Fr. Fabian and Fr. Bruce Riebe explore the Byzantine feast of the Prophet Elijah, including the tradition of blessing vehicles in his honor, before turning to the life and legacy of St. Mary Magdalene, the "Apostle to the Apostles." The hosts unpack popular misconceptions about Mary Magdalene's identity and highlight her steadfast presence at the foot of the cross and the empty tomb. They close with a reflection on the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Gospel, Matthew 13:44-52, examining the parables of the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price, and the net, and what it means to treasure the Kingdom of God above all else.
This week on Be Not Afraid, Fr. Fabian and Fr. Bruce Riebe open with the Feast of the Prophet Elijah (July 20), a simple holy day on the Byzantine Catholic calendar. They discuss Elijah's life in ninth-century BC Israel, his confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, his encounter with God in "a still, small voice," and his fiery ascension into heaven — the origin of the Byzantine tradition of blessing cars, trucks, motorcycles, and even bicycles on his feast day.
The hosts then turn to St. Mary Magdalene, whose feast falls on July 22. Fr. Bruce shares scholarship clarifying that Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute, addressing the long-standing conflation of her identity with the sinful woman of Luke 7 and Mary of Bethany. They reflect on her title as "Apostle to the Apostles," given by St. Thomas Aquinas, and her faithful presence at the crucifixion and the empty tomb, where she was first to proclaim the Resurrection.
Closing out the show, Fr. Fabian and Fr. Bruce preview the Gospel for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Matthew 13:44-52), reflecting on the parables of the treasure buried in a field, the pearl of great price, and the net cast into the sea. They discuss what it means to treasure the Kingdom of God above wealth, pleasure, and power, and invite listeners to place Christ at the center of their hearts.
Learn more at IowaCatholicRadio.com.
This episode of Be Not Afraid is brought to you by Ball Team, your builder of all faith-based construction needs. Learn more at BuildWithBall.com.
#BeNotAfraid #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicPodcast #OrdinaryTime #SundayGospel #CatholicFaith #ProphetElijah #ByzantineCatholic #EasternCatholicChurch #MaryMagdalene #ApostleToTheApostles #CatholicSaints #SundayReflection #CatholicHomily #CatholicRadio #GospelOfMatthew #KingdomOfHeaven #CatholicMedia