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Send us Fan Mail This episode is broken into two halves, fr Alex hosts the first half as we explore why the Bible can feel like deja vu by design, tracing how repeating story patterns teach us to read Scripture as a unified narrative. Fr Anthony hosts the second half as we then turn to Abimelech in Judges 9 to unpack a parable about leadership, pride, and what happens when we demand a king instead of trusting God’s timing.  Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail We unpack why only Matthew and Luke tell the Nativity, how their details differ, and what those differences mean. We trace genealogies, geography, and symbolism to show how theology and history meet in the manger. • Matthew and Luke as distinct Nativity witnesses • Gospels as theological narratives, not biographies • Genealogy patterns and the five women • Joseph’s justice, mercy, and legal fatherhood • Luke’s canticles, angels, and the Anawim • Bethlehem’s meaning and manger Eucharistic hints • Magi, universality, and Matthew’s Moses echoes • Census questions and timeline tensions • Herod, the flight to Egypt, and fulfillment motifs • Presentation in the temple with Simeon and Anna • How differing details deepen the same truth Have a Merry Christmas Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail We revisit the late-90s classic The Matrix to test its theology and philosophy, challenge the simulation hype, and ask what “real” means for faith, freedom, and love. From Gnosticism to “tasty wheat,” we weigh symbols against substance and land on a call to choose the concrete world. Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail We celebrate Halloween by diving into The Twilight Zone as a trove of modern parables that press on fear, conscience, and hope. Rod Serling’s craft opens space to talk about mob panic, prejudice, premonition, mental health, and a Christian view of death without preaching.  It's not necessary to be familiar with the episodes we discuss prior to listening, but there are spoilers. If you want to watch before listening, check out "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street", "Twenty Two", "Hitch-Hiker", and "Willoughby." Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail Wrestling with God takes on literal meaning in the remarkable story of Jacob. As we dive deep into Genesis, we uncover a patriarch whose life defies our expectations of what a "biblical hero" should be. This episode challenges our sanitized understanding of faith. The biblical narrative doesn't whitewash Jacob's flaws or present his journey as a neat moral lesson. Instead, it shows how God works through and despite human failings. If you've ever felt your spiritual life is more struggle than serenity, Jacob's story offers profound reassurance that wrestling with God isn't failure—it's the essence of authentic relationship with the divine. Join us as we trace Jacob's journey from trickster to patriarch, exploring how this deeply human figure becomes the foundation of Israel's identity and a crucial link in salvation history. Your own spiritual wrestling matches might look different after hearing this story. Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail On March 13, 2013, the world watched as Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio stepped onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica, clothed simply in a white cassock and stole, setting aside much of the traditional papal regalia. In that moment, he was introduced to the world as Pope Francis. Over the past twelve years, our Bishop of Rome has guided us with a message rooted in joy, humility, and discipleship, teaching us what it means to live as the People of God. Join us as we reflect on our memories of Pope Francis—his preaching, writing, and ministry to the world. Together, we will explore how he has invited us to encounter Christ’s call—as individuals, as a Church, and as a society—drawing us ever deeper into the path of holiness. Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail 2025 is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church with the theme "Pilgrims of Hope". The concept of a Jubilee Year comes from the very beginning of Sacred Scripture in the Book of Leviticus. In our examination of this ancient and new idea in our faith we will look at ideas like redemption, reconciliation, and how this revolutionary concept of a year of Sabbath rest, restoration of property, and liberation for those bound by slavery or poverty played out in the history of Israel and the Church. Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail Today we discuss our thoughts on the 1946 Christmas classic, It's a Wonderful Life. You've known George Bailey your entire life, but what can he teach you about responding to the movement of the Holy Spirit within you, duty, family, and angels that appear as talking galaxies? Join us as we once again try to force theology into a movie everyone was just trying to enjoy. Be sure to follow and review! Merry Christmas! Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail "St. Paul preached and people rioted. I preach and they give me tea." -N.T. Wright We've all heard good homilies and we've heard bad homilies. Have you ever wondered what a priest is thinking while he's preaching?  This week's episode of Wadi Cherith is a little different in tone. Instead of diving into a theological or cultural topic, we will be discussing our experience of preaching the Word of God. Join us as we use Aristotle's classic modes of persuasion (Ethos, Pathos, Logos) to discuss this integral part of our worship. Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail The Psalms are more than mere words; they are a transformative force in our lives. From personal anguish to shared hope, these texts channel our raw emotions into prayer, offering a space for reflection and empathy. Enrich your understanding of how the Psalms, memorized and recited by Jesus, provide a bridge to a wider human experience and connect us to a rich spiritual tradition. We invite you to explore their poetic power and find comfort, unity, and a profound way to communicate with God, anchoring your faith in both chaos and peace. Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail "Why did it have to be snakes?!" -Indiana Jones, Ph.D. From the Garden of Eden, to the desert, to first-century Jerusalem, serpents appear over and over again in scripture. While snakes are often considered a universally evil symbol, the reality is more ambiguous and complex. Join us as we discuss the use of symbolism in understanding the intricacies of our Faith. Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail Learning a new language is one of the most challenging and rewarding endeavors a person can undertake. Join us as we discuss what the Bible says about language, what we can learn by studying a new language, and how ancient language plays a role in the way we understand our Faith. Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail This is not a podcast for the faint of heart.  Song of Songs is a controversial, passionate, and "earthy" book of the Bible which explores both human and divine love. Join us as we walk with King Solomon, St. Bernard of Clairvaux, St. Teresa of Avila, and some of your favorite popes in exploring romantic love in this beautiful corner of sacred scripture.  Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail The cultural phenomenon Barbenheimer took the movie world by storm during the summer of 2023. As both films gear up for the Oscars,  we discuss surprisingly convergent theological themes like faith's intersection with physics, the reality of death, and the search for meaning and identity in these two hit movies. Warning-spoilers. This episode was recorded live for Theology on Tap in the Diocese of Scranton at Sabbatini's Bottle Shop in Exeter, PA on January 25, 2024. Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/

Send us Fan Mail Two thousand years ago something happened in the night sky that inspired stargazers from the east to find a mighty king who had been born in Israel.  For centuries astronomers and theologians alike have attempted to discover just what those wise men saw. Join us as we explore the meaning behind the Star of Bethlehem that led the Magi to the newborn Christ in Matthew's Gospel. For more information look up The Star of Bethlehem by Michael R. Molnar Have a Merry Christmas from your friends at Wadi Cherith! Intro music provided by https://hollyssweetmusic.com/