What God is Not

Latest Episodes:

Saved in (but not from) the Storm Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

This week Mother Natalia reflects on the Gospel passage where Peter walks on water and asks Jesus to save him. She talks about realizing that God works to save us in the midst of the storm, but doesn't necessarily have the storm cease. Fr. Michael prepares for the homily for the upcoming Sunday, reflecting on the Epistle and the Gospel as well.

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Triple Testimony Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

This week Mother Natalia shares stories of three beautiful things that happened to her recently. She talks about relying on technology vs encountering people. She shares a story of being able to use Photina funds to give to someone in need. She also reminds us that God wants to work for good for us in everything that we're doing, even the super mundane things.

References:

Into Your Hands, Father: Abandoning Ourselves to the God Who Loves Us by Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen

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Choosing Shame or Exaltation Oct 15, 2025

Show notes

This week Fr. Michael reflects on the Gospel from the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross. He discovered that the root word means both shame and exalt or lift up, and he compares those in relation to how we live out our lives. He talks about bringing shame to Christ by our actions and inactions, and what it means that Christ will be ashamed of us if we shame Him.

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Identity Crises Oct 08, 2025

Show notes

This week Mother Natalia talks about our identity and understanding our identity as God sees us. She talks about recognizing our identity in God as opposed to the circumstances of our life like parenting, work, school status, etc.

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Resting in Forgiveness Oct 01, 2025

Show notes

This week Fr. Michael reflects on the recent Gospel passage of the unforgiving servant. He talks about how our forgiveness flows from words, to our minds, to our heart and the differences between those areas. He talks about the need to pursue forgiveness and ask for the grace to forgive from the heart.

References:

Matt 18:23-35

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A Nun is Convicted Sep 24, 2025

Show notes

This week Mother Natalia talks about a conviction she had while listening to a homily about having a softness of heart and how that helps us when we're encountering someone we don't like. She talks about realizing that she was being overly critical of someone and how that realization was a good wake-up call. She talks about discerning being critical of what someone is saying vs the person themselves.

References:

He Leadeth Me by Walter Ciszek

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SECRETS Part II Sep 17, 2025

Show notes

This week Fr. Michael continues his topic on Secrets of the Liturgy Revealed, talking about the prayers that are prayed quietly by the priest during Divine Liturgy. He and Mother Natalia talk about some of their favorite prayers and reflect on the beauty of them.

References:

Secrets of the Liturgy Revealed!!!

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Triumph of the Heart w/ Anthony D'Ambrosio and Andrew Holzschuh Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

This week we’re delighted to welcome Anthony D'Ambrosio and Andrew Holzschuh who wrote, directed, and filmed the movie Triumph of the Heart about St. Maximilian Kolbe. We talk about some of the things that inspired Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia as they watched the film, the beauty found within the movie, and the message of Christian hope that we can take from the movie.

References:

Triumph of the Heart Tickets

Frassati Film

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SECRETS OF THE LITURGY REVEALED!!! Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

This week Fr. Michael walks through some of the prayers that the priest prays during Divine Liturgy that the congregation does not hear. He talks about some of the intention behind the prayers, including when the celebrant is asking his fellow priests to pray for him.

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Melodramatic Sanctity Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

This week Mother Natalia reflects on some insights she had during a recent Theology of the Body retreat. She talks about the need to stay present in whatever you're doing, whether that's eating an orange, answering emails, texting a friend, etc. She talks about how to be a saint in our time, by exaggerating the things the world doesn't do well to inspire them to do those things well.

References:

Saint Thomas Aquinas by G.K. Chesterton

Humanality

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