The Vine with Joe & Katie Devine
Welcome to "The Vine" with Joe and Katie Devine, where we embark on a journey through the twists and turns of life, love, and faith in our formative twenties. Join us as we candidly share our triumphs, trials, and everything in between, inviting you into our world of learning and growing together. Through heartfelt conversations, we navigate the complexities of marriage, relationships, and spirituality, reflecting on our missteps and milestones with humility and grace.
As branches of the same divine Vine, we embrace the power of community and the guidance of faith, aiming to inspire and uplift our listeners as we collectively journey toward greater understanding and connection. Welcome to a space where vulnerability meets wisdom and where, together, we discover the beauty of being intertwined in the vine of life.
The Vine with Joe & Katie Devine
Count the Fruit: June Gospel Reflections
Introducing a new series - "Count the Fruit". A series where we highlight the "fruit" from each Sunday Gospel reading. This Episode we cover the Gospels for June 2025.
Across every Sunday in June, our Catholic faith celebrated a different solemnity – each one a feast day of the highest rank celebrating a profound mystery of our tradition. Little did we realize how these five Gospels would weave together to tell the remarkable story of how the early Church was formed and what it means for our faith today.
From the Ascension where disciples "returned to Jerusalem with great joy," to Pentecost when Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into his followers saying "Peace be with you," these readings trace Christ's transition from physical presence to spiritual guide. We explore why the disciples felt joy rather than abandonment when Jesus left, and how that moment launched their mission to spread the Gospel.
The mystery of the Holy Trinity emerges as a communion of persons we're invited to know through prayer rather than a theological puzzle to solve intellectually. As Jesus himself acknowledges, "I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now." This permission to embrace mystery rather than demanding complete understanding liberates us to grow in faith through relationship rather than reason alone.
Our conversation takes a practical turn examining the miracle of loaves and fishes. When disciples honestly admitted their limitations – "five loaves and two fish are all we have" – Jesus didn't dismiss them but instead invited their participation in preparing for a miracle. How often do we resist God's prompting because it seems illogical or insufficient? Openness to faith, we discover, is what unravels the miracle.
Perhaps most profound is Jesus's personal question to Peter that echoes through centuries to each of us: "Who do you say that I am?" Beyond theological definitions or cultural understandings, this intimate question invites us to articulate our personal relationship with Christ – a relationship that likely changes day by day as we navigate life's complexities.
Join us for this deep dive into scripture that reminds us we possess the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the power to overcome all obstacles through Christ. We'll be exploring the Gospels monthly moving forward, helping all of us remember to live with scripture as our guide through every season of faith.
An exclusive from Dery Media Podcasts. Explore diverse perspectives and enrich your knowledge at derymedia.com. Telling stories that matter, sparking meaningful discussions.
Hello, Hello everyone. How are y'all?
Speaker 2:Welcome back to.
Speaker 1:The Vine. I'm Katie.
Speaker 2:And I'm Joe.
Speaker 1:And we're back.
Speaker 2:We are.
Speaker 1:Another Monday.
Speaker 2:Feels like we haven't recorded in a long time.
Speaker 1:It has June has been like. There's a lot of Mondays in June.
Speaker 2:I think it is a five week month.
Speaker 1:We don't know what to do with ourselves.
Speaker 2:I know All of our spare time.
Speaker 1:I know Well.
Speaker 2:Joe.
Speaker 1:Devine.
Speaker 2:Well, Katie Devine.
Speaker 1:Would you like to dive into our peaks and bits?
Speaker 2:Look at you remembering right off the rip I was ready for it. This time you've been. It can't happen three times in a row it's probably been more than three times in a row yeah, but it's been like back to back lately so I just couldn't hang um, so I would say for my peak, um, I think we've just been spending a lot of time with friends in june.
Speaker 2:that's like part of the reason why I think it's felt busy and I think just the community we've had like and it's spending a lot of time with friends in June, that's like part of the reason why I think it's felt busy. And I think just the community we've had like and it's been a lot of different group of friends, like it's been some of my friends, some of your friends, some of our friends from church, like baby showers and like just little events here and there, and I think that that is I don't know. I feel very thankful for the community that we have and I think that's been, I don't know, really enlightening for me to like see, especially as we've gotten older, like I think one of my fears was that we, you know, as you like get older in marriage, we would like just kind of blend our lives fully together. We would like just kind of blend our lives fully together and I like that. We still have some things that like we get to share together but are still like held individually by us.
Speaker 2:I don't know if that makes sense, like I still have my friend group that I get to go see yeah, your own, but like you get to, I mean like they're merging and like they're now our friends, but also like it's still like your friend my friend like I don't know, which sounds weird because I'm sure, like most people are like, well, we want our friends groups to like all blend. But I kind of like you know, I don't know.
Speaker 1:I know we need to like our individuality yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I think I enjoy that. Um, all the different groups of people that we get to spend time with, and I think that's been really neat. Yeah, and you'll have a like we've just done some fun stuff. I think that's going to be your peak, so I'll let you talk about it first.
Speaker 1:You got to talk about your pit.
Speaker 2:Oh, my pit yes, my pit, what would I say? It's been hot. It's been really, really, really hot outside. I think that's been the case for everyone, kind of everywhere right now, and it is the middle of the summer. We live in south carolina, so it's not like the most you know shocking thing in the world, but it's just hard, like when you go out there and like I have an electric lawnmower and it's so hot that it literally can't handle our small yard.
