What God is Not

This week Mother Natalia reflects on a talk she recently gave at the Byzantine Young Adult convocation on the monastic heart of Mary. She specifically reflects on how Mary lived out the three evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience. She also gives examples of how these counsels can be lived out by priests, monastics, and lay people.
References:
Orientale Lumen by St. Pope John Paul II
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This week Mother Natalia uses a quote from Elder Porphyrios as a jumping off point to talk about relinquishing control that evil has over us and to allow God to work through us. She then talks about recognizing the truth and gently and compassionately proclaiming the truth to others.
References:
Wounded by Love by Elder Porphyrios
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This week Fr. Michael talks about a conversation he had with a pilot about the beauty of nature that is seen as the pilot flies the plane. Fr. Michael then connects the beauty of nature with seeing the True Light that is God.
References:
Theodochos
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Wounded by Love by Elder Porphyrios
Reflection on the We Have Seen the True Light prayer
A Simple Byzantine Breviary by Fr. Joel Barstad
Rejoice O Virgin Theotokos by Fr. Joel Barstad

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This week we're joined by special guests Jess Allen and Fr. Chris Seith. Jess talks about intentionally practicing liturgical living. She gives examples of what that looks like practically and how it could be different in your family life vs her family life.

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This week Mother Natalia gives some examples of how to go to confession, specifically in the Byzantine tradition. Fr. Michael outlines some practicalities from the priest's point of view and what you will hear the priest say in confession. Mother Natalia gives an example of what it might look like to go to confession when it's the parish confession time and so you don't have tons of time for interaction with the priest. The second example is when you go to confession in the context of spiritual direction, or retreat, or a scheduled confession where the priest has much more time to listen.
References:
Fr. Damien Ference on NPR
Life Hacks: Going to Confession
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