PODCAST

What God is Not

Father Michael O"Loughlin and Mother Natalia

A Byzantine Catholic Podcast about Divine Mystery WhatGodIsNotPodcast@gmail.com

religion & spirituality christianity

All Episodes

58:45

In the Greatness of Your Mercy

What God is Not ·

2025/02/19

This week Fr. Michael reflects on a sentence in a prayer that the priest prays during Divine Liturgy, "...in the greatness of your mercy you have brought all things out of nonexistence into being..." Fr. Michael talks about what it means for God to be mercy, to give mercy, and why God brought us into being in the first place. He reads some reflections from Archbishop Raya in the Byzantine Book of Prayer. References: Byzantine Book of Prayer from Byzantine Seminary Press Pilgrimage: We're goin...

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62:56

Word from a Poustinik: Stillness

What God is Not ·

2025/02/12

This week Mother Natalia reflects on her recent poustinia, where the Lord placed the idea of rest on her heart. She talks about the ways she can rest in her monastic life allowing God to take charge in her life. She talks about how we are all called to rest, despite labor also being important to the rest of our lives. Mother Natalia also talks about the importance of recognizing beauty in the world, and how that beauty reflects back to God. References: Fire of Mercy, Heart of the Word: Medita...

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60:20

Surrender Like St. Stephen

What God is Not ·

2025/02/05

This week Mother Natalia talks about ruptured relationships and the hurt that comes in that rupture. She talks about offering up relationships to the Lord, recognizing that healing in the relationship may not come in this life, and the desire to have union with everyone in heaven. She links this to Saints Stephen and Paul, who did not have a great relationship on this life, but now through union with God, have an amazing relationship in heaven. Special thanks to Kyle and Drew from Catholic Cr...

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60:26

The Good and Evil of Remembering

What God is Not ·

2025/01/29

This week Fr. Michael talks about anamnesis and relates it to our day-to-day life. He talks about the origins of anamnesis in Liturgy and how we can remember the good God has done in our individual prayers. He also talks about epiclesis and the interplay with anamnesis. Fr. Michael talks about how anamnesis can be twisted and used in an evil way, not just in the good way we encounter during Liturgy or in our day to day lives.References:GematriaFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and ...

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55:09

The Gift of Receiving

What God is Not ·

2025/01/22

This week we start out with a mini-topic on the icon of the Trinity. Then for the main topic, Fr. Michael reflects on a prayer that is said during matins where we beg God to save us through the intercession of the holy martyrs. He relates the intercession of the martyrs to gift giving. Fr. Michael talks about everything surrounding gift giving, both the intention of the giver and the vulnerability of the receiver. He talks about how the saints and martyrs give to us by praying for us and how ...

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57:10

Tolkien-ology with Fr. Chris Seith Pt. 2

What God is Not ·

2025/01/15

We're joined again this week by special guest, Fr. Chris. Fr. Chris is back with us to talk about Tolkien and Lord of the Rings. Fr. Chris talks about the difference between authority and power; mind and forming matter vs mind over matter; and the use of technology in our lives and how we can feel ourselves being controlled by it instead of us controlling technology.References:Tolkien-ology with Fr. Chris Seith Pt. 1Rekindling Wonder by Fr. Chris SeithBeginning to Pray by Metropolitan Anthony...

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62:46

Tolkien-ology with Fr. Chris Seith Pt. 1

What God is Not ·

2025/01/08

This week we're joined by special guest, Fr. Chris Seith. Mother Natalia and Fr. Chris talk about Aragorn's Today is Not that Day speech and how it relates to the spiritual life. Fr. Chris talks about some of Tolkien's intentions in writing the book, how technology plays a role in the book, and how we can learn from that.References:Searchers of the Lost - Fr. Nathan's PodcastFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's Twitter...

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62:22

The Future of Good Memories

What God is Not ·

2025/01/01

This week Fr. Michael reflects on nostalgia, and the ways it can be manifest in both good and bad ways. He talks about how nostalgia is a way of thinking about the transcendent that we experienced in the past, which is ultimately our longing for heaven.Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a textSupport the show

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43:20

A Zealous Penance

What God is Not ·

2024/12/25

This week Fr. Michael reflects on Psalm 63, which he has felt the Lord calling him to give as a penance in confession. Fr. Michael walks through some of the verses in the Psalm and contemplates some ways we can link the passages to our daily life.References:Psalm 63 (or 62 if you're in the Septuagint)Unwisting LegionPilgrimage:We're going on pilgrimage! You can find all the details including dates, itinerary, and cost at the 206tours website. Want to hear this directly from Fr. Michael and Mo...

