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: September Gospel Reflections
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
The first day of October finds us buckling a car seat, grabbing microphones, and laughing through nerves as “baby day” finally arrives. Two weeks ago we thought labor had started—turns out it was two kidney stones at thirty‑six weeks—an ordeal that pushed us to ask better questions, lean on each other, and relearn the difference between bracing and trusting. From nesting wins to a quiet pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche in St. Augustine, we trace how grace threads through pain, humor, and ordinary preparation.
Our conversation moves through September’s Gospels with fresh eyes. Luke 14 confronts the true cost of discipleship and why “hating” sin actually makes room for deeper tenderness. John 3:16 on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross reframes suffering with the serpent‑to‑cross arc: what once harmed can be lifted up and turned into hope. Then Luke 16 sneaks up on us—first with the “dishonest steward” as a jolting lesson in prudence and foresight, and then with the rich man and Lazarus, a stark warning about comfort, omission, and the people we stop seeing at our own gates.
We also share why we’re taking a short hiatus to welcome our daughter, how a 33‑day Marian consecration and the Litany keep our hearts steady, and why turning outrage into real conversation might be the most countercultural act of love right now. If you’re here for Catholic faith that’s lived, not performed—for practical holiness, honest marriage talk, and Scripture that reads your life back to you—you’ll feel at home with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs some courage, and leave a review to help others find the show. We’ll be back in the new year—pray for us, and we’ll be praying for you.
Litany of The Blessed Virgin Mary:
https://www.nashvilledominican.org/prayer/litanies/litany-of-the-blessed-virgin-mary/
Joe's Resource for the Dishonest Steward:
September Gospels:
Great crowds were traveling with Jesus,
and he turned and addressed them,
“If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother,
wife and children, brothers and sisters,
and even his own life,
he cannot be my disciple.
Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple.
Which of you wishing to construct a tower
does not first sit down and calculate the cost
to see if there is enough for its completion?
Otherwise, after laying the foundation
and finding himself unable to finish the work
the onlookers should laugh at him and say,
‘This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.’
Or what king marching into battle would not first sit down
and decide whether with ten thousand troops
he can successfully oppose another king
advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops?
But if not, while he is still far away,
he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms.
In the same way,
anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.”
Love the creature, forget the creator - st augustine
Jesus said to Nicodemus:
"No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
so that everyone who believes in h
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October Joys & Baby Day Reveal
SPEAKER_00Welcome back.
SPEAKER_03I didn't give you a countdown then. I was just curious to see when you'd start.
SPEAKER_00Well, I I don't need a man in my life to tell me when to start.
SPEAKER_03That's okay. Wow. We really just escalated quickly there. Welcome back.
SPEAKER_00It is October.
SPEAKER_03It is October 1st.
SPEAKER_00Best time of the year.
SPEAKER_03That's not. Is it just because it's your birthday?
SPEAKER_00It's well, it's my favorite time of the year, and it's about to get even better.
SPEAKER_03Because it's baby day.
SPEAKER_00It's baby day. It's baby day. We're going to the hospital. We're taking you with us.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, we're recording. This is a vlogged labor.
SPEAKER_00It's baby month. And so it's already such a fun month. It's my birthday. It's fall. You do love fall. The burr months have begun. Well, I guess it's it's already begun, but October's better. And yeah, favorite time of year.
SPEAKER_03I just realized you said the Burr months, like October, November, yeah.
SPEAKER_00But September, I guess, started the Burr months, but October is when it really settles.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, September's a posing uh opposer.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, it wishes it was October.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_00But hi, I'm Katie.
SPEAKER_03And I'm Joe.
SPEAKER_00And welcome to The Vine.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, extended intro.
SPEAKER_00We're so glad you're here.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, absolutely. Uh, it's been a while since we recorded, Katie. A lot, a lot has happened since we last recorded.
SPEAKER_00I don't actually remember. I know a lot has happened, but I don't remember like the last update we gave everybody.
SPEAKER_03Well, let's just start with an easy one then. Give me your peak pit and peak for the last couple weeks.
SPEAKER_00Oh. Yeah, I figured I figured. That's a doozy. Oh man. Gosh. So do you want me to start? Well, I my pit I know for sure, but I feel like what would your pit be? Oh. Well.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you'll get there. We'll get there.
SPEAKER_00About two weeks ago, I will get there now. Oh, why? Why?
SPEAKER_03No, go ahead. Go, go, go.
SPEAKER_00What were you expecting?
SPEAKER_03No, I thought you were gonna. I don't know.
unknownOkay.
SPEAKER_00Rusty. I two weeks ago, I I we thought we were having a baby.
SPEAKER_02Yes.
SPEAKER_00Um sorry, my computer is hissing in the background.
SPEAKER_02It is very hot.
SPEAKER_00Why?
SPEAKER_02I don't think they can hear it.
Kidney Stones Scare vs. Labor Fears
SPEAKER_00Okay. If something explodes, that's what it is. Um, but about two weeks ago, we thought we were having a baby. I this is my first time, so I've never like I've never experienced labor. I don't know what to look out for. I don't know what it feels like. So any kind of pain or type of contraction, I'm like unsure of. So yeah, two weeks ago, we thought we were having a baby, got admitted to the hospital. Turns out I was just no baby, just two kidney stones.
