Trickle Down Empathy - Proper 19A (September 13, 2026)

Comedians with Pastors Talking Bible pairs Pittsburgh standup comedians with Lutheran pastors to read the week's lectionary gospel cold — no prep, no scripts — and see what happens when comedic instinct meets biblical text.

Episode hook:
This week, pastors Bob Schaefer and Eric Damon sit down with Pittsburgh comedians Vinny Palatucci and Paulie Stags — two lapsed Italian Catholics with strong opinions about rosaries, communion wine, and the eligibility requirements for Pope — to tackle Jesus's parable of the unforgiving servant.

Highlights:

• A wide-ranging detour through Catholic upbringing: CCD, rosaries on road trips, and why nobody's quite sure if they're still "practicing"
• Vinny and Paulie unpack why leaving the church is complicated even when the message still landed
• The math behind the parable's staggering debt figures — and what it says about the character lending the money in the first place
• A close read of "77 times" as hyperbole, not an actual forgiveness quota
• Different translations of the Lord's Prayer (trespasses vs. debts vs. sins) and what nuance gets lost or gained
• Whether Eric is still technically eligible for the papacy (he has thoughts)

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 "There's more jokes in this book than people give it credit for."

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Matthew 18:21–35 (NRSVue)

[21] Then Peter came and said to him, “Lord, if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” [22] Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. [23] “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. [24] When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him, [25] and, as he could not pay, the lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions and payment to be made. [26] So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ [27] And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. [28] But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him by the throat he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ [29] Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ [30] But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. [31] When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. [32] Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. [33] Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ [34] And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. [35] So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”

Hosted by Pastor Eric Damon and Pastor Bob Schaefer.

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Music: Trickster by Phat Sounds
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10864-trickster
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Scripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.