All Things Catholic with Dr. Edward Sri

“God loves us with all the passion of a true love,” says Pope Benedict. Discover how the theological background of the word ‘passion” can help us encounter God’s love for us in a deeper way this Lent. Special give-away in this episode. To enter a drawing for a signed copy of Edward Sri's new book "No Greater Love," email topic ideas for future episodes to: info.edwardsri@gmail.com  

Enter the very heart of Lent this year - not just Lent’s devotions and sacrifices.  For Lent isn’t about simply giving up something like chocolate. It’s more about creating space in our souls to encounter God at a deeper level.

Does love really exist? Am I worthy of love? We hunger for a deeper love than what the secular world has offered us.  This week, Edward Sri interviews Frances Hopkins of the Culture Project in Sydney, Australia, who shares how God’s amazing love can still penetrate the thickest darkness in our secular age.

“I should be free to decide for myself my own spiritual values and make up my own morality. I don’t need a pope telling me what to do!” How would you respond to these challenges? This week is the perfect time to ponder these questions as the Church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, remembering the teaching authority Jesus gave Peter and his successors, the popes. Edward Sri unpacks six Biblical keys for explaining the papacy.  

We all sin and fall short. But in those moments of unfaithfulness, will we be faithful at least in repentance? Faithful in admitting our faults, saying sorry and intentionally trying to be better next time? Though Peter denied Jesus three times, he models true repentance - and the path to new life.  

Was Jesus having second thoughts & thinking of backing out when he prayed, "Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass?" Jesus goes on to model how to respond when God invites us to do what's difficult - when we face our own Gethsemane moments. In this episode, Edward Sri shares from his new book, "No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk through Christ's Passion" (Ascension Press)

What was Mary thinking when she heard Simeon say to her, “A sword will pierce your soul also”?   Edward Sri unpacks the Gospel account of Christ's Presentation in the Temple and helps us enter into this feast this week.  

  “Anyone can say, ‘I love you.’ Some people might sincerely mean it. Few people, however, have the virtue to truly seek what is best for you and be a committed friend.” This week, Edward Sri unpacks Aristotle’s three kinds of friendship—and why knowing the difference can make or break our friendships, communities, dating relationships and marriages. For more on this topic, see the free articles on virtue at edwardsri.com  

Marriage is hard. But it’s right there in the hard that God wants to bring out something beautiful.  Join Beth and Edward Sri with International TOB speaker Damon Owens for a conversation about the deeper love that can be found in the real struggles of marriage. Learn more about Damon’s ministry at joytob.org Learn more about Beth’s ministry at borntodothis.org

“I said to her, ‘What if we stopped having sex?’ It wasn’t a serious proposal. But she started to cry. It tapped into something deep in her heart. I saw in her eyes that she saw me as a man that I wasn’t yet, but a man that I wanted to be.”   International TOB speaker Damon Owens shares how his relationship with his wife was completely transformed when they realized the emptiness of the world’s view of sexuality - and found joy in God’s plan. Learn more about Damon’s ministry at joytob.org  

Mary's world was turned upside down: a Roman census, an unexpected move in her last trimester and giving birth in such poor conditions. How could this be the King? She might have been wondering where was God in the midst of all this suffering? 

What was that first Christmas really like? Was Joseph really a carpenter?  Was Jesus born in a stable, a house or a cave? Join Edward Sri on location in Israel as he discusses the Christmas story from an ancient Jewish perspective. He interviews his favorite Jewish guide - a man full of faith and passionate about helping Christians see their own faith through ancient Jewish eyes.

The goal of Advent isn’t checking off boxes: I did this devotion, made this sacrifice, did this activity. The goal is becoming like the child Jesus we await at Christmas, who is the Jesus of the Cross. Edward Sri explores the many Biblical connections between Christmas and the Cross and how those insights can help us finish our Advent well. A successful Advent is about becoming more like Christ, even in one small way: more patient with our kids, kinder to our spouse, more generous with our friends, more humble with our coworkers.   

Everything Catholics believe about Mary is not meant to focus primarily on her.  It’s meant to help us understand and love Jesus more. That’s especially the case with her Immaculate Conception. Edward Sri unpacks the Biblical foundations for the Immaculate Conception as he shares insights from his newest book on every key New Testament reference to Mary: Rethinking Mary in the New Testament (Ignatius Press)

Beth & Edward Sri share from their successes…and failures in living Advent well.  Personal devotions, family traditions and a spirit of sacrifice are key to keeping a spiritual focus on what matters most in this season.

Do you have the virtue of gratitude? With your spouse? With your friends, family and God?  Not just saying “thank you” every once in a while, but the consistent disposition to first recognize the blessings others bestow on you and then express thanks to them.  St. Thomas Aquinas offers three key aspects for living the virtue of gratitude.

Your friend says, “I can make up my own truth…What’s true for you may not be true for me!” How do you respond? How do you engage people who embrace Pilate’s relativistic philosophy of ‘What is Truth?’

The devil attacks us with voices of discouragement, self-condemnation, and rationalization to keep us from facing the truth about ourselves and experiencing God's mercy and healing power.  Learn how to recognize these false voices of the enemy and learn how to rebuke them.  This episode is based on Edward Sri’s recent filming in Jerusalem for his new series, “No Greater Love: A Biblical Walk through Christ’s Passion” filmed on location at the sacred sites from Good Friday. https://shop.ascensionpress.com/pages/no-greater-love-optin  

Men and women are different. Discover how that impacts almost everything marriage, including conversation, emotional connection & sexual intimacy. This special edition is Part 2 of Edward Sri’s presentation featured in last week’s episode.

A young mom once said to me, “No one every told me how hard marriage would be!”  But it’s through the challenges and messiness of marriage that God wants to shape us the most.