SPEAKER_03Two kidney stones at how many weeks pregnant were you?
SPEAKER_0036, 35, 35.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, almost 36.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, 36 weeks pregnant. It was the most painful thing of my entire life. And uh the fact that like I was just willing to like ignore it and not go to the hospital is crazy to me because that's how much I guess like I know. If it weren't for Joe, we would not have gone to the hospital. But in my defense, the first time we went, the doctor was like, This is just like you just strained a muscle. So I was like, Oh my gosh, I'm so dramatic. Why am I here?
SPEAKER_03Well, and you were like, if this is what labor's like this is labor.
SPEAKER_00I'm like, this isn't even labor. I'm just having like Braxton X contractions and my back hurts. Like, how am I gonna deliver a baby? Like, just in tears. And yeah, needless to say, the pain did not resolve. It got much worse.
SPEAKER_03Yes, it did.
SPEAKER_00Um, and yeah, two kidney stones later, we are here, and honestly, I feel like a new woman.
SPEAKER_03You you really like did a complete 180.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, like at the time my back was hurting like a lot, and I was like, I cannot fathom like a month longer and this getting worse. I don't like I don't know how I can handle it. Like, how can it get worse than this? And it it doesn't get worse. It actually got better. Like, it should not be that hard in case you're in the same situation. Like, don't be afraid to ask questions about your symptoms and what's going on because it doesn't actually because it could be two kidney stones. It could be.
SPEAKER_03Uh I told somebody uh earlier today, I was like, hey, you know, Katie ended up having two kidney stones. It was crazy. First thing he said was not poor Katie. He said, Oh, poor Joe.
SPEAKER_00Why? Why do you get the sympathy?
SPEAKER_03I don't know, but I I received the sympathy. I said, Thank you. Finally, someone understands how hard it was on me.
SPEAKER_00Oh Lord, no. Well, if anything, that should make you love me more.
SPEAKER_03I listen, I do. I was teasing.
SPEAKER_00It's about to get crazy.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, with a baby.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So, anyways, that was the biggest pit of them all. I spent most of my third trimester thinking, like, I'm just being dramatic. No, my kidneys were swollen.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, they were angry. Your kidneys were very angry at you. Um, what was your peak?
SPEAKER_00Oh gosh, there's so many peaks too. Like, I don't remember. I think we had already had the baby shower. That was a fun peak. Um did we? Maybe? I don't know. Well, I had a baby shower. That was super fun. I feel like life has settled since then, and it's been nice to like get into a groove because it's just been like one thing after another. And so now I'm just making things to do.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, well, you got the nursery all set up. You're very happy about that.
SPEAKER_00That's the biggest thing is I think the nursery is like in a place where I'm like, okay, if baby comes, we're good. We've got a place for her, we've got a car seat, she's got something to wear, we'll be fine.
SPEAKER_03Something to wear, very important. Coming home.
SPEAKER_00I got diapers, I got I got the essentials, everything else is extra. Um, but yeah, I think just like the anticipation right now is what I'm trying really hard to like savor and like really relish, you know, this time that's like just us.
SPEAKER_03You only have your first baby once.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and like the excitement of like the unknown, you know, like how fun it is that we get to actually think about these things and prepare for these things. So yeah, I don't really know. Not one specific peak, just like this whole season of like resting and preparing is fun.
SPEAKER_03Cool.
SPEAKER_00What about you?
SPEAKER_03Um so my pit, obviously, I would say is you having double kidney stones. Um, or more. We don't even really know.
SPEAKER_00Um, I do have more, but they could just be dormant.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, hopefully. Fingers crossed. Um that, of course, was probably my my actual pit. I would say my side pit is the ravens stink um and are hurt, and it's very sad.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_03It's very sad. But they could be better later, but right now they're um not good.
SPEAKER_00That would have been a real moos.
SPEAKER_03And Clemson's not good either.
SPEAKER_00That would have been a real mood booster throughout all of that.
SPEAKER_03It would have. It would have helped.
SPEAKER_00It would have felt like a win, but just to lose lose.
SPEAKER_03But uh, you know, it doesn't really matter. And I think it's it's God's way of saying, hey, you have a kid, uh, you know, you don't need to be focused on football, be focused on your kid.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_03So I think it's a it maybe it's a a good thing. You know? Uh my peak, I'm surprised you didn't mention this, uh, was our baby moon. I figured I thought yeah, I was like, she probably just forgot.
SPEAKER_00I just forgot so much has happened.
Babymoon & La Leche Pilgrimage
SPEAKER_03I know it's been it's we've had a lot going on. Um but I would say we went on our baby moon to St. Augustine um and we visited the shrine of um La Leche. It's right, it's just the Our Lady La Leche. Um it's the if you don't know, it's the oldest um Catholic church in the country, and I believe it's the first um the first place that was settled in the uh Americas or on the continental US. Um but it's a really cool site. They have um just some old buildings, a bunch of cool um like uh I want to say relics, but not relics, just like I don't know, pieces of history there. Um it's just really neat. It's really cool to be able to see, and it was really um a fun time, I feel like, for us. It was good to kind of orient ourselves spiritually um to where we want to be as we prepare for our little Mary to come, little Mary Joe. And um we ate some really good food while we were there.
SPEAKER_00Food was really good. The food was really good, and it was very restful, and it was just nice to like just like it was like our last hurrah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Last little trip, just us.