Speaker 1:Is that why I? Thought you just I thought you said the battery died yeah, the battery the two batteries die because they get so hot oh wow, there's just like a patch in the middle of our yard.
Speaker 2:That's just so long, yeah because I it's just been hot and we've been busy, so I had I like I, you know, it's like one of those things where, like when you mow the lawn, especially when it's that hot, like when even if I go out there for 10 minutes, I'm going to sweat through whatever shirt I'm in.
Speaker 1:So you got to kind of pick your battles. Yeah, I can agree with that, and the fact that it's been so hot too, I feel like, is why we're getting so many thunderstorms.
Speaker 2:That's true. Well, yeah, it's just like the summer afternoon thunderstorms.
Speaker 1:It's been like crazy.
Speaker 2:Can I also? Side pit is moving when it's this hot out is also stressful. We haven't even gotten there, I know, we haven't actually even moved.
Speaker 1:Anticipating the worst.
Speaker 2:This is true.
Speaker 1:We have a lot of people helping us, so hopefully it'll.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I realized now. I was like doing the math in my head, I was like there might be like 12 guys who show up on a Saturday, so it's like a box per guy.
Speaker 1:Hey, I think every guy who's helping us is going to be like, yes, that's awesome. Yes, brother, because I'm not going to be helpful.
Speaker 2:No, no, you won't Not on your. It's not your fault, I think I I don't know if I've said this on the podcast or not but we one of my nieces it was her first communion we went to, yeah, and I was talking to my brother-in-law while we were there and uh, he was like do you have people who are helping you move? And I was like yeah, he was like okay, good, because he's like I moved with a pregnant wife. And he was like no shot at your sister. I love your sister.
Speaker 2:he's like she was no help I'm helpful now you are being helpful and I mean, I'm sure katie was help.
Speaker 1:My katie, my sister, was helpful, but like she wasn't lifting stuff, no, I'm trying to like organize things now so that all you guys have to do is pick the boxes up and that's what, like every every friend that I've talked to is like I don't mind lifting heavy things, just make sure there's nothing in the way, and I'm like that's easy yeah, oh, for sure so anyway, that's my peak and pit. Yeah, I'll start with my pit, just because it's on the forefront of my mind.
Speaker 2:Uh-oh.
Speaker 1:I'm just so tired all the time.
Speaker 2:You're feeling very pregnant, I think.
Speaker 1:No, I'm not. I wouldn't even say that. Even hearing you say very pregnant, I'm like I'm not even at the very pregnant stage yet. Okay, that's fair, but I'm feeling it for sure Like I'm already like a big nap queen, you know, like I this is very true, I'm all about the self-care, taking breaks, all that stuff. But now it's at the point where I'm like I cannot function without taking a break.
Speaker 2:Lots of small breaks in between activities.
Speaker 1:Yeah, lots and lots of little breaks, breaks which I think is ultimately a healthy boundary to implement, but it's just annoying that I cannot power through and like I just woke up from like an hour nap, if you can't tell, and I'm like it took me a good 20, 30 minutes to like really get out of the slump.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and we're here now and if you hear me breathing heavy I don't think they can hear you I just needed to point it out in case it was something that you noticed.
Speaker 1:It's true, I I can't even contain it anymore. We were eating dinner at my um grandparents house and my mom was like I'm just sitting there with my hands on my belly. And my mom's like are you okay? And I'm like, yeah, why, what's wrong? And she was like you're breathing so heavy. So that is where we're at right now. I'm just really tired all the time. I don't.
Speaker 2:what's funny is, I don't think, your mouth breathing loud, that you're breathing through your nose, just breathing probably You're just like I don't know why, breathing through your nose Like a horse.
Speaker 1:I know I'm self-conscious about it.
Speaker 2:Well, and as a terrible husband there I just pointed it out.
Speaker 1:But I think you're doing great, I mean it's true.
Speaker 2:I mean you're still working out, You're still I'm breathing like Oliver.
Speaker 1:If you know Oliver, our dog, he is a heavy mouth breather.
Speaker 2:Heavy. Yeah, but, like I said, I don't think it's like hot breath. It is hot breath, but I don't think you're mouth breathing.
Speaker 1:I don't think so either. I don't know. I think your body's just oxygen. Give it to me.
Speaker 2:Oh, okay, Sorry you go.
Speaker 1:No, go on. No, you go, Because I had. That's also why I'm really tired. It's like we've been so busy and then all of a sudden we have this like a little couple days break and my body's like oh, we need to.
Speaker 1:You know, like absolutely zonk out until the next Because, like on Friday, thursday, friday, saturday, this weekend it's going to be crazy again. So but all that to say, like we love doing things with people, it's always like so fun to have something to look forward to. We went to our annual little lake jacassi um day with our my friends. Yes, and it was so fun. However, it did thunderstorm and it was a bit scary. It was towards the end of the day. Way to go, joe for making sure we got it out of the storm okay we survived.
Speaker 1:It was the scariest I've ever talked about it was like zero to a hundred, really quick, I mean we.
Speaker 2:I grew up on the lake and have driven in many even like storms, like we've spent time driving in storms, that the way that wind was blowing I was like this is absolutely crazy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we never know, like, I kind of want to know what happened when we left, but we ended up just leaving, yeah, it may not even have like, gotten that long. Yeah, I mean it was, it was bad for at least the time we were there, but we made it out alive and we had a good like majority of the day out in the sunshine yeah, but that's one of your, that's one of our actually both of our favorite weekends of the year yeah, we love, we love lake jocassee it's beautiful.
