Best Benedictine Sisters Podcasts (2024)

1
Waste It All on Jesus | Season Three Finale 22:31

9M ago22:31

22:31

Jesus is back at dinner again with Martha, her sister Mary, and Lazarus. There's a growing sense of doom in the air. It's the feeling we all know too well - that something is about to go terribly wrong, and we're not sure what. Mary takes out a jar of ointment, and everyone would have been impressed when they saw it, because it was worth a year's w…

1
The King Wants to See Your Talents | S3 E22 31:50

9M ago31:50

31:50

Jesus has been headed to Jerusalem: determined, relentless, and unstoppable. He has been telling anyone who would listen that he is going there to die, but no one is listening. Just before they reach the top of the Mount of Olives with a view of Jerusalem he stops to tell them a strange parable. This week Tom Hoopes dives into the Parable of the Ta…

1
Two Surprises on the Jericho Road | S3 E21 31:44

10M ago31:44

31:44

Jesus is headed to Jerusalem and nothing is going to stop him- certainly not on the rough and dangerous Jericho Road. A multitude joins Jesus on the path, and as they proceed to Jericho a crazed voice calls out to him: "Son of David, have mercy on me!" In the city, a little man hangs out of a tall tree staring at him. And suddenly, Jesus isn't so u…

1
The Lowest Place | S3 E20 31:59

10M ago31:59

31:59

"They are going to kill me," Jesus told his disciples. It was his third great prediction of how it was all going to end: "We are going to Jerusalem where they will condemn me to death." At this moment James, John, and their mother decided to approach Jesus and demand places of honor in the Kingdom. Jesus's response was not what they were expecting.…

1
Jesus Raises Lazarus (and His Sisters) | S3 E19 31:37

10M ago31:37

31:37

Jesus is devastated. His friend is dead. He is crying. He stands before Lazarus' tomb and cries out. Was his voice startlingly strong, or broken with the pain that had finally reached a fever pitch? We don't know how he said it, but we do know what he said: "Lazarus, come forth." In this episode, Tom Hoopes explores Jesus' relationship with the fam…

1
What the Rich Young Man Lost | S3 E18 28:33

10M ago28:33

28:33

Pope Benedict XVI said, "The world offers you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness." We're going to explore just that in this episode as we read the story of the Rich young Man, which is a hinge story in the gospel. One of the big important turning points in the gospel. And we'll even touch base with Ted Turner be…

1
Is God Even Listening? Prayer Parables | S3 E17 33:10

10M ago33:10

33:10

Jesus has told us all along how loving and caring our Father is and how terrible sin is. But in the parables of the Persistent Widow, and the Pharisee and the Publican, He casts God as uncaring and indifferent in the parable anyway. Then he shows us an unrighteous, righteous man and a righteous sinner. He wants to do is powerfully put across how so…

1
Jesus’ Marriage Revolution | S3 E16 30:29

11M ago30:29

30:29

The Pharisees try to trip Jesus up by asking him about divorce and marriage. Jesus answers in words that have caused a lot of trouble ever since. "Where God has joined together, let no man put asunder." So we're going to look at divorce and marriage today. I'll try to make the case that what Jesus did here was actually a very freeing thing. I'll ev…

1
Parables of Salvation | S3 E15 31:57

11M ago31:57

31:57

God is so unfair. Jesus tells three parables today, and each one shows God being unfair. What is up, for instance, with the shrewd steward who cheats his boss and then gets praised for it? What's up with a rich man who enjoys food and drink like you and I do? And Jesus doubles down and then quadruples down on the torment he deserves for eternity. T…

1
Painful Truths About the Prodigal Son | S3 E14 31:49

11M ago31:49

31:49

Today in three Parables of Divine Mercy, including the big one, The Prodigal Son. I always think I know about the prodigal son already. When I hear someone about to talk about the prodigal son. If that's what you're thinking, just wait. I always get more out of hearing the same thing again and I have a couple of things that I think amount to a new …

1
The Reality of Hell (and Mercy) | S3 E13 36:19

11M ago36:19

36:19

Today we will hear Jesus, the loving Savior, the Good Shepherd, the Lord who calls us friends, talk all about hell. "Will few be saved?" someone asks him. His answer raises issues that resound to our day. Why is there a hell at all? Why would guide make a world in which people He loves end up in hell? And what about non-Catholics? Where will they e…