SPEAKER_00And the biggest thing too is like we had been wanting to go to our lady of Alecha for a long time. Before we were pregnant, before we were pregnant, just like out of petition, like a little pilgrimage asking Mary for a baby. Never w really made the time for it. And this just felt like the perfect opportunity. Like we wanted to go still, but now, like how much sweeter it is that we get we got to go and like thank her for our little babe.
SPEAKER_03A hundred percent.
SPEAKER_00So that was really special, and honestly, we loved it so much. It was such an easy trip that we'll probably do it every year.
SPEAKER_03Uh yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Would recommend.
SPEAKER_03It was a lot of fun. So, Katie, what are we doing today?
SPEAKER_00It just another another count the fruit. Just the first Monday of October month. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03There you go.
SPEAKER_00And might as well rein it in with reflecting on September 15th.
SPEAKER_03Rain in the month of October.
SPEAKER_00It's another scripture.
SPEAKER_03No, that is.
SPEAKER_00I was like, did I say that wrong?
SPEAKER_03I just I think it's funny, like, no every you just love October.
SPEAKER_00I do. As we start, as we rain in every month, we count the fruit here.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, exactly. October is coming, October is coming.
SPEAKER_00Behold.
SPEAKER_02Go.
SPEAKER_00September. Let's do it. Let's dive in. Let's start in the the first first Sunday of September is the gospel was Luke 14, 25 through 33. I guess I'll read it.
SPEAKER_02Go ahead.
Counting the Fruit: Gospel Overview
SPEAKER_00Great crowds were travelling with Jesus, and he turned and addressed them. If anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there's enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work, the onlookers should laugh at him and say, This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish. Or what king, marching into battle, would not first sit down and decide whether with ten thousand troops he can successfully oppose another king, advancing upon him with twenty thousand troops. But if not, while he is still far away, he will send a delegation to ask for peace terms. In the same way, any one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.
SPEAKER_03Wow.
SPEAKER_00The word of the Lord.
SPEAKER_02Wow.
SPEAKER_03All right. Wait, that's uh what do they say after the gospel? I don't think they say the word of the Lord, do they?
SPEAKER_00I don't know. Just felt appropriate.
SPEAKER_03Uh maybe it is. See, this is like what happened like you just praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_00If we're not like in the the rhythm of mass, it's like, wait, I don't know what you say.
SPEAKER_03The word of the Lord, I feel like is what they say after the first and second reading.
SPEAKER_00I don't know. I really didn't think about it that hard. Who just came out.
SPEAKER_03We go to Mass.
SPEAKER_00What do you think? Oh, you want me to go first? Yeah, I do. I read all that.
Luke 14: Cost of Discipleship
SPEAKER_03I think this is a verse that I try to keep in the back of my mind as I go throughout my day. Um a gospel, I'll say, specifically because I think that this is one of the verses where sometimes Jesus is giving us a parable or a lesson on very specific circumstances, and sometimes I feel like he gives us information on how to think or how to act, not dependent on circumstance. And I think this is one of those gospels where um he's saying you should be thinking about your future, you should be thinking about how to get into heaven, and you should be thinking about the costs and the costs that you can have in serving me, know what you're getting yourself yourself into. Like you may be, let me scroll back up, you know, um, you may have to uh split, you know, from your family, from your friends. You may have to learn to hate the sin, right, that you are living in. Um I've been thinking a lot lately, I don't know why it's on my mind, but I've just been thinking about how frequently Paul refers to himself as a sinner, and specifically uh multiple times he refers to himself as like chief among the sinners. You know, Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, considered himself chief among sinners. And he did that after he converted to Christianity. It's he's not saying like I was a sinner and I no longer live in sin. He is saying these things as he's writing his letters. You know, he is saying that he still is the chief among sinners. Um and that thought has been kind of running around in my head. How did it just scroll down right there? I did not touch it.
SPEAKER_00You touched something on your keyboard. Oh, I touched on keyboard. I was like, what is going on? God is speaking.
SPEAKER_03God wants us to get on with it. Um yeah, just I don't know. I I think about that and I think about how like again he says, um, you know, we uh if anyone comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Of course, Jesus wants us to know that we are like we are you know, we are to be loved, and we're not just some despicable little creatures, you know, like Father Longenecker says, we're not always some little worm, you know. That's not what humility is, but we should we should hate the sin that lives within us. Yeah. And lives within the people we care about because we want them to enter into heaven, we want them to have a relationship with Christ, we should hate what takes that away from us from, you know. We should hate that and hate's probably even the wrong word. I don't know another word to use.
SPEAKER_00Well, I mean, he used it. I used to be.
SPEAKER_03But like we should despise the sin that is taking us away from is taking us and our loved ones away from God.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. It's it's just such a an exaggerated way of saying it, but I feel like Jesus needed to say that that way in order to like emphasize the importance of it. Yeah. Like I I don't know. Like, I this scares me at first reading it because sometimes scripture can be so like my way or the highway, like this is like how important this is.
SPEAKER_03Told they were wrong.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, like just be I just feel as like he's like calling me out, and I'm like, why do I have to hate my mom and my dad?
