Word & Table

August 15 is a feast to the Virgin Mary the Roman Catholic Church, The Eastern Orthodox and for us Anglicans. But each communion celebrates a different aspect of her person. Learn about the Assumption, Dormition, and Virginity of Mary and how each points to the identity of Jesus Christ.Support us on Patreon for Member access to our special podcast series on the Gospel of JohnApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why does God rest on the Sabbath Day at creation? How does God's sabbath rest connect with our own?Support us on Patreon for Member access to our special podcast series on the Gospel of JohnApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Although God is described as light, why has our journey toward God often been described in terms of 'darkness'?Support us on Patreon for Member access to our special podcast series on the Gospel of JohnApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the origins and spiritual devotion behind a key feature of Eastern Orthodox architecture, and its correspondence in the West.Support us on Patreon for access to our series on the Gospel of JohnApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

When Jonah's preaching successfully causes the Ninevites to repent, why does he react with anger?Support us on Patreon for access to our series on the Gospel of JohnApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How did Jesus interpret the Scriptures? How did the Jews of his day? Learn about the way that First Century Jews searched for the deeper meaning in the words of the Hebrew Bible.Support us on Patreon for access to our series on the Gospel of JohnApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What is the difference between the "Priesthood of All Believers" and the particular priesthood? Are the two in contradiction or not?Support us on Patreon for access to our series on the Gospel of JohnApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What was the function of "cities of refuge" in the Old Testament? How did they fit into the ancient justice system? How did the idea evolve over time?Support us on Patreon for access to our series on the Gospel of JohnApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why does the Nativity scene look so different in Eastern Orthodox art than it does in the familiar Western manger scenes we are most familiar with?Click to view the Nativity IconSupport us on Patreon for access to more contentApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why does Jesus so often silence people who wanted to tell others that he is the messiah in the gospels? How does this fit with the evangelism of the Church?Support us on Patreon for access to more contentApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Is the Church's job to call people to repentance or to show mercy?Support us on Patreon for access to more contentApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Episode 1 of our new podcast: The Gospel of John. To hear all 30 episodes as they release, subscribe at patreon.com/wordandtable. Once you've subscribed can either listen on Patreon or add the Gospel of John to your favorite podcast app.This is a second, separate podcast for our Patreon members. Our regular Word & Table episodes will continue to release weekly for free.

Why is Thanksgiving counted as a feast day in the American Prayer Books? What does it mean to give thanks to God as we are encouraged to do in the Scriptures?Support us on Patreon for access to more contentApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Father Stephen and I have created a special podcast series for subscribers to our Patreon which will run concurrently alongside regularly scheduled Word & Table episodes. Subscribe at any of our $5, $10, or $15 per month tiers to gain full access.This new venture is a verse-by-verse deep dive into the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John is the 'theological gospel' that brings us behind the curtain to see what the gospel of Jesus Christ means at its deepest level. We have spent the last year carefully dissecting each passage of the gospel in the form of an audio commentary that we are thrilled to share with you. This is the introductory episode and we will also be releasing the first episode also as a preview of the full podcast. Here is how you can listen to the full podcast: subscribe to our Patreon account at patreon.com/wordandtable and you will get access to our Word & Table Members podcast.The Word & Table Members podcast is an exclusive feed for Patreon members, and will include the entire Gospel of John series, and more to come in the future. When you subscribe, you can then add the members-only RSS feed to your favorite podcast app, so you can get updates every time we release a new episode of the Gospel of John. Here is a guide that will help you do that.We hope that you will join us for this exciting new series! If you have questions about subscribing, please reach out to us at [email protected].

Learn about one of the great, early Bishops of Rome and how he influenced the theology of the Church and the development of the Papacy.Support us on Patreon for access to more contentApply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why was Balaam remembered in Jewish tradition, and in the New Testament as a villain, even though he did not disobey God in Numbers?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Who was Balaam and why does he get so much time devoted to him in the book of Numbers? Why was God angry with him for doing what he told him to do?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why did Moses sin when he strikes the rock to bring water? Was it simple disobedience or something deeper?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

The centerpiece of the Church's ministry on earth is making disciples by baptizing them. But did Jesus himself baptize anyone?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What does 'Son of Man' mean in the Bible and why does Jesus constantly refer to himself that way?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why does Jesus call himself 'the one who is sent?' in the Gospel of John? What does it imply about the relationship between the Father and the Son and the mission of redemption?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Speaking the truth in love means never detracting from anyone's reputation through gossip or calumny.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What was the Gospel of Luke's purpose of including the story of Jesus found in the temple by his parents? What does it reveal about the person of Christ?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Why was Jesus crucified after three years of public ministry? What were the fears and schemes that lit the fuse that led to the Cross?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Hear Gregory the Great's account of the life of St. Benedict of Nursia summarized.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn what the sisters of Bethany meant to the Early Church.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Are there different categories of sin or does the Bible consider them all equally?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn the difference between the Western and Eastern accounts of how we were corrupted by Adam's sin. Is it a substantial disagreement or only a difference of terms?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the Jewish feasts celebrated in the Old Testament and today.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Paul talks about the "third heaven" in 2 Corinthians. How many heavens are there?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the structure and purpose of the precursor to the Temple, the Tent of Meeting as described in Exodus. Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What are "works of supererogation" named in Article 14 of the Articles of Religion? What is the underlying idea behind them and what had they become by the time of the Middle Ages and why did the Reformation reject them?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the Christian perspectives on causes for war, conduct in war, and how Jesus's teachings to love enemies and turn the other cheek affect Christian outlook on wars in our time.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the concept of Wisdom and how it is understood in both the Old and New Testaments and what it has to do with Christ.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about why Jesus cast out demons and his rebuttal to the Pharisees' charge that he casts out demons using Satan's own power.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Objections to Jesus's resurrection of the dead began to arise as soon as it was proclaimed to the world. Learn how the gospels themselves intentionally addressed them.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the apocryphal backstory for Mary, the mother of God. Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about another service in Holy Week with darkness, chanting, and preparation for descending with the Lord into the gloom of Good Friday.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about Jesus's earthly "father" and how the Church has remembered and celebrated him.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What is the meaning of being ritually clean and unclean in the Old Testament? What does it have to do with our relationship to God and how does Jesus change it?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the very early Christian bishop Polycarp, who taught Irenaeus, knew the Apostle John, and was famously martyred at the end of his lifeSupport us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What was Jesus's point in driving out those selling animals and changing money at the temple in Jerusalem?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the language Jesus spoke, and why it wasn't Hebrew.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What do you do if there can be no priest or bishop present on Sunday for Holy Communion?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

How does a couple bring their marriage before the Lord if they were married outside of the Church?Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the strange case of John 7:53-8:11 and why it's set off in brackets in most translations. Learn also about what the episode says about speaking the truth in love and Jesus's words against condemnation of sinners.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about a pivotal point of the Eucharistic Prayer at Holy Communion, and how it found its way out and back into Western rites.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

What is the traditional definition of a martyr for the faith? Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the gnostic "gospel" of Thomas, its themes and message, and how it portrays Jesus.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications

Learn about the readings and themes for the 4th Sunday of Advent.Support us on Patreon:Apply for Saint Paul's House of FormationEmail usMusic by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers from Sublime Chant. Copyright GIA Publications