Friday, December 30, 2011

TSP 13: Mary, the Mother of God--Theotokos and Queen Mother

Sunday we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God (Theotokos). What is the history of this feast? How does our understanding of Mary relate to our understanding of Christ?

In the first half of the show we cover the Nestorian heresy and the Council of Ephesus. We then move on to talk about something that often gets overlooked: the role of the Queen Mother in the ancient Near East and then in the Old Testament (giberah). In particular, we look at royal maternity in the Davidic kingdom. We then turn to see how this forms a possible backdrop for understanding Mary's role in the New Testament--i.e., the Mother of the Son of David.

For an outline that includes bibliographical references and further sources, see www.TheSacredPage.com!





Podcast: The Feast of Mary the Mother of God: Theotokos and Queen Mother

Friday, December 23, 2011

TSP 12: Leroy Huizenga on Jesus as the New Isaac in Matthew' Gospel

This podcast I was joined by a very special guest: New Testament scholar Leroy Huizenga. Huizenga is Professor of Scripture at the University of St. Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, where he also serves as the Director of the Christian Leadership Center (more on that below).

I was so excited about having Huizenga on the show because I believe his work is very important. I think his doctoral dissertation, The New Isaac: Tradition and Intertextuality in the Gospel of Matthew (Leiden: Brill, 2009), is a ground breaking study. Here then he talks a bit about Jesus' role  as the New Isaac in Matthew.

Of course, given that we are about to celebrate Christmas, we pay special attention to the infancy narrative. Leroy has some fascinating ideas about Sarah-typology in Matthew's portrait of Mary.
In addition, we talk a bit about the historical value of infancy narratives, Jesus' baptism, his arrest and passion, and. . . well, you'll just have to listen.

Visit the Christian Leadership Center's website here (they have a number of good articles up in time for Christimas). He is also an editor (with Richard Hays and Stefan Alkier) of Reading the Bible Intertextually (Baylor Press, 2009). 

As always, I hope you enjoy our podcast! Please leave us your comments in the box below!





Podcast: Leroy Huizenga on Jesus the New Isaac in Matthew's Gospel 

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

TSP 11: Steve Ray on Archaeology, Bethlehem and Nazareth

In this episode we continue our series of podcasts on the Gospel reports of Jesus' birth. This time I was honored to be joined by my good friend, Catholic author and apologist Steve Ray. Among other things Ray has produced numerous television shows on the Holy Land (now available on DVD). He also takes large groups of pilgrims to the Holy Land each year. 
Today we talk a little bit about Nazareth and Bethlehem. What are these places like? Does it snow in Bethlehem? What can we see about the traditional sites honored as Jesus' birthplace, Mary's house, etc.? Why have them become honored as pilgrimage sites? 

I hope you enjoy our podcast! (As always, please leave us your comments in the box below!)

To learn more about Steve's work, please be sure to visit his site, CatholicConvert.com.





Podcast: Steve Ray on Archaeology, Bethlehem and Nazareth

For more on the theory that Christian "prophets" were the origin of some of the material in the Gospel tradition and other elements of this podcast--with specific references to academic works on the topics--go to earlier posts on TheSacredPage.com here and here.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

TSP 10: Are the Gospel Stories About Jesus' Birth Historical?

I've been swamped over the last few weeks finishing up the quarter and so I've been behind in posting the latest podcasts of The Sacred Page program. Now I'm going to get you all caught up.

Over the last couple weeks we've been focusing on the readings for Christmas, i.e., the "infancy narratives" of Christ. We've been looking at their historical value and meaning.

This show explores some of the broad issues, although a lot more will be discussed in upcoming podcasts. Here, among other things, we look at the reason many scholars have been skeptical about the Gospels' historical worth. In particular, we look at the impact of Bultmann and other earlier "form-critical" scholars who viewed the Gospels in terms of "folklore". We then look at more recent discoveries that call their approach to the Gospels into question. We also explore the claim that the Gospel stories about Jesus' birth were invented to parallel myths about pagan gods.

I'd love to get your comments! Sound off in the box below!





Podcast: Are the Gospel Stories About Jesus' Birth Historical? 

For more on the theory that Christian "prophets" were the origin of some of the material in the Gospel tradition and other elements of this podcast--with specific references to academic works on the topics--go to earlier posts on TheSacredPage.com here and here.

Podcast on the Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

Here is the podcast on the Sunday readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent.



Podcast: Fourth Sunday of Advent 2011

Of course, I'd be remiss not to mention John Bergsma's excellent post as well. In addition, check out Scott Hahn's fine commentary on the St. Paul Center's blog (with audio).