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And I I don't and like I think just like the more that you mature and like grow in intimacy with Jesus, you realize like exactly what his intention is here. Like it's by doing so, by hating the sin, by detaching yourself from those idols, you actually grow in tenderness. Like, yeah, you and and it's that's like the difference. Like the difference between like the worldly idea of like hate and negativity and all like the sadness and evil that comes with those derogatory terms will pull you into a dark place, it will make you feel um, I don't know, depressed, like all these things that come with that. But by like seeing that like darkness in yourself and seeing that sin in yourself and learning how to hate it enough to like detach from it is where you actually like where empathy grows and where you are able to like actually love your mom and your dad.
SPEAKER_03Yeah. Well, and I think that I if I'm willing to sacrifice you and turn to God, it will make me a better husband.
SPEAKER_00And it's like the greatest act of love.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00By sacrificing me and letting me go.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, for sure. And and like in a in a very realistic way, looking at this, like sometimes you do have to separate from the people who love you the most in order to follow and strive for truth.
SPEAKER_03Well, in the earthly relationships we have with friends, family members, sometimes that can blind us in. Oh, we taking a small pause for a moment.
SPEAKER_00You can keep talking. I'm gonna grab this little rat dog so she doesn't screech into the microphone.
SPEAKER_03Well, he's about to bark outside. Um, but I I do think that sometimes the people who we are closest to and we live our lives with, you know, so intimately, we can be blinded by that intimacy. And I don't mean in like a husband and wife sense, I mean intimacy literally in just the amount of time spent with someone.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_03That can blind you on how to truly love someone and how to truly care for them.
Hating Sin, Loving People
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely. Like sometimes you have to separate yourself. Like if you did not grow up in a Christian household, or if you're converting to Catholicism, or whatever, if you were with a a group of people who are against your actions, although your actions are what is bringing you closer to God, that distance can be healthy. And really, I guess in that sense, trusting that by doing so, God will soften their hearts and like it will come full circle and like it will make sense eventually, you know.
SPEAKER_03I agree.
SPEAKER_00Sorry, guys. My my family dog is here. He is 14 years old, and he looks it, and he is just a white little crusty dog. And if he does not get attention, white crusty dog. If he does not get attention, he will screech and he can't see. So he there's like no end. Like we could put him outside of the room and he would screech. We could put him on the ground and he'd start screeching. So he is in my lap.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, he's fine.
SPEAKER_00He's joined the chat.
SPEAKER_03He has, he's doing fine. I like that you were worried that he uh was gonna make noises, so you brought him closer to the microphone.
SPEAKER_00But you see how happy he is? He's he looks thrilled. That's all he wanted was to be held. This is the problem with small dogs.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I I also think um we just need to maintain too like that idea of measuring up, like you should be thinking about whether you're going to heaven or hell. And that's a a scary thought, and I feel like something I would not have said even two years ago in my faith. But the more I get in tune with scripture, the deeper I go, it's pretty clear like we should be thinking about it.
SPEAKER_00On a daily basis, and I think that's like something I really appreciate about growing up in the Catholic Church. Like it is kind of beaten across our heads, or whatever the right terminology is, um, that nothing is promised to you. Every day you have to choose, and every day you have to do an act of contrition and examine your conscience and reflect on your day. Like, did I actually do my best? When did I give in to sin? What parts of me do I need to improve and offer up to God? Like that is an everyday thing, and most people don't want to acknowledge that because it's uncomfortable. But the Catholic Church is like, hey, get comfortable with being uncomfortable because like going to heaven is not a comfortable and easy thing.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And it's worth the challenge, it's worth, it's worth diving deep into your heart and wanting to offer up that darkness and wanting to grow because you know the church has resources. Like, they're not like do this and figure it out on your own, but like do this and also look at the tools that I've provided to you. Like, we want to make this easy for you. You just have to be open.
SPEAKER_03A hundred percent.
SPEAKER_00Uh yeah, I great. I feel like it was a great gospel. I feel like kickstart the month.
John 3:16 and the Cross
SPEAKER_03All right, next one. John three, thirteen through seventeen. Here's the big one. Jesus said to Nicodemus, No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man, and just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. And this was the feast of the cross. Um, and this is actually where we went and had mass not had mass, not like we scheduled it, they were gonna have it, whether we there we were there or not. But this is where uh we went to mass at La Leche.
SPEAKER_00Oh, I didn't realize that. You're right. We were there. Oh, that was special.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it was a neat mess. Katie got a blessing.
SPEAKER_00I did, and I was not expecting it. I mean, I guess I should have expected it. We were at the shrine of our lady of the city.
SPEAKER_03Every pregnant woman, come on up.
SPEAKER_00Yes, I got to go up to the altar and the priest looked at me and was like, Are you due today? Or tomorrow. And I was like, I really wanted to be like, actually, you're right. I need your help, Father. I'm gonna do this right now, right here in front of the congregation.
SPEAKER_03He was asking about your kidney stones.
SPEAKER_00He knew because that literally during that trip, we had the kidney stones. Oh my gosh, but yeah, such a good verse. I did not realize this gospel was like the gospel for the the feast of the exaltation of the cross.
SPEAKER_03I didn't either.
SPEAKER_00But it makes sense.
SPEAKER_03It does.
SPEAKER_00Um classic like camp gospel.
SPEAKER_03It's John 3 16.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, how could you not know what this verse is?
