Deep in Scripture Radio

"Hold fast to the traditions you were taught..." 2 Thessalonians 2:15 - Marcus Grodi and Mike Peters

In this episode, Marcus Grodi and former Evangelical campus minister Mike Peters look at 2 Thessalonians 2:15, where St. Paul admonishes his readers to stay true to the things he has told them about the Gospel. Mike shares how the Bible translations he used in his campus ministry rendered that verse, and how understanding the original intent of Paul's writing helped him better understand the difference between the kind of tradition condemned by St. Paul, and the kind of tradition to which St. Paul urged Christians to hold fast.

"I never knew you..." Matthew 7:21-23 - Marcus Grodi and Dr. Leroy Huizenga

Marcus Grodi welcomes Dr. Leroy Huizenga from the University of Mary to the program, as they take a look at Matthew 7:21-23 and Jesus' teaching about true and false disciples. They dig into the way the Sermon on the Mount is organized, and unpack the more apocalyptic sayings of Our Lord that characterize the final section of this lengthy teaching. What does it mean when Jesus tells his audience, in haunting fashion, that at the end of time, some will hear him say, "I never knew you?"

We interrupt this program... Mark 5:21-43 - Marcus Grodi

Recently, the Gospel reading for Mass included an important, unanticipated “interruption” in the life of Christ — actually a Russian nesting doll-like series of interruptions. Twice the Apostle John exclaimed that there were many more signs and wonders that Jesus did than could be contained in his or any of the Gospels. So why was it that Matthew, Mark, and Luke all felt that this interruption within an interruption within an interruption was so important they each included it in their short accounts of Jesus’ life?

2 Corinthians 7:1 and the Fear of God - Marcus Grodi and Paul Thigpen

In this episode, Marcus Grodi and Dr. Paul Thigpen discuss the concept of the Fear of God, a gift of the Holy Spirit, in the context of the clerical abuse scandals in the Church. How do we maintain a reverence and awe of the Lord that compels us to act in love and fidelity when so many influences in our lives lead us to laziness and apathy? They also look at the letter of St. Clement of Rome to the Corinthians, which was written only a short time later, to better understand how Church leaders addressed a particular crisis in a particular community.

With Jesus or Against Him? Luke 9:50 and 11:23 - Jim Anderson

Jim Anderson, CHNetwork's manager of clergy converts to Catholicism, joins Marcus Grodi to discuss a perplexing set of teachings from Jesus. In Luke 9:50, Jesus says "he that is not against you is for you," but then in Luke 11:23, Jesus says "he who is not with me is against me."  So which is it?  Are those outside the Church to be considered adversaries, or allies, or does it all depend on the context? Jim and Marcus look at the situations Jesus is referring to in these two passages, and try to get at what Our Lord is trying to teach us.

John 17, Acts 20 and Apostolic Authority - Marcus Grodi

Marcus Grodi looks at the high priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17, when Jesus prays for his apostles to be consecrated in the truth. Marcus compares this prayer to the actions of St. Paul in Acts 20, as he's preparing to depart the Church at Ephesus. St. Paul's prayer and exhortation to those presbyters have many parallels to prayer Jesus offers in the Garden of Gethsemane, and Marcus unpacks some of those connections.

John 17, Ephesians 4, and Christian Unity – Ken Hensley

Former American Baptist pastor and Catholic convert Ken Hensley joins Marcus Grodi to look at the issue of Christian unity, and what the New Testament has to say about it in the letters of St. Paul and the words of Jesus himself.

Ken Hensley is online at www.kennethhensley.com

"Create in me a clean heart..." Psalm 51 and Repentance - Matt Swaim

Matt Swaim, Communications Coordinator of The Coming Home Network and host of the Son Rise Morning Show on EWTN Radio, joins Marcus Grodi to discuss Psalm 51, repentance, and salvation. Matt grew up in the Wesleyan tradition, which understood salvation as a matter of free will, and sanctification as the perfection of the will. Marcus, on the other hand, has a background in the "once saved, always saved" Calvinist tradition. Marcus and Matt look at the character of repentance and restoration as discussed in Psalm 51, and look at how the Catholic understanding of sin, free will, repentance and grace are necessary to properly interpret this classic penitential passage of Scripture.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit."

Psalm 51:10-12

What Does it Mean to be "Partakers in the Divine Nature?" 2 Peter 1:4 - Carl Olson - Deep in Scripture

Carl Olson, Editor of Catholic World Report for Ignatius Press, joins Marcus Grodi to discuss 2 Peter 1:2-4, where St. Peter talks about the idea of becoming partakers in Jesus' divine nature.  How, exactly, is this supposed to work?  Are we invited to become 'gods' ourselves?  Certainly Mormon theologians would argue for this perspective.   Does it mean we will eventually be absorbed into the Godhead, as is taught in Buddhism?  Or is something else meant by what the Church Fathers refer to as "divinization?"

Luke 16 and the Parable of the Unjust Steward - Fr. Douglas Grandon

Marcus Grodi welcomes Fr. Douglas Grandon, a convert to Catholicism and long time friend of The Coming Home Network, to discuss Luke 16, and Jesus' parable of the unjust steward.  Tackling one of the more confusing teachings of the Bible, Marcus and Fr. Grandon try to unpack what is meant by our Lord by this cryptic story.