

    * 18:44 The Formation of Men vs. Women

    * 19:51 The Role of Jesus in Masculinity

    * 21:49 The Quest for Authentic Masculinity

    * 22:39 The Quiet Strength of True Masculinity

    * 26:23 The Modern Crisis of Masculinity

    * 30:32 The Importance of Truth

    * 34:52 Closing Thoughts and Future Content

    See links to related content below

    Thank you Catholic Family Business, Dean, The Brothers Krynn, John Henry, and many others for tuning into my live video! Join me for my next live video in the app.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit catholicadventurer.substack.com/subscribe
    Más Menos
    37 m
  • From "Hosanna!" to "Crucify Him!"

    From "Hosanna!" to "Crucify Him!"
    Apr 13 2025

    Today remember that the people will exultantly shout, "Hosanna, hosanna!" and line the path of Jesus to throw palms on the ground before him.On Good Friday, they'll shout, "Crucify him, crucify him!" and line up along the path to Golgotha to spit on him.

    What changes a heart from "Hosanna!" to "Crucify him!"? Why do we hear of only women weeping for Our Lord, Veronica wanting to tend to him, and only one man, Simon, begrudgingly showing compassion and sympathy?

    “We want "the Church" or "the Faith" of our desires…”

    Maybe those Sunday "Hosannas" weren't sincere. Maybe Jesus wasn't the type of messiah that they wanted, so they threw him away by Friday. We still do that today. We want "the Church" or "the Faith" of our desires and throw it away or fabricate a new one when the real thing is not our hearts' desire, or not what we expect. Some of us herald the idea of “Catholic” but then scourge and crucify the Mystical Body.

    Maybe the weeping women and Veronica saw something most of the other people weren't seeing. Pride has a blinding effect, while humility opens the eyes of the heart and leads to compassion and obedience. We see that opening of the eyes in Simon. Maybe Simon, the guilty sinner, realized he was not an innocent man carrying the cross of a criminal, but that he himself was the criminal, and Jesus, indeed the innocent man.

    The entire story between the Palms of Sunday and the passion of the following Friday demonstrates the dark condition of man and how much we all need Jesus in order to be transformed into his image. The image of his face was left on the veil of Veronica, and maybe the image of his heart was left on the heart of Simon. What is the image impressed upon the hearts of those who spat on him and cheered during his torture and execution? I leave that for you to consider. But remember that Jesus said, "Forgive them, for they don't know what they're doing."

    The Catholic Adventurer is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.



    This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit catholicadventurer.substack.com/subscribe
    Más Menos
    3 m
  • Surrender Everything to God, the Good 'Thief"?!

    Surrender Everything to God, the Good 'Thief"?!
    Apr 4 2025
    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit catholicadventurer.substack.com

    For paid subscribers; free/audio version will be published tomorrow. I share my personal struggles with the idea of abandoning everything to God Drawing on Father Jacques Philippe's book 'Finding and Maintaining Peace,' I reflect on a common fear that surrendering everything to God might lead to losing everything we value in our lives, and I explain why…
    Más Menos
    5 m
  • Catholic with Conviction

    Catholic with Conviction
    Mar 31 2025
    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit catholicadventurer.substack.com

    Description:

    A final follow up to my essay, Facts, Faults, and Fallacies of Catholic Decline I sit down for a Substack Live to provide additional color to, and thoughts about why we’re seeing such drastic decline in the Catholic Church, and what we can address to fix the problem. I explain why I reject some common excuses, such as “demographic shift”, sh…
    Más Menos
    10 m
  • Catholic Decline, in Focus

    Catholic Decline, in Focus
    Mar 23 2025
    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit catholicadventurer.substack.com

    In this special episode, captured from a live Substack stream, I examine the decline in mass attendance and participation in sacraments within the Catholic Church. While some blame shifting demographics or clergy scandals, I propose deeper issues like secularism and inadequate catechesis. The episode also emphasizes the significance of taking sacraments…
    Más Menos
    16 m
  • After-Show 32 - Reverence, Mass, Respect

    After-Show 32 - Reverence, Mass, Respect
    Feb 21 2025
    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit catholicadventurer.substack.com

    We kick things off by talking about the recent my episode 32, 'Mass Hysteria,' that I just released. I share my thoughts on the reactions it’s been getting, which are both expected and yet.

    Then, we get into the meat of this episode: reverence in the Mass. I’ll share my views on what real reverence means—beyond just the traditional trappings and aestheti…
    Más Menos
    7 m
  • The Future of the Church is Now

    The Future of the Church is Now
    Feb 17 2025
    This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit catholicadventurer.substack.com

    In this podcast, we explore a compelling topic: Benedict XVI's prophetic insights about the future of the Holy Catholic Church. We discuss how his observations from the 1970s seem increasingly relevant today, and how the church is evolving amid modern challenges. Join me for this thought-provoking analysis and more.

    Chapters

    * 00:00 Introduction and Welcome

    * …
    Más Menos
    5 m
adbl_web_global_use_to_activate_webcro768_stickypopup