SPEAKER_03I mean, it I think even if you are I would say this is probably the most famous Bible verse, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I don't even really feel like what we what what could we contribute to this right now? I guess the the one thing I will comment on is like how cool the Feast of the Cross is.
SPEAKER_03Go ahead.
SPEAKER_00I just think it's like it's like a really cool thing that we celebrate it, and I do feel like it makes people uncomfortable because we're triumphing a murderous like tool, thing, weapon. Like the cross is technically used to crucify.
SPEAKER_03But we co-like we we turned it into that symbol.
SPEAKER_00Exactly. What do you mean? Wait, turned what into that symbol. Yes, of course, wait a minute. I thought we were tracking, and then you finished that sentence.
SPEAKER_03We the cross, which was a form of punishment, and was used to the whole reason you crucify someone is to strike fear into people who would potentially commit the same crime.
SPEAKER_00Right.
SPEAKER_03And we turned that into the symbol of our hope.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, though that's the feast of the cross. Like that is where the feast came from. But it is just cool to me because there are still people out there that are like, why are you celebrating the death? The death. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And it's like, how can you not celebrate the resurrection without r reverencing the death, you know?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, 100%. And the fact that like the church That's the Anderson University in you right there.
SPEAKER_00I well, and that's what it makes me appreciate my faith because I'm like, you can actually acknowledge both.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00One actually makes this even more beautiful, it actually makes the resurrection even more glorious.
SPEAKER_03And one thing that the priest talked about um that the mass we went to was if you notice at the beginning, um Jesus references as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert. And the first god the first um reading from the Old Testament this week is the story of Moses healing those who were bitten by snakes with the um with the serpent staff. And what he talked about was the cross is very similar in the sense that the serpent was used to cure those who were the serpent's staff, it looked like a serpent, but it was co-opted to cure those who were poisoned in the same way that the cross used to kill was turned into a symbol of hope.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_03And that's why I thought that was a neat little parallel.
SPEAKER_00Right. And that's why we don't just wear a cross. Like it is the cross and Jesus.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00The cross was part of saving the world.
SPEAKER_03The cross was not empty when he died.
SPEAKER_00Exactly.
SPEAKER_03He was up there.
SPEAKER_00Right, right, for sure. So, anyways, just a little tidbit.
SPEAKER_03Take that, Protestants. We're just kidding.
SPEAKER_00Just a little tidbit.
SPEAKER_03Alright, you ready?
SPEAKER_00Yes. Luke.
SPEAKER_03So this is You got the long one, so you want me to read this is another long one.
SPEAKER_00Oh yeah, actually, could you do that? Okay, I know you're gonna get out of breath.
Serpent, Cross, and Redemption
SPEAKER_03Out of breath. All right, this is the third Sunday in September, Luke 16, one through thirteen. Jesus said to his disciples, A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward. The steward said to himself, What shall I do now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? Am I not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg? I know what I shall do, so that when I am removed from the stewardship, they may welcome me into their homes. He called in his master's debtors one by one, and said to the first, How much do you owe my master? He replied, One hundred measures of olive oil. He said to him, Here is your promissory note. Sit down and quickly write one for fifty. Then to another the steward said, And you, how much do you owe? He replied, One hundred cores of wheat. The steward said to him, Here is your promissory note, write one for eighty. And the master commended the that dishonest steward for acting prudently. For the children of this world are more prudent in dealing with their own generation than are the children of light. I tell you, make friends for yourselves with dishonest wealth, so that when it fails you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones, and the persons who is dishonest in small in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones. If therefore you are not trustworthy with dishonest wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? If you are not trustworthy with what belongs to another, who will give you what is yours? No servant can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon.
SPEAKER_00Not gonna lie, this one the first half of this one was very confusing to me.
SPEAKER_03Hang on, I'm pulling up my reflection. Because I agree.
SPEAKER_00The last half though, I did highlight a few things. I do like the the the way they said the person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones. Like that just makes me like validates like all your all your actions and like the things that you are doing will be recognized, whether those are good or bad. Like they manifest, the small ones manifest into the great ones. Um but yeah, that's that's like what I took from this. I really tried hard to comprehend the first half, but didn't quite get there.
Luke 16: The Dishonest Steward
SPEAKER_03So I think it this is going back to similar to the gospel, um, the first gospel from this month. Um, it's kind of getting us in the mindset of how to prepare. Like we should be thinking about how to enter heaven. Um, this is a reflection from uh I think it's uh Western Carolina University, one of their churches near uh Western Carolina University. So shout out, let me see who was written by. It doesn't have it. So shout out whoever wrote this. Um says Jesus is using a rhetorical technique that involves an argument argument from lesser to greater. It's a way of saying, if this lesser thing is true, then this greater thing is even more true. Here the lesson, part of the argument is what is the way the dishonest steward's manager steward manages his master's wealth, squandering it to his own advantage. His dishonesty is not praiseworthy. What the master finds praiseworthy about this his behavior is the prudence he shows in planning ahead for his future. The point Jesus is making is that even if dishonest people act prudently in regards to their future, how much more prudently should honest and just people act in regards to theirs? This is the greater Part of the argument. The children of light, Jesus mentions in verse 8, are the elect of God who are called to share in God's eternal life in heaven, as opposed to the children of this world, who place their trust in material wealth. How much more, Jesus is saying, should his followers be prudent in managing the goods that our master, God the Father, has entrusted to us? And so I think what it really boils down to is you if somebody can be worried about their future because they know they're about to get fired because they don't know how they're gonna work for the next couple years, it's gonna be tough life. Shouldn't we, as good Christians, be even more worried about how to get to heaven if we feel like we haven't done enough?
