The Bible as Literature

Latest Episodes:

The Domain of God Sep 06, 2022

Show notes

This week, Fr. Paul explains the technical link between the blood of birth-giving and the blood of circumcision in the story of the Bible. (Episode (238)

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Just Burp, Again Sep 01, 2022

Show notes

Regurgitate. To throw up or vomit; to eject what has previously been swallowed. To repeat verbatim. ([https://www.synonyms.com/synonym/Regurgitate]) Unless you happen to be Jonah, it’s not an exciting prospect, and even then, not preferable—but, beginning with the Ezekiel, the Father of Sctipture, it’s the DNA of the biblical text:

“Then he said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’” (Ezekiel 3:1)

He did not say, “Son of man, ignore what I just told you, go outside and make hand gestures to the people.”

Sorry Zacharias. You reap what you sow.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Luke 1:59-63
Episode 447; Luke 1: 59-63

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: E.C.H.O by Alexander Nakarada
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9762-echo
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist website: https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/

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Immerse Yourself Aug 30, 2022

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This week, Fr. Paul explains that zera’ is the same, whether it’s a plant, or a tree, or a fish, or an animal, or a human being. (Episode 237)

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Neighbors and Relatives Aug 25, 2022

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When Americans think of a “neighborhood,” the first thing that comes to mind is “value.” What type of homes are in the area? What size? How old? What amenities? What facilities are nearby? Notice that we have taken a term that refers to the generational fellowship of a community of human families and repurposed it to refer to buildings.

Without realizing it, you drive past an empty development and refer to it as a new “neighborhood” even though no one has moved in yet. The love of money and the pursuit of happiness have taken us to a world where an empty box with amenities is our reference for “neighbor.”

Not so in Luke, where Elizabeth still receives God’s great mercy among neighbors and relatives who rejoice with her, and it has nothing to do with “property” or “value.”

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Luke 1:57-58
Episode 446; Luke 1: 57-58

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Happy Indie Ukulele by WinnieTheMoog
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/6666-happy-indie-ukulele
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist website: https://linktr.ee/taigasoundprodv

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Midian Aug 23, 2022

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This week Fr. Paul explains that Midian is practically the Arabian desert, highlighting the importance of shepherdism as the setting for the biblical storyline. (Episode 236)

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Don’t Be Lame Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

When Mary proclaims the Lord’s help toward his servant Israel, it’s easy to reduce her prayer to yet another platitude about mercy from our perspective, elevating Israel in human terms. We like to do this because—let’s face it—we identify with Israel. Oddly enough, in Scripture, we should identify with them, but not how you think.

As we’ve said many times over the years on this program, there are no good guys in the Bible save God himself. There are only bad guys who sometimes act correctly because of the fear of God’s commandments. The Magnificat is Mary’s sad news that Israel is just another one of those bad guys. If you can accept this, please, go ahead and identify with Israel, and hope that God remembers his mercy, namely, the instruction he gave to your fathers that made it possible for a few bad guys to sometimes act correctly.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Luke 1:54-56
Episode 445; Luke 1: 54-56

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Star Dreams Loop by MusicLFiles
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9631-star-dreams-loop
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
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Just Burp Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

This week, Fr. Paul continues his discussion of Exodus, stressing the importance of submitting to and not circumscribing the biblical text. (Episode 235)

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It’s Just News Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

The difficult teaching of Ecclesiastes warns us that all people share the same fate. This wisdom is pervasive in Scripture, from the violent imagery found in Deuteronomy to the razor’s edge of Paul’s argument in Romans. There is no difference between Jew and Greek; between the wise man and the fool; between the righteous and the wicked—all men share one fate. All things rest in the palm of God’s hand.

Are you mighty? You will be brought low. Are you humiliated? Sure, you may be lifted up, but then what? Have you heard Deuteronomy? What about Paul’s teaching? Yes, you were brought into God’s household, but now what? Are you better off than those who went before you?

All things rest in the palm of God’s hand. He brought you in, and he can take you out. Yes, he can fill you with good things, but he can also send you away empty.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Luke 1:51-53
Episode 444; Luke 1: 51-53

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Bouncy Gypsy Beats by John Bartmann
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3189-bouncy-gypsy-beats
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Either/Or Aug 09, 2022

Show notes

This week, Fr. Paul stresses that in Hebrew and Greek the word house reflects the meaning of both house and household. (Episode 234)

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Mercy and Fear Aug 04, 2022

Show notes

Having established that God—not herself—is her only reference, Mary moves to the next logical step from Scripture’s perspective: the proclamation of the fear of God.

The terrible might of God; that the mere mention of his name strikes fear and brings the hope of mercy: mercy to those once enslaved and humiliated like Mary.

In our fake philosophical systems of human mercy and institutional compassion, we pretend that mercy and fear are alien to each other. That’s because wealthy, comfortable westerners cannot understand the perspective of a humiliated Roman slave, rescued by a God mightier and much more to be feared than her Roman taskmasters.

Given the state of things in 2022, maybe we should heed Mary’s warning.

Richard and Fr. Marc discuss Luke 1:49-50
Episode 443; Luke 1:49-50

The following music was used for this media project:
Music: Consequences by Otis Galloway
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/9565-consequences
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist website: https://linktr.ee/ogallowaymakesmusic

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