Speaker 2:It's a mountain lake in greenville. Go rent a boat lake jocassee boat rentals. I think that's who we use.
Speaker 1:They're always super nice family friend or family friendly.
Speaker 2:They're family owned yeah, and family friendly, but and they have a dog on their bus ezra, we love ezra um, my side peek. We also did an ultrasound with our families. So my mom and grandma came, and then Katie's parents, sisters and her grandma and grandpa came and it was just really neat. So neither of our grandmas had ever seen like a live ultrasound, they just seen the pictures and so watching them like look at the ultrasound, was really neat. Um, and they had a great time. And then, you know, uh, she had.
Speaker 2:She yawned really big while we were watching the baby, so funny and it was so cute because, like you could just see her like yawning her whole head.
Speaker 1:I'm like what are you doing yawning? Yeah, was she tired. What are you doing, yawning?
Speaker 2:Yeah, what's she tired for what?
Speaker 1:are you just sleeping all day in there, cuddly?
Speaker 2:Maybe her tiredness is leaking my tiredness, yeah yeah. But I forgot. That was probably a peek for me just watching our family see that and everybody was excited.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that was cool.
Speaker 2:Poor, like our second and third child. Like they are not going to get this treatment. Yeah, we are not going to get this treatment.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we are not booking a baby boutique for you.
Speaker 2:Sorry, but we needed our fam to see it at least once.
Speaker 1:Yeah, um, so that's our peek and pit yeah, lots of good things and, on a different note, like, just like it's just a fun season to be in, like a lot of our friends are pregnant now too yeah, yeah, it's exciting, and if you're in the season with us like, so fun welcome.
Speaker 2:If you're waiting to get into the season. We're praying for you.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so our topic for this episode and I think we're going to start doing this, so this will be the first episode of every month, right?
Speaker 1:I feel like it depends on how many Mondays there are, so it could be like the last episode of the month or the first episode of the month.
Speaker 2:Okay, once a month, depending.
Speaker 1:Towards the end or beginning.
Speaker 2:So, but every month has an end and a beginning right, no, no, that's not how that works Never the middle.
Speaker 1:Never the middle, never the second episode.
Speaker 2:Basically, once a month we're going to do an episode where we look at the previous month's Gospels. So, like this episode's going to come out in July, so we're going to go through June's Gospels. Some of them we won't spend as much time on, Some of them we'll spend more time on. It's just kind of where we feel called to talk about what kind of stood out to us. I think this is just something that, like, we forget, especially as Catholics. I don't want to say we forget the importance of scripture, but we forget to kind of live with scripture.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I think we live with the sacraments a lot and we live with our faith, but I think sometimes scripture is the thing that gets left out and like it's easy to forget that like so much of the mass is scripture, yeah, um, and so we just thought it would be fun to start doing this and I think it's a good way, honestly, for me to read scripture more because I'm really bad at it and even just in reading these I was like man, I was clearly not paying attention in mass, when you know um and yeah, and we sat here for like an hour doing like our own little, like personal Bible studies, because we're like, oh, shoot, like if we're going to do this, like we really have to read through it.
Speaker 2:Also side note, so we're going to touch on this before we get into the scriptures. Every Sunday in June was a solemnity day in June was a solemnity, and so sometimes that there are like you can choose which readings if that's the case, and so if our reading is different don't get mad at us, but hopefully they should be all the right readings.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there were several options to choose one or the other, and so we could have gone through the bulletin and determined which one we actually did read, but we did not do that.
Speaker 2:No, I would never do such a thing, but I really thought it was interesting and so I just wanted to have first the definition of what a solemnity is. So solemnity in the liturgical year is a feast day of the highest rank celebrating a mystery of faith such as the Trinity, an event in the life of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary or important saints. The observance begins with the vigil on the evening before the actual date of the feast.
Speaker 1:Man. So June was like a big month for the life of Jesus.
Speaker 2:It was a big well and like, if you look through it and like we'll go through it, it's honestly it is a big life for Jesus, but it's just a big, it's a big month for the faith. Like I think again this, like these gospels really are when you read through all of them, I think the kind of the through line, at least, that I kind of picked up on and this is, I don't think, going to be very like revelational. I don't even know if that's it's not going to be a giant revelation. It's like this is the start of the church, you know, and like, if you read the gospels, you read it's, you know the ascension and Pentecost and the Holy Spirit and the body and blood of Christ and the Feast of St Paul and St Peter. To me, this, these are the gospels of how the early church was kind of formed and based on. But that's just kind of my takeaway.
Speaker 1:I don't know if you have like an overall general takeaway well, I I just think it's interesting that june is so significant, like yeah, I don't think. In my head and brain I was like oh, this is a significant time of year for the church like you think. If you're thinking in that way, you're probably thinking like christmas time or easter, and this is not around any of those times.
Speaker 2:Yeah, um well, I also. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with, like when easter, like pentecost, is always what is it 50 days after easter I?
Speaker 1:don't know. Yeah, whatever, I think I think it's 50 or 40.
Speaker 2:I should know that, but like, because easter was late, this year, pentecost is late and then I think pentecost everything out a little bit well, like pushed everything out, and then there's some holiday, like some um solemnities that are dates not related, like it's always on these dates yeah and then, like you know, they always push them to the the sunday.