SPEAKER_00Okay, say that first half of that again.
SPEAKER_03So the dishonest steward knew that he was getting fired, right?
SPEAKER_00Okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_03And in doing so, he said, I better get my crap together so that after I get fired, I can I have some options, right? I can go back to one of these people who I helped lessen their debt and maybe they'll they'll help me out.
SPEAKER_00Sure, gotcha.
SPEAKER_03And then he was praised. The master didn't praise him for being dishonest. The master praised him for saying a head. For preparing a head. And Jesus is saying, if this dishonest basically, if this sinful man can be acting prudently for his future, shouldn't us as Christians be acting even more prudently in our future?
SPEAKER_00Okay. I yeah, would not have put that together.
SPEAKER_03I know.
SPEAKER_00I because I remember reading using because they're like I was like, are they praising the dishonest steward? Like I I don't understand why he does right. I don't get what he did. That was correct. Go steal. But I did pick up on like the idea of prudence. Like that clearly was like the message. And like prudence is something that I feel like is really relevant to like our lives because prudence in its definition is careful discernment, like carefully discerning things, which I think is a valid, like everyday thing that as Christians we need to recognize. But I was like, how are we bringing this back to a dishonest man?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, well, and it's confusing. Like I remember listening to it and really struggling, not struggling with it, but just being like, what am I supposed to get out of this? And I think that reflection kind of clarified it for me.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah, no, I I like that. I like that like I think it's interesting that they like used the lesser of the two. Like instead of being like, look at the the the children of the light and like how prudence got them here. It was more like if they can do it, you can do it.
SPEAKER_03Like and I think that's a really good it makes me think about like honestly, like what's going on kind of in the world right now. And I think that's a a sentiment that Christians could use a lot of right now. It's like yes, hey, like if if people who you feel like go against Christian beliefs can still be doing these good things and doing these good things in the world, shouldn't you be doing even more so?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely. Like this is the real problem at hand. Like the problem at hand lies within yourself, yes, and how you can prepare for heaven. Ultimately, we live in a world now where like all the problems of the world get amplified on social media and you can't help but get so wrapped up into it and like naturally opinionated about it.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_00And so it's like I just feel like this is relevant in that way because it's like actually, what if you manifest that energy into like your own personal faith walk? You know, like that's the only thing you can actually control about this. So okay, thanks for clearing that up. Yeah, I like it.
SPEAKER_03Last one?
SPEAKER_00This is not the last one, is it?
SPEAKER_03I think so.
SPEAKER_00Oh, you're right.
SPEAKER_03There's only four Sundays.
SPEAKER_00Okay, so this is Luke 16, 19 through 13.
SPEAKER_03You want me to read it? It's another long one.
SPEAKER_00I can read it. I need to do my part.
SPEAKER_03All right.
SPEAKER_00Okay. It says Jesus said to the Pharisees, There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and died sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would have gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the nether world where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, and he cried out, Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames. Abraham replied, My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime, while Lazarus likewise received what was bad, but now he is comforted here, whereas you were tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours, or from your side to ours. He said, Then, I beg you, father, send him to my father's house, for I five brothers, so that he may warn them lest they too come to this place of torment. But Abraham replied, They have Moses and the prophets, let them listen to them. He said, Oh no, Father Abraham, but if someone for the dead comes to them, they will repent. Then Abraham said, If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.
Prudence and Preparing for Heaven
SPEAKER_03Another verse that rattles around in the back of my head from time to time. Uh I remember watching a debate, I can't remember who it was from. I don't know. It was like Bill Nye debating some Christian theologist on like the existence of God. And Bill Nye was like, if you can just provide, you know, and of course, like everybody has their own take on it, but Bill Nye was like, if you can provide one indisputable fact that God exists, I'll believe in him. And then the other guy said, the I can't remember who was debating him about it. The Christian guy said, if you can provide one undeniable fact he does not exist, then I won't believe in him. And that's kind of where the stalemate ended, and the last uh verse here reminded me of that, like some people just aren't going to believe in him. You know, like and there's there's no amount of proof that will convince them, and vice versa. I don't think that God needs to be proved to exist. Yeah. Like, I think if you prove God exists, you remove the element of faith from it. And I mean, I think that's the whole point of it, right? The whole point is to try and believe in God. Like you have to make that that leap of faith to believe in him. And because, you know, we have the free will, and if you can prove that there's an all-loving God out there, and if you just believe in him and love him, you'll go to heaven. Like everybody will do that because we all want to feel good.
SPEAKER_00Well, then he's just gonna have like a Netflix show, and like that'll be the extent of faith. Like, oh, we've all proven we know he's right. Let's like let's harp off of his fandom, like let's make him like so. Like K-pop demon hunters, yeah, and then it's like viral for one month. Okay, Jesus is not old news.
SPEAKER_03No, it's it's about the actual belief in him.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. And it's just funny because I relate so deeply to Lazarus begging Abraham. Sorry, scroll back down.
SPEAKER_03I was like, You mean the rich man?