1
Discovering God in Nature | S3 E12 34:13

12M ago34:13

34:13

Take a long look at the grass and birds and flowers, and relax. Jesus contrasts two worldviews. One is the worldview of Mammon, the false God of wealth. The worldview that traps us in a technological bubble as anonymous wage slaves worried about our bank accounts. The other worldview is the one where we are the billionaire children of the King of t…

1
The Road to Jerusalem | S3 E11 32:21

12M ago32:21

32:21

Jesus is on his relentless road to Jerusalem. He uses the road as a school of discipleship. He warns that wealth and selfishness will dog us every step of the way. Gospel: Luke, 12 The Extraordinary Story is a podcast about the life of Jesus Christ, who entered the maze of our world to give us his Cross as a ladder up and out. The Extraordinary Sto…

1
Set Your Hand to the Plow | S3 E10 29:26

12M ago29:26

29:26

Christ tells us how to behave when we have set our hand to the plow and how to treat our families. In this episode we consider the paradoxes of Jesus. We learn that the only destruction Jesus commands is the destruction of your paradigm. That love and sentimentality are very different things. And the only fire Jesus wants to set is the fire of love…

1
The Good Samaritan and the Laity | S3 E9 36:39

1y ago36:39

36:39

Jesus sends out seventy disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God, and he tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan to answer a lawyer's trick question. The mission of the seventy and the story of a robbery victim both reveal the Church's "secret weapon" - laypeople who evangelize and minister to the world's lost and wounded. The Extraordinary Story i…

1
The Good Shepherd | S3 E8 33:22

1y ago33:22

33:22

Jesus publicly announces that he is the "Good Shepherd," but this does not mean that he is a friendly farmhand. The Pharisees know this, and they attempt to silence him. If Christ is the Shepherd, who are the sheep who "know his voice?" The Extraordinary Story is a podcast about the life of Jesus Christ, who entered the maze of our world to give us…

1
The Man Born Blind | S3 E7 33:36

1y ago33:36

33:36

Jesus gives sight to a man who has been blind from birth. This miracle brings Christ into further conflict with the Pharisees. We were all like the man born blind - lost in the maze of the world until we meet Jesus. When the blind man encounters the Lord, everything changes for him. Will we be like him, or like the Pharisees who are so entangled in…

1
The Woman Caught in Adultery | S3 E6 35:17

1y ago35:17

35:17

Parental Advisory: This episode addresses contemporary sexual problems and behaviors. Listener discretion advised. Religious leaders bring before Jesus a woman "caught in the act of adultery." They expect to trap Jesus in a moral dilemma with no solution. How does Christ respond the woman entangled in sexual sin? How does he react to the religious …

1
Revelation in the Temple | S3 E5 36:51

1y ago36:51

36:51

Christ travels from Galilee to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles, where the he declares that he himself is Living Water. What is the Feast of Tabernacles (or Feast of Booths) and why does Christ choose it as the occasion to make this announcement? What is it about calling himself "water" at this feast that makes the scribes and Pharisees want …

1
Man vs. God | S3 E4 37:34

1y ago37:34

37:34

What is sin, and why does Jesus make such a big deal about it? How should we respond to our own sin and the sin of others around us? In this episode of The Extraordinary Story, we dive into several teachings of Christ that focus on themes of sin and forgiveness. From Peter's famous question, "How many times should I forgive my brother?" to the "Par…

1
Become Like A Child | S3 E3 31:27

1y ago31:27

31:27

What is it about children that Jesus wants us to imitate? Many of us remember our childhood selves and ask: "What happened to that person full of wonder? What happened to my childhood dreams?" In this episode of The Extraordinary Story, we dive in to Matthew 18 and discuss how God, the source of endless surprise and joy, can help us to "become like…

1
A Demon Who Requires Fasting | S3 E2 31:32

1y ago31:32

31:32

In this episode, Tom Hoopes examines the story of the boy with a demon in which Jesus puts on a master class in what it takes to cast out demons through faith, hope and love.By Benedictine College

1
The Transfiguration | S3 E1 31:40

1y ago31:40

31:40

The Extraordinary Story returns. In our first episode of Season 3, Tom Hoopes discusses The Transfiguration.By Benedictine College

1
One Year of the Extraordinary Story | Season Two Finale 27:01

1y ago27:01

27:01

In the season two finale, Tom Hoopes is joined by his editor and producer, Michael Coy, to reflect on a full year of The Extraordinary Story. Topics include the origins of the podcast, favorite episodes, and hopes for the future of the church.By Benedictine College