Speaker 2:So, like, if they're on a, you know, maybe the solemnity would be on like a two you know monday or a friday, they'll push it to the sunday. But I did think it was interesting, like I didn't realize how many important like holidays and feasts and celebrations and ultimately that's what a solemnity is are, are we're all happening. Like I didn't even realize as we were attending mass. It was only on the reflection where I was like wow.
Speaker 1:Wow, this was a significant day and I was not paying attention. But we have now gone through them all and would love to share our thoughts. I'm sure like one gospel stood out to you more than the other, I know for me it did.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would say, you go first.
Speaker 1:Well, we can do that at the end. Okay, since we haven't even gone through them all let's read a gospel.
Speaker 2:How about that?
Speaker 1:Let's do it.
Speaker 2:All right. So do you want to read this one first, or do you want me?
Speaker 1:to. We can take turns. You can tell, we planned this.
Speaker 2:We did. Do you want me to go first?
Speaker 1:Yeah, go for it.
Speaker 2:Okay, so this is June 1st, this is the Ascension, the Gospel of Luke 24,. And he said to them, here in the city, until you have been clothed with power from on high. Then he led them out as far as Bethany and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven and they worshipped him and returned to.
Speaker 1:Jerusalem with great joy and they were continually in the temple blessing.
Speaker 2:God, the ascension, the ascension.
Speaker 1:Right? Is that what the angels did when Jesus ascended into heaven?
Speaker 2:I imagine that was like the clouds just opened up, and that's what it sounded like when he went up there.
Speaker 1:So what is it? Breathe or?
Speaker 2:do you think it was quiet? It was like just silent. He was just like.
Speaker 1:I feel like it was probably anticlimactic.
Speaker 2:What if it made like airplane engine noises?
Speaker 1:I doubt that we should probably talk a little more reverently about it so what is a brief um explanation of the ascension? Just uh, the ascension like the.
Speaker 2:The solemnity of the ascension, uh, at least from my understanding, is just when jesus ascended into heaven, correct, um? And the terminology here is different from the assumption, which is is what happened to Mary. Because Jesus ascended upon his own will, mary was assumed into heaven, meaning she was brought up. Mary didn't have the ability to bring herself to heaven because she is truly human 100 percent, whereas Christ was both fully human and fully divine.
Speaker 1:I didn't even think to differentiate that.
Speaker 2:Well, I was used to wondering. I think I remember asking somebody like why is it not just the ascension for both or the assumption for both, but like you ascend someone else like is assumed, is assumed Pulled into it.
Speaker 1:Interesting.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but it's Jesus returning to heaven.
Speaker 1:Yeah, sitting at the right hand of God. Yeah, sitting at the right hand of. Yeah, um, but it's. It's jesus returning to heaven. So this is the gospel of god.
Speaker 2:Yeah, sitting at the right hand of the father, great terminology. Look at you, go um, do you? What was your kind of what stood out to you from this verse?
Speaker 1:well, I also just like reading the reflection on it. I thought it was interesting that this was the um kind of the beginning of Jesus's mission, or God's mission to us to spread like the gospel yeah, cause I didn't, I don't know Like there's some very pertinent scripture passages out there where Jesus is like this is my, like, this is what I want you to do, but like this was like the true beginning of all that Like I am leaving and rising into heaven, and now you do this.
Speaker 2:Dad's finally gone, you got to do it by yourself. You got to do it on your own.
Speaker 1:So I thought it was interesting that that kind of signified the beginning of, like spreading the gospel on our end.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And then he talks about oh gosh, where is it? The spirit Does he talk?
Speaker 2:about the spirit in this one, or am I getting it confused? You might be getting it confused.
Speaker 1:I'm already so ready to talk about the holy spirit I know you are but I guess, basically I just feel like well he does.
Speaker 2:I guess it says um and see, I am sending upon you what my father promised, so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.
Speaker 1:Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, which is something along those lines of like, our mission is to spread the gospel, and then we deepen that mission by the gifts that we receive through, like the sacraments and I don't know if that's relevant, but that is what popped up into my head is like the sacraments that the church offers to us helps us to step into that mission deeper, because what do we believe about the sacraments is that they provide graces yeah to us, and so I just thought that power from on high exactly like I thought that was just an interesting thing to consider is like it's not just going to happen at once, like there's a reason sacraments are separated and spaced out the way they are, because we mature and we grow, and we grow in our knowledge of God.
Speaker 1:And then I like, I don't know why it's highlighted, but the last sentence is highlighted.
Speaker 2:Wait, I highlight, these are my things.
Speaker 1:Oh, okay, you want me to step away?
Speaker 2:You go, you go ahead.
Speaker 1:Well, I just I didn't realize. You've end of that one. It says hold on. Our screen just went black. But I'll read it here they were continually in the temple praising god, and I just feel like that, I like like that it ends that way, because to going to mass is about praising god yeah and like we are glorifying him in heaven, we're not really there for anything else. And and when Jesus left, he left them with that great joy and they, on their own will and accord, went to the temple to bless God.
Speaker 2:Well, and that's what the first. It's funny you said that the last half is kind of what stood out to you, because the first half is actually what caught my eye. So that last line again is and they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and they were continually in the temple blessing him. For me, they returned to Jerusalem with great joy and I think that you know, I imagine myself I would be super bummed if Jesus left you know, but they didn't return with a sense of like.
