Next radio appearance: June 6 at 8:15 am ET - on motherhood!

I am back! Just for a moment, to let you know I will be rejoining the Morning Air program on Thursday, June 6 to speak with John and Sarah about my new favorite topic: motherhood. The main thing I want to discuss is how becoming a mother reminds me of the grain of wheat parable. You know the one, from John 12:24-26:

Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.

Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.

Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

In motherhood, you certainly die to self, and there is quite literally a breaking open physically, but emotionally and spiritually, as well, to bear the “fruit” that is your child. You do also “lose” your life, meaning your old way of being. To do this with faith in God is to follow and serve him. So, it will be a great conversation, and I am really looking forward to it.

You can stream the conversation live here, listen in the Relevant Radio app, or find your station here.

I hope you had a magnificent Easter season and your ordinary time, and summer, are off to a great start!

Understanding the rise in converts

Friends, I made my last appearance for a little while on Morning Air yesterday, to speak with John and Sarah about the suprising increase in new Catholics coming into the church this recent Easter. What a cool topic! You can listen to the audio here.

While this National Catholic Reporter article notes some administrative reasons why the number of new Catholics is increasing - like OCIA (formerly RCIA) programs being scheduled in more convenient ways - ultimately I think it’s down to more spiritual reasons. Specifically, as I state in the interview, people are craving stability and truth at a time when truth itself is treated as subjective. People have a craving for meaning, identity, and purpose, and the secular world just ain’t offering it. And the church is! I also spend some time in the interview talking about what led me back to the church, and why I’ve stayed. Enjoy!

As for the reason I will be taking a break - well, that is discussed in the segment!

See you here in the near-ish future - and if not, have a wonderful summer and a blessed rest of the Easter season.

Two recent radio appearances: JOMO and St. Joseph

I hope that everyone’s Lent has been fruitful, as we now enter Holy Week.

A few weeks ago I joined Morning Air to talk about the joy - not the fear! - of missing out. Listen to that here.

And then the day before his feast day, I spoke with John Morales about St. Joseph, patron of - well, many important things, especially those having to do with family. You can listen here.

A personal note: I will be taking a break from writing and speaking starting next month through, probably, the whole summer. I may occasionally come back here to post on other spiritual goings-ons - we shall see!

Wishing you a festive Easter and beyond!