Stay ConnectedTaste & See is a weekly podcast of heartfelt reflections and meditations on the Sunday readings. Join Zac Wierschem of Paradisus Dei as he guides you into a deeper encounter with Jesus—alongside a global community that prays together each week..
Learn more about Paradisus Dei and our life-changing programs at: paradisusdei.org
Copyright: © Zac Wierschem
In this episode, we explore Jesus' profound teachings on marriage from Mark 10:2-12 and how they reveal a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Trinity. Marriage, far from just being a legal or romantic contract, is a reflection of the self-giving love of God, the ultimate love of the Trinity. This episode will challenge misconceptions about love, commitment, and divorce, and invite listeners to reflect on the true purpose of marriage: to embody divine love through sacrifice, mercy, and union with God. Zac shares the touching example of the sacrificial love of his dad for his mom when his mom had breast cancer, and how his dad witnessed to the truth that love is possible by staying faithful to his wedding vows: in sickness and in health.
Key Topics:
The Trinity and Marriage:
How marriage mirrors the self-giving love of the Trinity.
Divorce as the antithesis of this divine love.
Jesus’ View of Marriage:
Jesus’ words in Mark 10 flow from who He is—God, who is love incarnate.
Understanding marriage as Jesus does, as a covenant of unconditional love.
Sacrificial Love:
Love worth having is love that is suffered for another.
How marriage calls for self-denial and carrying one another's crosses.
Crisis of Marriage Today:
The increasing rates of divorce and the confusion surrounding marriage and love in today’s society.
The Catholic Church’s teaching on marriage and its roots in mercy.
The Three Purposes of Marriage:
Procreation, mutual sanctification, and education of children.
How these purposes are deeply rooted in God’s mercy.
Hardness of Heart and the Path to Healing:
Addressing the woundedness and mistrust many feel towards love.
How God’s love can soften our hearts like wax in the warmth of the sun.
Reflection Questions:
What does it mean to you that marriage is a reflection of the love within the Trinity?
Have you ever experienced love that required sacrifice? How did it transform you or the relationship?
If you've experienced wounds or broken trust in love, how can you open yourself up to God’s healing love?
Call to Action:
Spend time in prayer asking God to soften your heart and restore your belief in love.
Reflect on areas in your relationships where you can extend mercy and forgiveness, whether in your marriage or other relationships.
Consider the true meaning of marriage as not just for personal fulfillment, but as a path to holiness and a reflection of God’s eternal love.
Link to article regarding the decline in Catholic Marriages, quoting Georgetown's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate's findings that Catholic marriages have gone down 70% between 1968 - 2019: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258240/as-marriage-rates-continue-to-plunge-how-can-the-church-get-more-people-to-the-altar
In this episode, we dive deep into understanding sin, not merely as the breaking of a rule but as a failure to love. Drawing from the Greek word hamartia—meaning "missing the mark"—we explore how every sin distances us from the love that we were created for. We also reflect on the gravity of sin and how it impacts our relationship with God, our neighbor, and ourselves. Through the lens of the Catholic faith, we discuss the healing power of purgatory, God's suffering on our behalf, and Zac shares his personal experience of the importance of sacramental grace.
Key Themes:
Reflection Questions:
Scriptures for Meditation:
Call to Action:
As you listen to this reflection, consider how you can prioritize confession and seek God’s healing mercy more regularly. Reflect on the ways sin has distanced you from God’s love and what steps you can take to realign with Him.
Subscribe to Taste and See for more reflections and meditations! Follow Taste and See on Instagram: @thetasteandseepodcast
In this episode of Taste and See, Zac dives deep into Mark 9:30-37, where Jesus redefines greatness through the example of a child. Zac explores the themes of humility, dependency, and trust, and how Jesus calls us to embrace a childlike spirit in our walk with Him. True greatness, in the eyes of God, is found not in power or status but in our willingness to be small, humble, and open to God’s love. Zac shares his own struggle to be small enough to be loved with the adoption of his sister when he was younger.
Join Zac as he reflects on Jesus’ teachings, His embrace of a child, and how we are invited to trust Him with the same childlike dependency.
Reflection Questions:
Connect with Taste and See:
If this episode blessed you, share it with a friend, and don’t forget to subscribe for weekly reflections. Follow us on Instagram for updates, scripture reflections, and more!
@thetasteandseepodcast
In this episode, Zac reflects on Mark 8:27-35, where Jesus calls His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. But what does that really mean? Zac explores the deeper truth behind this call, focusing on The Joy of the Cross. Jesus teaches that discipleship is more than knowing His teachings—it’s about following Him, even to Calvary. Zac shares his own story of discipleship and how he embraced the cross when he was painfully sent home from religious life after five years of giving everything up for the Lord. Following Him leads not just to suffering but to the joy of encountering God’s greatest love.
Resources:
Connect with Taste and See:
Support the Podcast:
Please consider rating and reviewing us on your podcast platform to help us reach more listeners. You can also share this episode with a friend who might need to hear about the joy of carrying the cross.
Episode Summary:
In this episode of Taste and See, Zac reflects on the Gospel passage from Mark 7:31-37, where Jesus heals a deaf and mute man. He explores the theme of all of us being beggars before God beggars, emphasizing the shared human experience of spiritual poverty and the need for God's healing touch. Through this reflection, he uncovers the profound ways in which Christ meets us in our weakness, offering compassion, healing, and a personal encounter with His love. Specifically, Zac shares how his own struggles with a negative view of his body image and unhealthy eating habits in the past became the place where he encountered God's love. We do not need to be ashamed of our imperfections because God's power is made perfect in them.
Scripture Reference:
Resources Mentioned:
Connect with Zac:
Support the Show:
If this episode resonated with you, please consider rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform. Your feedback helps us reach more hearts and share the message of the reality of a personal relationship with God.
In this episode of Taste and See, we dive deep into John 6:60-69, where many disciples turn away from Jesus after struggling to accept His challenging teachings. We explore what it means to trust in Jesus even when His words or the circumstances of our lives seem difficult to comprehend. Zac shares his own experience his most difficult time in his faith and how that brought him closer to God even though he felt far away from God.
Join us as we reflect on the importance of remaining steadfast in faith, especially when we face doubts or challenges in our spiritual journey. We'll also guide you through a meditation that helps to strengthen your trust in Jesus and deepen your relationship with Him.
Scripture Reference:
Connect with Taste and See:
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