Speaker 2:If you juxtapose it to after Christ died they were sad, they didn't know where to go. You read the road to Emmaus, right where the story, where the, you know there was disciples, you know, I don't think they were one of the 12, but they were, you know, followers of Christ, and they were so downtrodden that they left. And then they saw Jesus on the road to Emmaus. And so I just, I just feel like you, you look at after, right after Christ died, and it was so much sadness, there was so much fear. And then you juxtapose that to him leaving them now where he ascends into heaven, and they left with joy, yeah, and filled with the desire to bless God and to praise him.
Speaker 2:It's like that retreat high yeah, literally, they ended up getting the retreat high and then they made a religion out of it. But I just that is what stood out to me, because it's just so different from how it was. You know however long ago, you know what was it? Two months, three months, however long of a time it was in between, you know where he was on Earth. It's just so different.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I would say it's not recording.
Speaker 2:What happened? I think it's still here. Oh yeah, we're still live, don't worry.
Speaker 1:Fun fact, fun fact.
Speaker 2:I'm back we're all never left. I don't think we left. Hopefully, hopefully, it didn't just weirdly cut out.
Speaker 1:I don't think it did why are we having so many issues, so many?
Speaker 2:technical issues. The dogs are barking. We're living the dream, um, so, but no, that that was just. The biggest thing. That stood out to me was just that they, they returned with great joy.
Speaker 1:Um, they weren't afraid, they, they felt like they had the tools yeah, awesome next one next one so this was the second um sunday of j and it was also Pentecost, and the gospel reading was John 20, 19 through 23. It says On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them Peace, be with you. When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord Jesus said to them again Peace, be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you forgive are forgiven them and whose sins you retain are retained. There it is. There's the spirit that I was talking about.
Speaker 2:There's the spirit. So what do you think?
Speaker 1:So Pentecost, I don't know, I just feel like I've had such a new, not awakening, but just a next level in my relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:Specifically, and so.
Speaker 1:I've really enjoyed this one. And then I think even the gospel after this talks about the spirit. So I just like that was off the rip. My first like, oh, like, I just love talking about the spirit why.
Speaker 2:Hard questions.
Speaker 1:It is a hard question. It's not a hard question, it's just like a loaded question. I don't know, and I'll talk about this more when we talk about the solemnity of the most holy trinity, but it's just like the recognition of the persons that are united in the holy trinity, and so it's not like having a relationship with God is all is all there is to it, like you have a relationship with god, the father, god, the son and the holy spirit yeah and to me, the spirit I feel like, is what I just been leaning into a lot, especially now with preparation for parenthood together yeah
Speaker 1:and like listening to the inner workings of your heart, like I feel like that's really hard to do, yeah, without somebody just straight up saying, like you got to do this or you got to do this, like I wish that's how it worked and like god could just tell me you know what, what I needed to do. But the truth is and he speaks on this a little bit, but like, um, like it's so hard to comprehend and that's why he sends us the spirit, like he, the spirit, kind of nudges us yeah in those directions, like it's a gentle nudge, um, and so anyways, I didn't actually have very many notes on this gospel you just liked it, I just liked it.
Speaker 1:But I'll just read to you what I wrote Pentecost. Oh yeah, so I said, the risen Lord never leaves us in guilt. He speaks the word shalom, which actually means peace. But it's a different kind of peace. It's a peace that comes from the heart of God. And so I just think that that's when I think of the spirit, that is what I think is this peace from the heart of God. And so I just think that that's when I think of the Spirit, that is what I think is this peace from the heart of God. Like that is the nudging, like how do I know what I'm supposed to do? Like well, where do you feel? Like peace, like peace?
Speaker 1:from the heart of God and the chances are that is what God is sending you in direction he's moving you towards.
Speaker 2:I like that a lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's all I have to say.
Speaker 2:I think what stood out to me was just the line as the Father has sent me, so I send you. I think, as I've gotten older and maybe this has more to do with me like I don't know, like I'm getting closer and closer to the age that Christ was right when he really dove into his ministry, and I am reminded constantly that we are not called to be good people or even devout followers. We are literally called to be Christ-like followers. We are literally called to be christ-like like. We are called to live our lives as close to possible as how christ would live, how christ did live his life. Um, and so him saying not like, hey, guys, I go send you to do the best you can, he says as the father has sent me, I send you. So, as the task my Father, god the Father, gave me, jesus Christ, I now entrust that task to you to be performed, as I did. And that just makes me, it's a little scary to me because it's like ooh.
Speaker 1:I can't do it like Jesus. I can't do it like Jesus.
Speaker 2:But that's the whole point, right Like. Ultimately, we are called to live our lives as close to accordance with how Christ would have lived our lives. And I mean that's the whole point of him being 100% human right Is that it theoretically can be done.
Speaker 1:For sure. I mean in this passage. Right after that he says he breathes that life, that grace into into them and into us so he's, I mean there, he is like handing it over yeah, exactly so I don't know.
Speaker 2:I just that was what really stuck out to me yeah, that's a good one next one, solemnity of the most holy Trinity John 16, 12-15. And will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine. For this reason, I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Speaker 1:That was the winner for me. Uh-oh Ding ding ding, ding, ding ding. I liked that one a lot.
Speaker 2:I think it was for me too.
