Year Zero

John and I continue to read and comment on Rules for Radicals This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus in hades:* How He descended into hades with great power, at which hades trembled;* How the evil spirits, who were then lords of hades, fled before His Face;* How the souls of the righteous ancestors and prophets overwhelmingly rejoiced at His coming. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus in hades:* How His plan for salvation is all-abundant, encompassing all generations and all ages from the beginning to the end;* How He came to earth in the flesh, not only for the sake of those who lived on earth then and for the sake of those who would live, but also for those who had already lived;* How He, while His lifeless body lay in the tomb, descended into hades with His soul and announced salvation and redemption to the fettered. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus in death:* How there lay in the grave the lifeless body of Him Who, while living, gave life to the dead;* How against Him, even in death, there raged the hatred of His enemies;* How His disciples locked themselves in a house for fear of the Jews (John 20:19). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus in death:* How His body lay peacefully in a grave;* How He descended in spirit to the souls in hades in order to redeem the souls of the forefathers. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus in death:* How His body was taken down from the Cross by Joseph of Arimathea;* How Joseph and Nicodemus wrapped the body of the Lord in a pure linen cloth, anointed Him with spices, and placed Him in a new tomb;* How faithful and unafraid were these two distinguished men in the midst of Christ’s many enemies and amidst general fear and denials. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

We finish reading The Life of Saint Pachomios This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus in death:* How darkness encompassed everything;* How fear entered into everyone present beneath the Cross;* How the frightened centurion on guard cried out: Truly this was the Son of God! (Matthew 27:54);* How the prophecy of our Lord’s death was fulfilled. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus in death:* How all of nature trembled when He gave up the spirit, as though to protest against this criminal act of the race of men;* How the earth quaked, the sun was darkened, the rocks were split, the veil of the temple was rent, and the graves were opened. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus in death:* How He Who raised the dead hung on the Cross, a lifeless body;* How He died for our sake, so that we would have more abundant life, and more abundant truth about immortal life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus crucified on the Cross:* How He used the last breath of life and saved a thief on the Cross;* How He commended His soul into the hands of the Father: Father, into Thy hands I commend My Spirit (Luke 23:46). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the All-holy Virgin Mary:* How she served God for eleven years in the Temple in humility, obedience and devotion;* How she served God in her chamber in Nazareth, in humility, obedience and devotion;* How in humility, obedience and devotion she received the Divine Annunciation from the Archangel Gabriel. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus crucified on the Cross:* Counting the drops of His All-holy Blood and counting my sins;* Counting His painful sighs, and counting the mindless days of my laughter. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

John and I continue reading and commentary of Rules for Radicals. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus crucified on the Cross:* How His compassionate love for mankind did not diminish because of His sufferings;* How, with love, He offered comfort to His mother, commending John to her as a son in place of Himself;* How He prayed with love to the Father for mankind: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do (Luke 23:24). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus crucified on the Cross:* How infinite was His sorrow for mankind blinded by sin;* How His thoughts on the Cross were directed more to His Heavenly Father than to Himself;* How His concerns on the Cross were directed more to mankind than to Himself;* How, even on the Cross, He was certain of His victory and Resurrection. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus crucified on the Cross:* His head, sorely wounded by the thorny wreath;* His eyes, closed from pain;* His mouth, dry from thirst. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus crucified on the Cross:* How blood flowed from His hands and dripped to the ground;* How blood flowed from His feet and dripped to the ground;* How blood flowed from beneath His ribs and dripped to the ground. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus on the Cross:* How He suffered in agony on the Cross;* How He was given vinegar and gall to drink when He said He was thirsty;* How those men beneath the Cross, insensitive in their selfishness, did not care about Him but were vying for His garments. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus, mocked on the Cross:* How they wrote this epithet above his head: King of the Jews (Matthew 27:37, Mark 15:26, Luke 23:38);* How those passing by scorned Him, shaking their heads and reviling Him;* How even the thief on the cross reviled Him;* How through the centuries the persecutors of Christians have scorned Him. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus on Golgotha:* How the soldiers removed His garments, and He remained silent and did not defend Himself;* How they nailed Him to the wood with spikes, and He remained silent and did not defend Himself;* How with uproar and tumult they raised the Cross from the ground and placed it upright, and the Lord remained silent. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