1
First Prediction of the Passion | S2 E15 31:12

1+ y ago31:12

31:12

Today we are going to talk about Mark’s Midpoint. It’s the turning point in the Extraordinary Story that Mark is telling about Jesus Christ. Before, Jesus was a mystery man, after this he says who he is plainly and that means he must suffer and die.By Benedictine College

1
On This Rock | S2 E14 26:27

1+ y ago26:27

26:27

In this episode, Peter correctly answers Jesus's question "Who do you say I am?" and in reply, Jesus gives St. Peter a role of shocking prominence in his Church. How can such supreme authority be given to Peter? And how could it apply to so many weak popes that followed? And does it really apply also to Pope Francis?…

1
Sign of Jonah | S2 E13 26:37

1+ y ago26:37

26:37

Today we will hear Jesus promise to give one sign to his detractors: The sign of Jonah. Then he goes on to make references to another Old Testament figure: The Queen of Sheba. This language may be mystifying for us but it wasn’t for the Jewish leaders of his time. In fact, these verses show Jesus taking the gloves off in a new way – a new way that …

1
Crumbs from the Master’s Table | S2 E12 31:26

1+ y ago31:26

31:26

We often treat Jesus like a loyal dog at our heels. In truth, we are the dogs at the master's table. In this gospel passage, a Canaanite woman begs Jesus to heal her daughter. Jesus' response is not only a test of her faith, but a promise of what faith and humility delivers.By Benedictine College

1
Love Jesus, Hate Religion? | S2 E11 34:03

1+ y ago34:03

34:03

We often run into the trap of loving Jesus, but hating religion. In this Gospel passage, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees, the religious orthodoxy of His day, and shows us exactly how to critique religion without destroying it altogether.By Benedictine College

1
It is the Spirit that Gives Life | S2 E10 23:32

1+ y ago23:32

23:32

A follow up to last week's episode, where Jesus proclaimed that He was the Bread of Life. This week, Tom Hoopes reflects on Christ's revelation from John 6:63. "It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words I have spoken to you are spirit and life."By Benedictine College

1
I Am the Bread of Life | S2 E9 25:51

1+ y ago25:51

25:51

Jesus has performed miracles. He has conquered demons, challenged civic and religious authority, and called His apostle, Peter, out into the storm. This week, on The Extraordinary Story, Jesus utters perhaps the most controversial and transformative statement in the Gospels.By Benedictine College

1
Step Out Into the Storm | S2 E8 31:50

1+ y ago31:50

31:50

What do you do when the wind is raging? When you're caught in a storm, and suddenly you see Christ walking on the water? What do you do when He calls out to you? Do you hunker down and go where the wind takes you? Do you grit your teeth and wait for the end? Or do you step out onto the waves and stride into the storm? That's the question we face th…

1
Multiplying Fishes & Loaves | S2 E7 28:52

1+ y ago28:52

28:52

Today we're going to talk about the multiplication of the loaves, a story that is told in all four gospels because it made such a huge impression on the apostles. The story has enormous ramifications for the faith in general and for us in particular, in the drama of the gospel story. It's this watershed moment where the question of who Jesus is bec…

1
Jesus Sends the Apostles Two By Two | S2 E6 29:19

1+ y ago29:19

29:19

After a last visit home to Nazareth Jesus sends his apostles out two by two with very specific instructions those very specific instructions can help each of us break out of our own self obsession.By Benedictine College

1
Jesus, Interrupted | S2 E5 28:36

1+ y ago28:36

28:36

A woman with a hemorrhage has faith that if she only touches Jesus' garment, she will be healed. We must grasp for the same level of faith.By Benedictine College

1
The Gerasene Demoniac | S2 E4 37:05

1+ y ago37:05

37:05

Jesus casts the demonic Legion into a drove of swine. Your host, Tom Hoopes, shares some common myths about the devil, and then shares a personal story about the demonic world and the importance of forgiveness.By Benedictine College

1
Jesus Brings the Storm | S2 E3 28:14

1+ y ago28:14

28:14

This week on The Extraordinary Story, we look at the story of Jesus Christ calming the storm. But you could see this story as Jesus Christ bringing the storm. We'll see how the story sheds light on divinity of Christ and how each of the last three popes applied its lessons to the church in our time.By Benedictine College