Speaker 1:Really yeah, why.
Speaker 2:So I think this goes back to my last point too. I think these gospels very much. I mean, it makes sense it's Pentecost, the descent of the Holy Spirit. Oh, we didn't talk about what Pentecost was, the descent of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2:It is the Holy Spirit being Descended onto the Descending onto earth and kind of taking the, the place you know, filling that void with christ leaving earth. And this goes hand in hand. This is the solemnity, the, of the most holy trinity, right, this is the celebration of the mystery of the holy trinity, and I feel like this goes hand in hand with that idea that we are called to act as much like christ as we can. Um, I think that's why I liked it so much, but it clarifies that idea. Whereas it's just kind of almost like a side note in the last gospel, it feels like the main point, like the last line everything that the Father has is mine. For this reason, I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you Again, that giving of the power from God to Jesus to then us.
Speaker 2:There's something about that is really meaningful to me, and even some of the earlier lines, you know. But when he comes, the spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth, not a subjective truth, not an opinion, not a dissertation, but simply truth reality.
Speaker 1:It's really cool. Yeah, the reflection that I read really dove into the different persons of the Trinity and I thought that was interesting and I mentioned that earlier. I never really viewed them as individual persons coming together as one. But the point that the reflection had made is they are persons who want to be known through deep and intimate prayer and that is the only way to really know them. And even that first line says I have so much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now like it is. So like this, the, the truth and the belief of the holy trinity, I feel like can be a point of contention in the church like depending on you know what did not.
Speaker 1:I don't know if denomination is the right word, but um where you fall into that belief, because of christianity because of how hard it is to comprehend this truth. And he even states that here you cannot bear possibly understand how it makes sense.
Speaker 2:That was another line I had highlighted is that I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
Speaker 1:And it's something that the reflection I was reading was like. You can only understand it by deep and intimate prayer. It now, and it's something that the reflection I was reading was like, you can only understand it by deep and intimate prayer. Um, and so just little tidbits that I just. I mean, I I don't even know if this makes sense, but I'm just going to read it because I like yeah um, this is true, knowledge of god depends upon immersion in the holy spirit.
Speaker 1:So, like, I think that's also why I've felt so drawn to the spirit, because there are a lot of things that, like I'm just like a feely, emotional, emotional person yes, correct. And so I know I can dive into that with the spirit and like that that can help me to understand God and his true form as well.
Speaker 1:And then it says we don't think our way to an understanding of God so much as we live our way to it. Think our way to an understanding of God so much as we live our way to it. And I think that that was really nice to hear, because I feel like I'm not really. This is going to make me sound so ditzy, but I promise it's not what I'm saying but I'm really not the thinky kind of person. Not the thinky kind of person like I just don't. I I'm just I. I'm not gonna question you like I, I, I. If you tell me something like I'm, chances are I'm gonna believe you in, like the best way possible and I feel like that is like what this is saying, like just immerse yourself in the faith yeah
Speaker 2:like it will make sense over time well, I, I, I, I don't know if I disagree, so I agree with what you're saying, but I I also feel like there's a piece to it that um like back the the definition of a solemnity, um, uh, solemnity in the liturgical year is a feast day of the highest rank, celebrating a mystery of faith. Um, and just that word mystery and like you hear it a lot, you know um in the like during the mass, like that, that, that phrase, mystery of faith a lot.
Speaker 2:and I just feel like the trinity is one of those things that is a mystery is a mystery, like the idea of faith is at some point you're not going to understand.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know well, and I think I guess what I'm saying is coming from a not so like theologically inclined person. I just want to love god like. I just want to pray like I just I just want to spend time with him and I feel like that is what this is emphasizing. And even Thomas Aquinas says that he attributes most of his theology and his beliefs I mean, like this smart man, saint to persistence of prayer versus the acuity of the mind, and so I'm just like, yes, thanks for that.
Speaker 2:I like that. See the one that had the bad haircut, I think, so I don't know what he looked like I know I gotta look some of those guys just had some. They had some tough beats on the haircuts they like big bowl.
Speaker 1:Cuts back then was like a different time shave. I'm sure they had to cut their own hair uh, yeah, yeah, I imagine they did.
Speaker 2:I know I don't think they had electric razors or whatever. They weren't going to great clips, that's for sure. You never know. They, I, I do, I, I I don't think they had electric razors or whatever they weren't going to Great Clips, that's for sure. You never know. I do know. I don't know they were not going to Great Clips, maybe it was called something different back then the mystery of their haircuts.
Speaker 1:But anyways, and then back to like the Trinity being like persons, different persons. I just liked this last thing and I'll finish with this. The Trinity is a communion of persons we are invited to know, not a theological mystery to define Like it's just going to be a mystery. So getting to know the individual persons in one is, I feel like, really what we need to be focusing on and what I need to be focusing on. That's why I liked it a lot.
Speaker 2:Love it.
Speaker 1:Cool, cool. Next one is Solemnity of the Most Holy Body, this is the fourth Sunday of June, correct?
Speaker 1:Luke 9, 11 through 17. It says Jesus spoke to the crowds about the kingdom of God and he healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, the twelve approached him and said Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions, for we are in a deserted place here. He said to them give them food for yourselves. They replied five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people. Now, the men there numbered about 5,000. Then he said to his disciples have them sit down in groups of about 50. They did so and made them all sit down. Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. They all ate and were satisfied, and when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled 12 wicker baskets love it.