I invited Buck Johnson of Counterflow on to have a nice relaxing conversation about things revealed and how it plays into our daily lives and worldview. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

Continue reading The Life of Saint Pachomios cop 34-43. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus, how He carried the Cross to Golgotha:* How He quietly and patiently carried His Cross;* How they took the Cross from Him and gave it to Simon of Cyrene; how Simon carried the Cross, walking after Christ;* How He looked upon the women of Jerusalem, who were weeping, and said to them: Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for Me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children (Luke 23:28), declaring by this His victory and the defeat of His murderers. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus when Pilate brought Him out before the Jews:* How the Lord was flogged by the Roman soldiers;* How, after being scourged, He was mocked by them; they placed a thorny crown upon His head and dressed Him in a purple robe;* How Pilate presented Him to the Jews, saying, Behold the man! (John 19:5). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus before Pilate:* How the Lord was silent before Pilate;* How Judas then threw the pieces of silver into the Temple and hanged himself;* And again, how Pilate questioned and the Lord was silent. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus at the judgment before Herod:* How Herod at first was very glad to see Jesus—not out of any spiritual need, but out of curiosity;* How Herod had hoped to see a miracle from Jesus, but was mistaken in that, for the Lord remained silent to all of his questions;* How Herod ridiculed the Lord and clothed Him in a beautiful garment. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

Ben Dixon of the Union of Orthodox Journalists joined me to discuss the UOC and OCU schism, the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, and Orthodoxy in America. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus before Pilate:* How the Jews accused Him before Pilate and how He did not say anything;* How He did not reply, even to Pilate’s questions;* How our Lord speaks when it is necessary to defend men from the devil, from sin, from disease and death, but is silent when He Who is the Defender of Men is asked to protect Himself from man. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord at judgment before Caiaphas:* How the Jewish high priest detains our Lord in his home, surrounded by men almost as wretched as he himself;* How Peter sits outside in the courtyard by the fire; and how, before the servants, he denies our Lord Jesus three times;* How even today it happens that some Christians, out of fear of the world, deny the Lord in this manner: they also purport not to be Christians, not to be familiar with the commandments of the Lord, and not to be concerned about the Lord. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus at judgment before Caiaphas:* How the Jewish elders searched everywhere for false witnesses;* How their witnesses did not agree together;* How our Lord listened to all the slanders and remained silent without anger. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus in the hands of God’s enemies gathered together in the home of Caiaphas:* How all of them hurriedly sought false witnesses, for they wanted by whatever means to kill Christ;* How they spat in His face and struck Him on the face;* How our Lord endured all with unspeakable dignity and without anger. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane:* How He repeatedly commanded the disciples to watch and pray to God;* How He rose three times from His sweat-inducing prayer, returned to the disciples and found that they were asleep;* How they were all overcome by temptation because they forsook their Teacher and fled, for they were not prepared to overcome their fear of men;* How we, too, become lazy and are not vigilant and do not pray to God, for when temptation comes we forsake the Lord Christ. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus at prayer in Gethsemane:* How He falls on His face and prays three times, O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me (Matthew 26:39), and again, Thy will be done (Matthew 26:42);* How He sweated at prayer, And His sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground (Luke 22:44);* How all of this was because of you and me, because of my sins and your sins, and for the sake of my salvation and your salvation. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Mystery of Communion as a life-giving cure for the soul and body:* As a cure that heals and cleanses the soul from sinful maladies, and restores it to life;* As a cure that heals and purifies the body from lust and vice, and restores it to life;* As a cure that enlivens a man and makes him a healthy member of the immortal Body of Christ. But if a man will remain a corrupt member to the end, eventually he will be cut off and cast aside. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Mystery of Communion as the Mystery of the Perfection of Love:* Because, on the part of Christ, it means giving completely of Himself to His faithful;* Because of this, Christ is received with faith and trust on the part of the faithful;* Because of this, it leads to the joyful, fruitful and saving union of God with man. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Mystery of Communion as the presence of our Lord Jesus in the Church on earth:* As the fulfillment of His promise: Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).* As His constant support of the faithful, to whom He said: Without me, ye can do nothing (John 15:5). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus at the Mystical Supper:* How He chose bread and wine, two ordinary elements of nourishment, and through them instituted His visible and invisible bond with the Church until the end;* How the Mystical Supper has been preserved until today, and how it will be preserved until the end of time as the Mystery of Communion;* How every day, and almost every hour, somewhere in the world, a priest consecrates the bread and wine and receives them as the Body and Blood of Christ. What a wonderful vision that is! This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

