Mining The Mysteries: A Catechetical Podcast

Catechesis #33 - The 10 Commandments: The 10th Commandment - Thou Shalt Not Covet

In this season finale, we conclude our journey through the Ten Commandments by examining the 10th and final Commandment. Unlike earlier commandments that address outward actions, the 10th Commandment focuses on internal desires. We define coveting, explore its devastating effects through the story of Achan, and discuss ways to cultivate contentment in a world designed to keep us wanting more. Inside This Episode • Defining the 10th Commandment: Understanding coveting as the "conception point" for other sins. • The Interior Life: Why this commandment is unique among the ten for its focus on the heart and mind. • The Sin of Achan (Joshua 7): How one person's hidden covetousness can bring a "curse" upon an entire community. • Modern "Covetous Machines": A discussion of social media and the "GQ Pastor" culture as breeding grounds for envy. • Radical Amputation: Applying Colossians 3:1–5 to "put to death" earthly desires. • Learning Contentment: Insights from St. Paul’s imprisonment in Philippians and the call to prioritize the eternal over the temporal. ***The book we reference is “What the Church Fathers Say: Insightful Sayings of the Church Fathers on Various Subjects” by George Grube. It appears to be out of print and no longer on Amazon, but it can still be found on sites like eBay and ABE Books.   Key Scripture & References • Exodus 20:17: The 10th Commandment. • Joshua 7: The defeat at Ai and the judgment of Achan. • Colossians 3:1–5: Setting minds on things above and mortifying covetousness. • Philippians 4:11–12: St. Paul on the secret of being content. • 1 Timothy 6:6–10: The warning that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. • 1928 Book of Common Prayer: The Offices of Instruction (pages 287–289). Coming This Fall We are taking a break for the summer! When we return for our new season, we will shift from the "What" to the "How." Topics will include:• Practical Living: How to live out the Catechesis in daily life.• Deep Dives into Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer and an exploration of the Book of Common Prayer.• Developing a Rule of Life: Tools for spiritual discipline.• Mental & Spiritual Health: Navigating anxiety, melancholy, and spiritual distress.• The Deuterocanon: Understanding the Apocrypha with special guests. Connect With Us Even while we are on hiatus, we want to hear from you. Send your questions or topics you would like us to cover! "A person who does not do what God has commanded shows that he really does not believe God." — St. Clement of Rome

Catechesis #32 - The 10 Commandments: The 9th Commandment - Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness Against They Neighbor

Welcome back! After a busy Holy Week and Easter season at the parish, we are back behind the microphone to continue our deep dive into the Decalogue. In this episode, we tackle the Ninth Commandment: "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." While often overshadowed by what many consider "the big sins," we discuss why the sins of the tongue, such as gossip, slander, and backbiting, are often more destructive to parish life than almost anything else. We explore why the Lord considers sowing discord among the brethren to be such a grave matter, using the 1928 Book of Common Prayer and the Offices of Instruction as our guide. * Exodus 20:16 – The Commandment. * Numbers 12:1–13—The complaint of Miriam and Aaron. * Proverbs 6:16–19 – The seven things that the Lord hates. * Philippians 4:4–9 – Meditating on what is true and noble. * Ephesians 5:15–21 – Walking circumspectly and redeeming the time. Next Week: We hope you will join us for our final episode before our summer break as we conclude our series on the Ten Commandments. Have a question or comment? Reach out to us at podcast@stphilipsblacksburg.org or podcast@anglicanprovince.org.

Catechesis #31 - The 10 Commandments: The 8th Commandment - Thou Shalt Not Steal

In this episode, we discuss the 8th Commandment: Thou shalt not steal. Stealing is not just taking what belongs to another; it is also withholding what is due to our neighbor. We look at the book of Amos and the judgment against those who tread down the poor. Jesus warns us against hoarding goods for ourselves, as the rich man did with his barns. St. Paul tells us to work with our hands so that we have something to give to those in need. We also talk about tithes, alms, and the duty to be cheerful givers.

Catechesis #30 - The 10 Commandments: The 7th Commandment - Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery (Part 2)

In this second episode of The Seventh Commandment, we move from definitions to the messy, practical realities of life in a fallen world. We discuss the difficult questions of divorce and remarriage through the lens of Matthew 19, emphasizing that while divorce may be a concession to sin, reconciliation remains the heart of the Gospel. The conversation provides a roadmap for guarding the "temple of the Holy Spirit," touching on everything from the desert fathers’ warnings against idleness to the modern necessity of digital accountability. By reframing purity not as a series of "don'ts" but as a progression toward holiness, this episode offers hopeful advice for living as "children of light" in a hyper-sexualized age.

Catechesis #29 - The 10 Commandments: The 7th Commandment - Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery (Part 1)

In the first of a two-part series, we explore the Seventh Commandment: “Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Shifting the focus from mere prohibition to the positive duty of “temperance, soberness, and chastity,” the discussion grounds human sexuality in the created order of Genesis 2. By examining the “one-flesh” union, the sacramental nature of marriage, and St. Paul’s teaching on the body as a Temple of the Holy Spirit, we address how the Fall disordered our desires. This episode tackles the internal battle of the heart, the pervasive challenge of pornography, and the necessity of radical accountability—moving away from a culture of shame toward a life of transparency and union with Christ. * Theology of the Body (TOB) Institute: https://tobinstitute.org/ [https://tobinstitute.org/] – A liberating vision of human identity, love, and union based on the teachings of St. John Paul II. * Common Prayer Online: https://commonprayeronline.com [https://commonprayeronline.com] – Access the 1928 Book of Common Prayer daily offices, including Family Prayers and the Offices of Instruction.