SPEAKER_00Oh, sorry, yes, I don't I wish Lazarus was in heaven. He was living in the I wish I could relate to Lazarus. I'm so good. Anyways, I wish I could. I mean, I I relate to the rich man who was being tormented when he said to Abraham, Then I beg you, father, send him to my father's house where I have five brothers. Like, please warn them because I don't want this for them. And I feel like that's like a true act of like humility. Like he's like, Okay, this sucks. I'm here. This is my own actions, but please, like somebody save my family. Like, save, yeah, save the people that I love. And like I feel like we all get to a point in our faith where it finally clicks, like, okay, this these are the consequences of my actions. I, if there's any good I can come of this, like let me save other people from doing it, which is a a good, like that is like a good message when you are on Earth's side. Like you can try your best to spread that message.
SPEAKER_04Yeah.
SPEAKER_00But ultimately, there's only so much you can do. You can scream at the mountaintops, you can slap them in the head, like you can do everything you can think in your human body to try and convince somebody to change their ways. But ultimately, like Abraham said, if they're not gonna listen to Moses and the prophets, if they're not gonna listen to the church and all the tools and things that have been given to them, and there's no way that they will just like listen to you. Like a rich, even he says, like a man that rises from the dead, it could be and they're not gonna listen.
SPEAKER_03And the other I completely agree with you. The other thing that this verse made me think about and is similar to kind of what I was saying about Paul earlier. The rich man, I'm sure, thought he was going to heaven.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, he was like, I don't need to change anything.
SPEAKER_03And I'm sure Lazarus probably did not think he was going to heaven. And I think that so many, so many of these scriptures have you know encouraged us to think about where you stand in that in that line going up or down. And it's important to, I think, always kind of think you're not going to heaven.
SPEAKER_00Always just know that there's room to grow.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, always know that you you could be doing better, you know, and that you could grow more. And there's ways you could love God more and love your neighbor. Um and I think that's imp important to think about too. Like because oftentimes when you're most comfortable in your faith is probably the scariest.
SPEAKER_00Well, and I think that we see here what comfort looks like. The the rich man lived about his day very comfortably to the point that he didn't have to be able to do that.
SPEAKER_03I wear purple all the time, man.
SPEAKER_00Oh no. I have to make sure everybody knows I am in royal colors. But like we see what how comfort manifests in his story because he was so comfortable that he didn't he didn't notice what was going on around him. There was literally a sick man at his front door every day, and he did not notice it. So it wasn't even like and I think that that's interesting to point out because it's not like the rich man saw saw Lazarus and was like, oh, gross, like let's ignore him or like let me spit on him, or do I like he didn't do anything to Lazarus that was necessarily quote unquote evil. But I feel like that is a more realistic sin that we can relate to is what did you not do?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, 100%.
SPEAKER_00So I don't know. I think that that's a good point because I feel like that's what the majority of um the faith community probably struggles with. Like rarely are we going out there like actively bullying people and putting them down. Like, yes, that does happen, but majority of the time it's what did I fail to do? What did I fail to see? Yeah, how did I not see God in other people? Um but yeah.
SPEAKER_03There we go. There's our gospels.
SPEAKER_00All the gospels. Lots of conviction.
SPEAKER_03Are you there's the sun in your eye?
SPEAKER_00No, but I think it it's like it's like a God moment for me.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, the light of the Lord shining on me.
SPEAKER_00The light of the Lord is shining on me.
SPEAKER_03And only you. Well, I guess I'm going downstairs.
SPEAKER_00Sorry. But um, yeah.
SPEAKER_03Alright. Our marriage meeting.
SPEAKER_00Oh, uh, you know, we said this last time whether we were gonna do a little prayer. Oh, okay. Instead of a marriage meeting, pause.
SPEAKER_03What prayer are we gonna do?
SPEAKER_00I was gonna find just wait and you will find out.
SPEAKER_03Also, with the upcoming baby, we are going to take a small hiatus from posting. Katie has been like a a podcast Nazi, ensuring that we have one episode or two episodes a month since we started last July, June, maybe. Um, and we are going to be taking a small break just as we adjust to having a baby um and living that life. And ultimately, I imagine trying to find time to record a podcast and edit it will be hard for the both of us. So we will be back after this episode in January.
SPEAKER_00In January, in the new year. In the new year.
SPEAKER_03I think we just new guests. New, new, new.
SPEAKER_00Well, don't have high expectations. I would love to say, like, we're revamping everybody, everything.
SPEAKER_03It's completely different. We will see. Poor doggy nails, sorry.
SPEAKER_00But I mean, that's just like my maternity leave. We both just kind of want, you know, to like take off a lot of expectation and pressures with this new season. Um, we'll probably still be recording, but just like the consistent posting might not be happening. What might not be happening. Um, but we will be in touch on social media, of course. I mean, I've got nothing else to do but figure out how to be a parent and take fun pictures because that's what I like to do.
SPEAKER_03She has the cutest coming home outfit every month.
SPEAKER_00So that's where you can stay in touch with us. But yeah, anyways, exciting stuff. We will see you in the new year. And I think to finish on.
SPEAKER_03Hang on, can I say one thing before we kind of close out?