John and I continue reading and commentary on the old revolutionary text, Rule for Radicals. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus Christ at the Mystical Supper:* How he told His disciples that one of them would betray Him;* How after all that He had done for Judas and after washing his feet and indicating that He knew his intention to betray, Judas remained obstinate in his desire to sell his Teacher and his own soul for silver;* How our Lord was saddened at Judas’s destruction and downfall, as He is with the destruction and downfall of those who betray Him and His Church throughout all the ages till the end, all of which He foresees with His All-seeing Spirit. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

Reading The Life of Saint Pachomios Chp 24-33 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus at the Mystical Supper:* How He washed the feet of His disciples, and how by this act He especially taught them humility and love for one another;* How Peter, one of the most faithful, was ashamed and forbade the Lord to wash his feet;* How Judas, the unbeliever and traitor, was not ashamed and did not forbid the Lord to wash his feet;* How, today also, the faithful receive countless blessings from God with embarrassment and shame, but the faithless receive the same without embarrassment or shame, and even murmur against God. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus as the Bread of Life: I am that Bread of Life (John 6:48):* As the Bread by which the soul is nourished and lives;* As the Bread by which the mind is nourished and enlightened;* As the Bread by which the heart is nourished and ennobled. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus as the Vine: I am the true Vine (John 15:1):* As the Vine from which sprouted numerous fruitful branches in the persons of the saints;* As the Vine Who with His sap, that is, His blood, waters and feeds all the branches with Himself;* As the Vine from Whom the Divine Church has branched out on earth and in the heavens;* As the Vine from Whom I too should not separate the branch of my life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus in the boat with His disciples (Matthew 8:24).* How a tempest arose while the Lord slept;* How the frightened disciples woke Him and sought His help;* How the Lord rebuked the disciples because of their little faith, and calmed the sea and the winds;* How I need not be afraid of any tempest in life if I keep the Lord in my heart as at the rudder of a boat. (The body—the boat; the heart—the rudder). This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

Fabianism’s plans for India and South Africa. How the global socialist movement planted its roots for an American hegemony. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus sitting in the boat, teaching the people on the shore (Mark 4:1).* How a great multitude of people crowded around to hear Him, so that He had to enter the boat;* How He taught them in parables about the sower, the seed and the ground, i.e., by those comparisons and examples which, day in and day out, have been repeated from the beginning of the world and will be repeated until the end;* How He does not teach them with the aid of some rare and strange events, but with ordinary ones, which entered into time along with man and will exit time along with him. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

John joins me to read and comment on the book Rules for Radicals. In this episode we read The Prologue in preparation for diving into Alinsky’s work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

CONTEMPLATIONContemplate the Lord Jesus as a stumbling block:* For sinful self-conceit, i.e., for the perverted mind of mankind, which thinks in a sensual and fleshy way and opposes the mind of Christ;* For sinful self-love, i.e., for the perverted heart of man which does not accept in itself either the love of God or the love of man;* For sinful self-will, i.e., for the perverted will of man, which opposes the will of God. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe

Reading The Life of Saint Pachomios Chp 14-23 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tommysalmons.substack.com/subscribe