Saturday, November 26, 2011

The True Temple in Mark: Podcast and Post on Mark 13 (Sunday's Gospel)

This Sunday Advent begins. Here is our podcast on the Sunday readings (see below).



Podcast: First Sunday of Advent 2011

My friend, New Testament scholar, Leroy Huizenga has some great reflections here. He points out that Jesus' coming in Mark 13 is linked with the destruction of the temple.

Here I thought I'd highlight another aspect of the chapter. It seems clear Mark describes the destruction of the temple and the end of the cosmos with language also evocative of Jesus' passion narrative.

That Mark sees a connection between the two events--Jesus' death and the destruction of the temple--is clear from the account of the tearing of the temple veil at the moment of Jesus’ death. As Donald Juel writes, “The result of Jesus’ death is the end of the Jewish temple, foreshadowed in the tearing of the veil.”[1]

The Apocalyptic Discourse and the Passion Narrative

The Gospel reading this Sunday comes from Mark 13. Scholars have noted numerous connections between the apocalyptic discourse, which, as Leroy shows, relates to the destruction of the temple and the passion narrative.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

TSP 9: The "Thanksgiving Sacrifice", the Last Supper & the Eucharist

Here is our special Thanksgiving podcast! In this episode we explore the idea of the thank offering in the Old Testament, known as the todah, and its connection to the Eucharist.

Enjoy! And please remember to leave us your comments! 

Podcast: The "Thanksgiving Sacrifice", the Last Supper and the Eucharist

Friday, November 4, 2011

Podcast 8: John Bergsma on the Dead Sea Scrolls

This week we explore the Dead Sea Scrolls with John Bergsma, looking specifically at why Catholics should find them interesting.

You can find Dr. Bergsma's audio series on the Scrolls here. There is an excerpt from the series as well as a .pdf of the outline.

Please be sure to leave your comments on the show below!


Podcast: "John Bergsma on the Dead Sea Scrolls" [right click to download]

The Parable of the Ten Virgins (With John Bergsma!)

This Sunday the Gospel reading is taken from Matthew once again and relates Jesus' parable of the Ten Virgins. We were honored to have John Bergsma with us on this episode.

I hope you enjoy it! Please leave your comments on the podcast.



Podcast: "Jesus' Shocking Words About the Pharisees in Matthew 23")(31st Sunday Ordinary Time, Cycle A) [right click to download]

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Jesus' Most Ignored Teaching: "Do Whatever They Tell You" (Matt 23:2-3) (Podcast on Sunday Readings)

Matthew 23 (the lectionary reading from the Gospel this Sunday) contains Jesus' condemnation of the Pharisees. However, it also contains one of the most overlooked passages in Scripture. Speaking of the scribes and Pharisees Jesus says, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; 3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you. . ." (Matt 23:2-3). Of course, Jesus goes on to complain that the Pharisees are hypocrites.

The part that is overlooked however is that Jesus recognizes a binding teaching authoritative office without attributing to it sinlessness.

Notably, Jesus' description of Peter's role in Matthew 16 echoes his description of the Pharisees. For more, listen to the podcast on the Sunday readings below.















Here are my thoughts on it all.


Podcast: "Jesus' Shocking Words About the Pharisees in Matthew 23")(31st Sunday Ordinary Time, Cycle A) [right click to download]

During the podcast I mentioned some of the parallels between Jesus' teaching and the rabbis. Here is some more on that.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Podcast: "The Greatest Commandment" (Thoughts on Sunday's Readings)

This Sunday the Gospel reading from Matthew recounts how, after having silenced those who sought to entrap him in his own words, Jesus is asked about the greatest commandment.

Here are my thoughts on his answer.


Podcast: "The Greatest Commandment")(30th Sunday Ordinary Time, Cycle A) [right click to download]

During the podcast I mentioned some of the parallels between Jesus' teaching and the rabbis. Here is some more on that.

Rabbi Aqiba: “This is the encompassing principle of the Law” (Sipra Lev. §200 [on Lev 19:15–20])

Rabbi Hillel: "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor; that is the whole Law” (b. Å abb. 31a)

The idea of loving God and neighbor as related concepts:
-- T. Iss. 5:2: “love the Lord and your neighbor"
--T. Iss. 7:6: “I loved the Lord and humanity with the whole heart"
--T. Dan 5:3: “Love the Lord with all your life and one another with a true heart”
--Philo, Spec. Laws 2.63: But among the vast number of particular truths and principles [are] two main heads: one of duty to God. . . one of duty to humans”[1]

Please leave your thoughts or comments on the podcast in the comment box. We'd appreciate your feedback!

