What God is Not

Shared Beauty is Real Beauty Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

This week's episode was recorded live at the Byzantine Assembly in Indiana! This week Mother Natalia reflects on a grace shared by a pilgrim about beauty. She talks about sharing beauty with people and with God. We also have some Q&A at the end of the session.

Thanks to WJOB in Indiana for recording the audio and video for this episode.

References:
Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer
Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin

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True Poverty and Contentment Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

This week Fr. Michael reflects on the reaction of the shepherds to the driving out of demons from the swine, and how that reaction differs from St. Photina's reaction to encountering Christ. He talks about how Jesus can look at our true poverty and provide true contentment.

References:
Matt 8:28 - 33
John 4:1-30

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John 9
Faith, Hope, Love by Joseph Pieper

Spiritual Smorgasbord with Fr. Chris Seith Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

This week Mother Natalia is joined by Fr. Chris Seith. Mother Natalia uses John 9 and the prayers of the week for the man born blind as her inspiration for today's episode. She talks about our gifts and how they build up our community. She also talks about God's delight in us.

References:

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Integrated Evangelization by Monsignor Richter

A Byzantine View of the Synod with Fr. Nathan Symeon Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

This week we're joined by special guest Fr. Nathan Symeon. Fr. Nathan and Fr. Michael talk about listening to the Holy Spirit and others. They also talk about their experience as participants in a review of the final document from the synod on synodality.

References:

Sobornost by Catherine Doherty

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A Young Priest Gets Old Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

This week Mother Natalia asks Fr. Michael to reflect on his twenty years of priesthood, one day after his anniversary. She asks him some questions from the podcast team as well as from her.

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Stop the Clanging Cymbal Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

This week Mother Natalia talks about assumptions and how they can hurt others. She talks about sensitivity needed in difficult discussions and the need to listen to people instead of just blathering on to hear ourselves speak.

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Vocation and Mission Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

This week Fr. Michael talks about the vocation of priesthood and ways that seminarians could be guided in their discernment towards married or celibate priesthood. He talks about some practicalities of support of priests and their families by the eparchy and the related challenges. He focuses on the mission of priests and how that could be different for married and celibate priests.

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The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander

Our Hopeful Poverty Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

This week Fr. Michael talks about the poverty we find ourselves in and how it can be attractive to others. He uses the stories of Photina, St. Moses the Black, and Mary Magdalene to show how each of them embraced some level of poverty, ultimately bringing Jesus to others.

References:

John 4:1-42

Luke 16:9

Fr. Michael's Guest Appearances:

Connor Gallagher's podcast

Roots of Faith podcast

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Clinging and Healing Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

This week Fr. Michael talks about the healing of the paralytic at the pool and how his years of longing for healing was fulfilled. He relates that to healing in our own lives and how we can sometimes cling to a solution we've identified instead of relying on the Lord to identify the way we will be healed.

References:

John 5:1-15

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