Speaker 2:Good stuff, I what's interesting. So the first thing I highlighted when I read this gospel and luke must be a different. Um, so I I guess I thought there was only one, maybe two versions of this, but I really thought there was one and clearly there's two. I don't know what the other one is. I didn't look it up beforehand, but I always was accustomed to the problem with them not being able to feed this crowd was that it was going to be too expensive.
Speaker 2:I think I remember, in whatever the other version is they talk about, it would be 20 days wages to feed everyone, or how it would be. You know, 20 days wages to feed everyone, you know, or how expensive it would be. But in this the disciples go to, you know, in Luke's telling of this story, it's not that it's too expensive. The Twelve approached him and said dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions, for we are in a deserted place here. Um, and just the idea that it, this miracle, takes place in a deserted area, um, I don't know that, just that just stood out to me, the idea of like the miracle happens in this place of destitution you know this place of where it feels like there's no way out.
Speaker 2:You know, it's not like they're in a vineyard lying down like, oh, we can just lounge and pick fruit and grapes and does anyone have a charcuterie board Like it happened, in a place where it felt most like it wouldn't.
Speaker 1:Like a miracle couldn't happen, yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, and that's you know. So this is the solemnity of the most holy body, right? So this is um, you know, I think, going to kind of the um, the bread and the blood, right Of the of mass, the Eucharist, right. And so it makes me think again of how you can celebrate mass anywhere, right, you can celebrate mass, you know, in, I mean, there's plenty of Catholics across the world who are in war torn countries, who are celebrating mass in basements and bomb shelters in deserted places, but yet they're, there is the body and blood of christ there is the, the bread from heaven.
Speaker 2:Yeah, um, I know that's what's a good point?
Speaker 1:I never I didn't even think of that. The really the biggest thing that stood out to me was just like because we all know this verse, we do yeah, and it's something you take away different every time, but I think just the idea of faith is what spoke to me most about this like I mean, I feel like they. They replied in a very honest and transparent way. They said five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we go and buy food for all these people so true.
Speaker 1:And he didn't say, yeah, actually, let's go do that. Like here's some, here's some cash. He said, okay, have them sit down in groups. And so they were like, okay, they did so. And they made them all sit down and took what they had. And then Jesus said the blessing and broke the bread and gave them to the disciples to give to the crowd. And they were all satisfied and they had not only what they had, but they had an abundance. So this idea of of faith, I feel like, is just openness to what god will reveal, what he will do and what he'll invite us to do. And like they didn't question him, um, they, they said their piece, they're like you realize, we like this, is it? And he was like, okay, do this. And they didn't say, no, that's stupid I just love it.
Speaker 2:I just love it. Hey, jesus, we like there's no food here, like we're in the middle of nowhere. He said give them some food yourselves. We only have five loaves and two fish.
Speaker 1:Good, put them in groups yeah, have them sit down prepare the meal and I feel like that that is a common like theme. Like you see throughout the bible. He's like you only have oil, okay, like we'll multiply it we're out of wine, get me the jars yeah, and I mean, how many times does that happen in our lives? And then how many times do we actually like not fight him about it, like I wonder the amount of times I've probably been like no, I'm not doing that, that's dumb.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:What it could have been. And then the times that I have just been like okay, well, I'm in a deserted place here, so I don't really have much of a choice.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:So sure let's do that and then look at where we are. That openness to the faith is what unravels the miracle.
Speaker 2:I agree.
Speaker 1:And so that's cool.
Speaker 2:It's a good verse, it's a great verse. Is it my turn? Yeah, last one, last one. It's the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. I like the name Paul. You love the P names. I do love the P names Matthew 16, 13 through 19.
Speaker 2:And this is the fifth Sunday of June. He said to them but who do you say that I am, simon? Peter said in reply you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus said to him in reply Blessed are you, simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
Speaker 2:A classic, definitely a classic, the Rock, the Rock of the Church. What stood out to me the most is not necessarily that Peter is the rock that the church is built on, but it's. The gates of another world shall never prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven, and it goes back to kind of what we talked about with the spirit and like getting the tools to you know, develop your faith and to try and understand that mystery. But like we have the power to like defeat Satan. Like we have the power to go up against him. And I think that's like the like. One of the biggest lies he tries to tell us is that, like we don't have the power to choose him, that like we don't have the power to choose him, you know, we don't have the power to fight back, um, but we do right. That's why what Christ is trying to show us the way is, like we do have the, the power to overcome sin, to overcome temptation. The gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
Speaker 1:You have the keys. Yeah, Um against it you have the keys.
Speaker 2:Yeah, um, I think that's just what stood out to me is like something like when I feel like I'm being tempted or when I feel like I'm I'm falling away, I just try to remember to myself is that like the scariest thing that I can tell satan is? No, you know, and I think that's a that's something we don't do very often. You know's like I'm the one who makes my decisions, not you, and I choose to love God.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So that's it for me.
Speaker 1:In all transparency, I wrote Pope Leo. That was my notes on this one, pope Leo.
Speaker 2:He is in fact the new Pope.
Speaker 1:That's all I wrote, but I do just reading it back again. I like that he, jesus, asks that personal question to Simon Peter and says who do you say that I am? Because everybody in the world and their mother knows who Jesus is, you know. It's like yeah, people say he's, you know the savior, People say this, people say he did this, people say he died and rose. Like people say this, people say he did this, people say he died, rose. Like people say blank. And then jesus is like what, who do you say that I am? And that is a good question. I think we can ask ourselves every day, because I'm sure some days he's the most important thing and some days he's kind of an inconvenience, but like yeah who is he?