[1] For further discussion of rabbinic and Jewish parallels see Craig Evans, Mark 8:27–16:20 (WBC 34B; Dallas: Nelson, 2002), 265.

Podcast 7: Bible Study & Evangelization in the 21st Century

Episode 7 of The Sacred Page Podcast focused on Biblical Study and Evangelization in the digital age. In this episode I spoke with Andrew Jones, who is with Logos Bible Software. Our guests were Andrew Jones and Kevin Meziere.

Anddrew Jones is the new Catholic product manager at Logos Bible Software. He has helped to launch an amazing new package available from Logos called "The Catholic Scholar's Library". (I'll be reviewing it soon!) However, he is not simply all about amazing cutting-edge technology. Jones is also finishing up a Ph.D. in Church History. In this episode, Jones brings together both knowledge sets as we discuss tools used for Bible study over the ages (e.g., memorization techniques). Among other things, he explains how new Bible software relates recaptures tools such as the "gloss" used in the medieval period. This is really a fascinating conversation.

Kevin Meziere comes on in the second half of the show to discuss the internet tools in Catholic education and evangelization. Kevin is a technological wizard. Among other things, he has launched a new website, CatholicHD.com. The site is a sort of Netflix--a website that hosts HD quality, streaming Catholic video content. In addition, Kevin has brought John Paul the Great Catholic University into the 21st century by creating an incredibly compelling model for eLearning. In short, when it comes to the Catholic Church and internet technology, no one is more of an expert than Kevin Meziere.



Podcast 7: "Bible Study & Evangelization in the 21st Century) [right click to download]

Leave your thoughts or comments on the podcast in the comment box--we love getting your feedback!

Friday, October 14, 2011

Podcast: "Render to Caesar" (Thoughts on the Sunday's Readings)

This Sunday we read about how the Pharisees tried to discredit Jesus by asking him about paying taxes to Caesar.

How did Jesus avoid the trap and turn the tables on his opponents? What lessons might we learn from the exchange?

I discuss it all in this podcast.

Leave your thoughts or comments on the podcast in the comment box.


Podcast: "Render to Caesar (Thoughts on the Sunday's Readings)(29th Sunday Ordinary Time, Cycle A) [right click to download]

Leave your thoughts or comments on the podcast in the comment box.

Podcast 6: Rob Corzine and Derry Connolly

On this week's episode of the The Sacred Page Podcast I speak with Rob Corzine and Derry Connolly.

Rob Corzine is the Vice President of Programs and Development at the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology. He shares his remarkable conversion story to the Catholic Church from a Fundamentalist Baptist background. He also discusses the parish Bible study materials put together by the St. Paul Center. For more on their work, go here for more on parish Bible studies.

Dr. Derry Connolly is the President of John Paul the Great Catholic University. He discusses how he uses the book of Tobit to teach business students.



TSP Podcast 6: Rob Corzine and Derry Connolly [right click to download]

Once again, I'd love to get your comments on the podcast in the comment box!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

TSP 5: Curtis Mitch and Dominic Iocco

On the latest podcast I spoke with Curtis Mitch and Dominic Iocco.

1. Curtis Mitch is the co-editor of the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible. Mitch is also the co-author (with Edward Sri) of a new commentary on the Gospel of Matthew (see the picture of the two of them on the right, Curtis is on the left). Mitch talks about his reversion to Catholicism and Scripture study.

2. Dominic Iocco is the producer of a new film, Red Line. He is also Academic Provost at John Paul the Great Catholic University, a school which helps train students in film-making with the goal of impacting culture for Christ.



TSP Podcast 5: Curtis Mitch and Dominic Iocco [right click to download]

I'd love to get your comments on the podcast in the comment box!

Friday, September 9, 2011

TSP 2a: Purgatory in Judaism?: Podcast on the Sunday's Readings



TSP Podcast 2b: Reflections on this Sunday's Readings (Guests: John Bergsma & Derry Connolly) [right click to download]

For more information on this Sunday's readings, you should look at John's fine post.

For those of you new to this podcast, please check out our Podcast (on the left!) and be sure to take advantage of the FREE recording of John Bergsma's talk (see the box on the right!).

Purgatory in Judaism? 

Moreover, in the commentary I mentioned that Jesus often seems to imply that some will endure a divine punishment which will not be everlasting. Here are the precise texts I had in mind:
Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison; 26 truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have paid the last penny." (Matt 5:25–26).

TSP 2: The Bible Made Me Catholic (John Bergsma & Derry Connolly)



TSP Podcast 2: The Bible Made Me Catholic (Guests: John Bergsma & Derry Connolly) [right click to download]