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53:30

Have Yourself a Maddie Little Christmas

What God is Not ·

2024/12/18

This week Mother Natalia and Fr. Michael reflect on the entrance of their friend and spiritual daughter, Maddie, into Christ the Bridegroom Monastery. Mother Natalia then reflects on one of her favorite stichera that we sing during the Nativity, and encourages us to reflect on it in this week leading up to the celebration of Nativity.References:Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de SalesFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on...

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60:08

Untwisting Legion

What God is Not ·

2024/12/11

This week Fr. Michael reflects on a passage in Luke where Jesus encounters the man living with the legion of demons, which he then casts out. He talks about how the devil twists the truth and beauty and the world, perverting it which leads to sin. He sees this both in the man inhabited by the demons but also in the townspeople. Fr. Michael talks about ways we can also have this same distortion in our lives, even if we're not possessed by demons.References:Luke 8: 26-39The Real Meaning of Luci...

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65:51

Don't Trust the First Mile

What God is Not ·

2024/12/04

This Mother Natalia talks about her recent experience on a long run and how that compares to the spiritual life. She breaks down her run into three parts, each of them equating to us persevering in holiness.References:Rekindling Wonder by Fr. Chris SeithAkathist of ThanksgivingFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a textSupport the show

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61:03

Jealousy in the Household

What God is Not ·

2024/11/27

This week Fr. Michael takes inspiration from Matthew's gospel to talk about Jesus not being accepted as a prophet in his own home. Fr. Michael takes this further to talk about the ways we can be jealous of others, even of the good that they're doing. He talks about living with hardship and trying to not be jealous of others who are having different experiences than us.References:Protoevangelium of JamesHot Mess Hot TakesMatt 13: 53-58Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe...

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46:49

Bride for the Day

What God is Not ·

2024/11/20

This week Mother Natalia shares something that she asked for in prayer. She shares how that impacted her as she tried to remember that as she went about her day. Mother Natalia makes a suggestion to us on how to incorporate this into our lives as well.Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a textSupport the show

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59:30

Ever Increasing Hope

What God is Not ·

2024/11/13

This week Fr. Michael unpacks two scripture passages that many find hard to receive, especially with our knowledge that God is good and loving.References:Episode with AbigailMark 11: 12-25, the passage about the fig treeExodus 7:13-14, the passage on the hardening of Pharaoh's heartEpisodes on fear of God:Be Not AfraidFear of the LordFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur Website...

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73:05

Why I Love Mother Natalia with Bree Solstad

What God is Not ·

2024/11/06

This week we're joined by special guest, Bree Solstad. Bree is a new member of the podcast team and works as our video editor.In today's episode, Bree surprises Mother Natalia by telling her why she loves her. This conversation expands more into how we see Christ in one another, how we grow in His image and likeness, and how Bree and her husband work together to create each video.References:What Tragedy is Not with Bree SolstadFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on ...

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76:45

What Tragedy is Not with Bree Solstad

What God is Not ·

2024/10/30

This week we're joined by special guest, Bree Solstad. Bree recently joined the podcast team as our video editor. Thanks Bree!Mother Natalia, Bree, and Fr. Michael talk about responding to loss. This can be as the person who experiences the loss or as someone empathizing with the person who experienced the loss. They talk about childlikeness in our relationship with God, and the beauty of the Sacrament of Confession.References:Bree's Interview on Edify PodcastBree's Interview with Keith Neste...

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70:56

#SEEK and Follow Me

What God is Not ·

2024/10/23

This week Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia talk about SEEK and their theme "Follow Me." They reflect on their experience at SEEK last year as well as the patron saint for SEEK25, St. Joan of Arc.Follow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodreads GroupFr. Michael's TwitterChrist the Bridegroom MonasteryOur WebsiteOur NonprofitSend us a textSupport the show

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65:22

We Bought an Outreach

What God is Not ·

2024/10/16

This week we're joined by special guests Sandy and Therese. Sandy and Fr. Michael talk a little about Humanality, a group that Sandy helps run. Then Fr. Michael, Sandy, and Therese share about the forming of the outreach from the Proto-Cathedral, what brought them there, and what has kept them there. There's good discussion on community and family.References:Leaning In (the episode on fasting)HumanalityFollow and Contact Us!Follow us on Instagram and FacebookWe're on YouTube!Join our Goodread...

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58:01

Accepting the Mess You Are

What God is Not ·

2024/10/09

This week Mother Natalia uses this episode to prepare for a talk she's giving. She talks about accepting the state in which you find yourself. She uses some quotes from St. Faustina to help illustrate the point of keeping close to God in the midst of your struggles. Mother Natalia talks about accepting the will of God in the present moment, even when you don’t like the situation you find yourself in.We're joined this week by audience of one, Abigail! References:He Leadeth Me by Fr. Walter Cis...

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What God is Not

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