1
The Parables of the Kingdom | S2 E2 37:29

1+ y ago37:29

37:29

This week on The Extraordinary Story, we will look at the parables of the kingdom and compare them to the church today. You may have noticed what I have noticed, and that weeds have choked the life of the kingdom in so many areas of the church. But let's also notice how great the results are. Whenever one of us sows a mustard seed of faith.…

1
The Death of John the Baptist | S2 E1 34:04

1+ y ago34:04

34:04

Welcome back to The Extraordinary Story, a podcast about the life of Christ. We pick up from last season with the beheading of John the Baptist. John was trapped in a dungeon. Both he and the ruler who killed him were asking, "Who is Jesus?" That's exactly the question we are asking today.By Benedictine College

1
The Parable of the Sower | Season Finale 35:03

1+ y ago35:03

35:03

In the season finale of The Extraordinary Story, we discuss the Parable of the Sower. This parable is the perfect summing up of what we are meant to do in this Advent season. Sow the seeds of faith, and tell the world about Christ's Extraordinary Story.By Ex Corde at Benedictine College

1
Liar, Lunatic, Legend, or Lord? | S1 E25 31:49

1+ y ago31:49

31:49

Is Jesus Christ liar, lunatic, or Lord? This is the famous dilemma observed by C.S. Lewis. We explore this question, and more in this episode of The Extraordinary Story.By Ex Corde at Benedictine College

1
Women of the Gospels | S1 E24 36:37

1+ y ago36:37

36:37

This episode of The Extraordinary Story is all about the role of women. From the sinful woman who visits the Pharisee's house, to the band of sisters who walked with Jesus. Tom Hoopes discusses the way Jesus views women, how modern culture views women, and how the Church views women. Ex Corde at Benedictine College https://excorde.org/ Facebook htt…

1
The Centurion’s Slave and the Widow’s Son | S1 E23 29:46

1+ y ago29:46

29:46

Jesus loves an enemy and turns a mourner's tears to joy. This week on The Extraordinary Story, see how Christ puts the lessons of His Sermon on the Mount into action.By Ex Corde at Benedictine College

1
Plato’s Cave and The Light of Christ | S1 E22 29:47

2y ago29:47

29:47

Plato's story of the Cave is the enduring allegory of our fallen ignorance. Discover how the light of Christ leads us out of the Cave.By Ex Corde at Benedictine College

1
Jesus Prays the ”Our Father” | S1 E21 35:18

2y ago35:18

35:18

How do we pray? How do we talk to God? Jesus gives His answer in the "Our Father" prayer. In his childhood, Tom Hoopes prayed in earnest, but in adulthood, the "Our Father" caused a crisis of faith. Hear how he worked through this crisis to a deeper understanding of The Lord's Prayer.By Ex Corde at Benedictine College

1
The Sermon on the Mount | Are We the Light of the World? | S1 E20 34:22

2y ago34:22

34:22

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says that Christians are the, "salt of the earth," and, "the light of the world." So why is the world so tasteless and dark? In this episode, we examine how Jesus intuited the lessons of moral psychology, and how He guides us through His own extraordinary story.By Ex Corde at Benedictine College

1
The Beatitudes in The Gospel of Luke | S1 E19 24:10

2y ago24:10

24:10

Luke's Beatitudes rather than showing us a different set of Beatitudes, gives them a new depth. They are Jesus' guide to who we are and how to live like Him.By Ex Corde at Benedictine College

1
The Beatitudes in the Gospel of Matthew | S1 E18 27:48

2y ago27:48

27:48

The Beatitudes are the grand summing up of Jesus' message. Jesus goes up a mountain like a new Moses, and transforms the covenant with the Israelites. He broadens this promise to all nations, and gives them a new promised land: The Kingdom of Heaven.By Ex Corde at Benedictine College

1
Jesus Conquers Sickness, Sin, and Opposition | S1 E17 30:04

2y ago30:04

30:04

This week, The Extraordinary Story gets real. Tom Hoopes discusses the crisis of confession, and the dropping of many sacraments during the pandemic. He draws a parallel between our present moment in the Church, and the opposition to Christ's ministry; when Jesus made clear that he intended not only to heal the sick, but to forgive sinners.…

1
Christ’s Ministry | A New King in Town | S1 E16 33:10

2y ago33:10

33:10

Jesus of Nazareth explodes onto the scene like an action hero, circumventing the assumptions of his day and capturing the imagination of the crowds. Jesus began his project of changing the world by serving the people next door. We can continue His project by serving the people next door to us.By Ex Corde at Benedictine College

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