Speaker 1:consistently to you, that's a great point and I didn't.
Speaker 2:I didn't catch it. I think because I, uh, I great point and I didn't catch it. I think because I don't know why I didn't catch it. I think that's what we get asked on our deathbed.
Speaker 1:Who do?
Speaker 2:you say who do you say that I am.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure.
Speaker 2:I think that is the question, not like either that or what's?
Speaker 1:the doggies are getting really excited and it's funny. Oh, we got a package. We got a package Amazon.
Speaker 2:It's either that, or did you love me, or how did you love me, something along those lines. But I think really, who do you say that? I am Like? Answering that question says so much.
Speaker 1:Yeah Well, and I just think, like for probably a lot of you guys out there, including myself, my initial thought was oh, that's who I. You're the guy we talked about in CCD, or you're the guy that mom's like always like hounding me about but like who am I to you? Is it such a great question? I feel like just to navigate every day and like hounding me about, but like, who am I to you? Is this such a great question? I feel like just to navigate every day and like ask yourself, like who is Jesus to me in this day? And be honest with yourself about who, what that, what that role was and how you can a hundred percent you know, dive deeper into that relationship with him.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so these were the five gospels. Yeah, that was good. I liked that, that was fun. I really enjoyed that. Yeah, so we'll be doing this once a month.
Speaker 1:Once a month, the end or the beginning. The end or the beginning, never the middle.
Speaker 2:Never the middle, even though sometimes you know what the third Monday of a month it might be in the middle, but don't worry about it, we'll figure that out. End um. Okay, so I do have a little um. What's it called a marriage meeting? So, with all these solemnities, I thought it'd be funny, um, to just do a little quick, little pop quiz on which days are actually holy days of obligation. Now, this is this was for 2025, and this is according to um, I believe, the usccb. So sometimes it's different and changes depends on where you are in the world.
Speaker 2:I think diocese said in our countries maybe um, but so your mileage may vary, but I just thought this would be fun. So the solemnity of mary is it a holy day?
Speaker 1:yes correct.
Speaker 2:Do you know when it is? This one is the same day every year is it in august? No, you're thinking, but you're close, so that's a different one september no, it's the same day every year. It's right after an, it's a week after another major holiday major holiday christmas no, well, what's Christmas?
Speaker 1:December.
Speaker 2:Well, no, christmas is Christmas. December 25th, so January? Hang on, I think you're confused. January 1st is the Solemnity of Mary.
Speaker 1:So I was right, it's the after Christmas. Yeah, okay, that's what I was saying.
Speaker 2:It's the week after Christmas. I thought you were saying it's on Christmas and I was like, no, that would be the birth of Christ Christmas. Okay, here let's see if this helps the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Speaker 1:Was that the one this year? That was like I'm going to go with yes.
Speaker 2:It is, and that is the one in August. Holy Thursday.
Speaker 1:No, that is not a holy day of obligation, but we go anyways.
Speaker 2:Correct Ash Wednesday.
Speaker 1:Also not an obligation, but I feel like most people think it is.
Speaker 2:I think you're right, all Souls Day.
Speaker 1:I don't think that's an obligation.
Speaker 2:Correct which day is All Souls Day.
Speaker 1:It's my dad's birthday, November 1st.
Speaker 2:That is All Saints Day.
Speaker 1:Ooh the day after.
Speaker 2:The day before.
Speaker 1:I knew it was like back to that case.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah duh but Solemnity of All Saints is that a holy day of obligation?
Speaker 1:Okay, so All Souls Day was not.
Speaker 2:Correct.
Speaker 1:All Saints Day feels like it might be.
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 1:Okay, you're correct.
Speaker 2:All right. Last one the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Speaker 1:Okay, was that the one this year that we moved to?
Speaker 2:a Sunday, I believe so, so technically yes. Yes, it is.
Speaker 1:But just because we moved to a Sunday does not mean.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but it would have been. Just because we moved to a Sunday does not mean yeah, but it would have been oh. And then there's sorry, and then Christmas. There's one more, I skipped over.
Speaker 1:The Ascension of Jesus. I don't. That doesn't sound like a holy day.
Speaker 2:The Ascension of Jesus.
Speaker 1:Is it? Always on a Sunday, because I get confused sometimes there are some that are always going to be on a Sunday in the date Mary, so this says celebrated on the sixth. Thursday after Easter Sunday, however, this year it was moved to the Sunday June 1st. Oh, that's how it can be. Yeah, so it was on Sunday anyway, yeah. So yes is the answer. Yeah, but this year.
Speaker 2:I think that if you went to anybody who is not a priest, they still would struggle with like when are all the holy days? And like yeah which one's gonna be on a sunday or not, and like is it? I feel, like that's why, honestly, every time there is an actual holy day of obligation, the priests have to like make a big announcement. They're like everybody, this one you gotta go to because they know.
Speaker 1:It's like we are confused as well. Well, Well nice little refresher, yeah, and it was a good month, june, overall.
Speaker 2:June big thumbs up.
Speaker 1:But thanks for listening to us ramble and let's keep growing together.
Speaker 2:Bye y'all, so so Thank you.