SPEAKER_00Final words.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, final words. I would like to say, especially, there's a lot going on in the world right now, and I'm sure there always is, but it feels it's really felt like in the last three or four months there's just been a lot of social turmoil, and I would say, and I I hope you'll agree with this, I think you will. Um use the anger and fear, no matter what side of the political eye you fall on, what side of the whether you're religious or not, no matter who you are, if you're listening to this, I hope that maybe this comes across. But instead of getting angry on social media or just getting so caught up in the the news cycle, use that energy, that anger you have, and go talk to somebody you disagree with. Go talk to somebody who maybe you haven't talked to in a long time, who maybe seems lonely or like an outsider or an outcast.
SPEAKER_00Or just listen.
SPEAKER_03Or just listen. Practice and practice on how to listen and listen again to people maybe you don't agree with on one side or the other because ultimately um Well, Jesus will tell you he came to divide and he did. He also came to um he he listened to people, and that's how he got to their hearts, and that's how he changed them. Um, by listening to them and by loving them. And I think that's really important for us to do.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. We're gonna be learning a lot about listening in the next couple months. So pray for us. Pray for us. We will be praying for you. Um, I'm gonna end with a litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Joe and I have been doing, if you've ever heard of it, like a Marian consecration.
SPEAKER_03That's right.
SPEAKER_00It's like a 33-day Marian consecration. It's just something that you do for a month prior to like a Marian feast day, and you're basically consecrating yourself to Mary and um trusting that by doing so you grow closer to her son and like see her son with a new love and fondness, the same that like the mother of Jesus would have for the love and fondness of him. So I don't know, that could be a whole other podcast episode, but to shorten it, we will just pray her litany. It is a call and response. So Joe and I will do that. If you feel inclined to participate, then please do so. But we will start in the name of the Father, in the Son of the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen. Lord have mercy on us.
SPEAKER_03Lord have mercy on us.
SPEAKER_00Oh Christ. I mean the same thing. Christ have mercy on us. Lord have mercy on us.
SPEAKER_03Christ hear us.
SPEAKER_00Christ graciously hear us. God the Father of heaven.
SPEAKER_03Have mercy on us. I can't see, it's far away.
SPEAKER_00Oh my goodness. Sorry, this was supposed to be reverent.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_00God the Son, Redeemer of the world.
SPEAKER_03Have mercy on us.
SPEAKER_00God the Holy Spirit.
SPEAKER_03Have mercy on us.
SPEAKER_00Holy Trinity, one God.
SPEAKER_01Have mercy on us.
SPEAKER_00Hail Mary.
SPEAKER_01Holy Mary Mary. Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Holy Mother of God.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Holy Virgin of Virgins.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mother of Christ.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mother of the Church.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mother of mercy.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mother of divine grace. Pray for us. Mother of hope.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mother most pure.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mother most chaste.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mother Invalid. Pray for us. Mother undefiled.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mother most amiable.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mother most admirable.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mother of good counsel.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mother of our Creator.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mother of our Savior.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Virgin most prudent.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Virgin most venerable.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Virgin most renowned.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Virgin most powerful.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Virgin most merciful.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Virgin most faithful.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mirror of justice.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Seat of wisdom.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Cause of our joy.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Spiritual vessel.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Vessel of honor.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Singular vessel of devotion.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Mystical rose.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Tower of David.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Tower of Ivory.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00House of Gold.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Ark of the Covenant.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Gate of Heaven. Pray for us. Morning Star.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Health of the sick.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Refuge of sinners.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Comfort of migrants.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Comfort of the afflicted.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Help of Christians.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Queen of Angels.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Queen of Patriarchs.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Queen of Prophets.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Queen of Apostles.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Queen of martyrs.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Queen of Confessors.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Queen of Virgins.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Queen of all saints.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Queen conceived without original sin.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Queen assumed into heaven.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Queen of the most holy rosary. Pray for us. Queen of families. Pray for us. Queen of peace.
SPEAKER_01Pray for us.
SPEAKER_00Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.
SPEAKER_01Spare us, O Lord.
SPEAKER_00Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.
SPEAKER_01Graciously hear us, O Lord.
SPEAKER_00Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.
SPEAKER_01Have mercy on us.
SPEAKER_00Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be way worthy of the promises of Christ.
SPEAKER_01Let us pray.
SPEAKER_00Grant we beseech you, Lord, God, that we, your servants, may rejoice in continual health of mind and body, and by the glorious intercession of Blessed Mary of our Virgin, may we be delivered from the present sorrow to delight and joy eternal through Christ our Lord. Amen. And in the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Amen. Sorry that that was a little patchy, but thank you for praying for us. And then also, if you think of us on October 7th, that is our the feast of um uh Our Lady of the Rosary.
SPEAKER_03Yep, that's our consecration.
SPEAKER_00That is our consecration.
SPEAKER_03And October 18th is the baby.
SPEAKER_00October 18th is when baby is due. Hopefully sometime before then.
SPEAKER_03Thanks for listening.
SPEAKER_00Yes, thank you. We've loved this past year. It's been awesome. It's already been a great like start to the Burr months. I feel like the the year starts with the Burr months for me. So I'm like, it's been a great start to the year, but it's almost the end of the year. So I guess that's what I'm trying to say is it's been a great start to the end of the year. Um, and we will see you next year with lots and lots to share.
SPEAKER_03With the Yuri months. Goodbye, y'all.
SPEAKER_00And let's keep running together.