Suspended in the Word: Recent Episodes
Ashwin Emmanuel Acharya
A weekly podcast aimed to help us make a fruitful pilgrims' journey throughout the Liturgical Year, from Sunday to Sunday, going from strength to strength, receiving grace upon grace.
Episode 1, Season 2 (Sundays in Year C)
It has taken some considerable time to get 'suspended in the Word' off the ground again. At the time of publishing this episode there is much backlog in season one. I'll attend to that in due course, but I hope to maintain a proper rhythm with season two now.
Please enjoy what you hear, write in (you can reach me on Facebook or via email, see details below), and please share this content widely with whoever you think might find the content interesting.
For my part, I've tried to tailor the podcast to as wide an audience as possible, so that it is nourishing for long-time practising Catholics, but is also something palatable to the broader Christian family, and to people of any faith perspective. I sincerely hope you find something of value as you join us for the suspended journey.
Details:
FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/ashwineacharya
EMAIL: ashwin.acharya@rok.catholic.net.au
"To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul." (Ps 25).
This mediation is developed from a reflection delivered in St Patrick's Church, Emerald, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of the Lord.
This episode is currently missing from the series. Please proceed to episode 18, and check back for this episode later.
This episode is currently missing from the series. Please proceed to episode 18, and check back for this episode later.
This episode is currently missing from the series. Please proceed to episode 18, and check back for this episode later.
This episode is currently missing from the series. Please proceed to episode 18, and check back for this episode later.
This episode is currently missing from the series. Please proceed to episode 18, and check back for this episode later.
This episode is currently missing from the series. Please proceed to episode 18, and check back for this episode later.
This episode is currently missing from the series. Please proceed to episode 18, and check back for this episode later.
Episode 10, Season 1 (Sundays in Year B)
Recapping some themes from Laetare Sunday, and acknowledging Saint Patrick's presence in the middle of the week, we now look to the Prophet Jeremiah, whose work gives us an interesting insight into the human heart - a heart prone to disbelieving and rejecting the truth, to seeking instead comforting falsehoods and cheap consolations; a heart which seems for a variety of reasons to prefer darkness to light. This is the very heart which God seeks to recreate and write his laws within, which eventually he achieved in the most profound way through the 'missions' of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Our Lenten Journey continues!
"Create a clean heart in me, O God." (Ps 51).
Episode 9, Season 1 (Sundays in Year B)
Last week we look at the Ten Commandments (Ex 20) and the Conflict in the Temple (Jn 2). We treat the former by examining and trying to get to the heart of our dispositions, and we draw on the work of scholars Mary Coloe and Francis Moloney to gain insight into the latter.
We then look at the readings for the Fourth Sunday, an ominous declaration by Cyrus the Great, King of Persia (2 Chrincles 34), and the conversation began Nicodemus and Jesus, a conversation between an earnest seeker with the Light whilst in the dark.
"Let me tongue be silenced, if I ever forget you!" (Ps 137).
Episode 8, Season 1 (Sundays in Year B)
Last Sunday we allowed the Sacrifice of Isaac and the Transfiguration of the Lord to speak to us. This Sunday we recall the Transfiguration as giving context to Moses' reception of the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, touching on what psychologists call "control aversion" or "psychological reactance", the natural disposition we have to rebellion. The Law and the Prophets point to the fullness of life and life unending, if only we can cultivate the softness of heart to listen, and in our listening, be transformed.
"Lord, you have the words of everlasting life." (Ps 19).
Episode 7, Season 1 (Sundays in Year B)
Combing over the Genesis stories - giving context to last Sunday's reading of Noah and the Ark, and this Sunday's reading of Abraham and Isaac - and clarifying some perspectives on the Scripture (acknowledging what we can know from source criticism, but retaining the intrinsic sacredness of the Holy Scriptures, lest we render the text domesticated and impotent!). To allow the text's inherent radiance to shine forth, we consult the likes of Søren Kiekegaard, Jordan B. Peterson, Origen of Alexandra and others.
"I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living." (Ps 116).
Episode 6, Season 1 (Sundays in Year B)
A deep dive into Leviticus and Rene Girard's "mimetic theory" and "scapegoating", and looking at Jesus' temptation in the wilderness through the lens of what took place in Eden and during the wandering of Israel from Egypt.
"Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth to those who keep your covenant." (Ps 25)
Episode 5, Season 1 (Sundays in Year B)
A second look at Job, honing in this time on the serpent, the "nahash" who seeks to dislodge us all from God and the Garden. Looking also at leprosy, the person and social, the physical and spiritual, and Jesus who receives every leper. May we be among the lepers he meets in the upcoming season of Lent.
"I turn to you, Lord, in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation." (Ps 32)
Episode 4, Season 1 (Sundays in Year B)
In this episode, we look into some of the context of Job to contextualise the passage we hear in this Sundays (Job 7:1-7). We briefly explore, too, Saint Paul's continued encouragement to narrow our gaze on Christ, and Jesus meeting our misery with his mercy, and setting the example of what missionary prayer looks like.
"Praise the Lord, who heals the broken-hearted." (Ps 147).
Episode 3, Season 1 (Sundays in Year B)
Exploring some of the context behind Psalm 95, the increasing urgency of Paul's proclamation of the Gospel, and the radicality of the Gospel itself.
Sunday by Sunday, from strength to strength, receiving grace upon grace.
"If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts." (Ps 95)
Episode 2, Season 1 (Sundays in Year B)
Some context behind the Prophet Jonah and the continued theme of vocation from last Sunday.
We travel together, from Sunday to Sunday, going from strength to strength, receiving grace upon grace.
"Teach me your ways, O Lord." (Ps 25).
Episode 1, Season 1 (Sundays in Year B)
The pilot episode of the weekly podcast, 'suspended in the Word', recapping Christmastide, the Baptism of the Lord, and looking forward to the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time.
"Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will." (Ps 40).