Redemption Without Permission

In this episode, we queer Luke 15:1–10 and Jesus’ parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. This is a familiar parable but what if we reimagine what it means to seek, find, and celebrate the people who are hurting or searching for belonging? Rather than viewing these stories solely through the lens of evangelism and conversion, what if we consider how faith calls us to meet people where they are, offering compassion, healing, and community without treating relationships as a means to save. We always say that the Bible declares good news for LGBTQ folks and we can really see that when we reflect on how these parables speak to us, especially those who have felt lost or isolated in anti-LGBTQ+ faith communities. Resources:

There seems to be so much fear out there right now and Fr. Shannon takes this episode to explore the role fear plays in our faith, our bodies, and our relationships. Reflecting on his own upbringing in a church rooted in fear (going to hell, being left behind in the rapture, and even the Y2K end times!) he considers the tension between believing that God is in control and living as though the world is constantly out to get us. Fear can shut down our nervous systems, limit our ability to imagine new possibilities, and isolate us from one another, making us easier to control and less able to challenge systems that keep us divided. Instead, Fr. Shannon invites us to notice what triggers fear in our bodies and, just as importantly, to pay attention to the moments when we experience hope, joy, connection, and possibility. Resources:

It’s a special episode this week as we celebrate the launch of our brand-new book, “Reading the Bible Through Queer Eyes: Good News for LGBTQ+ People from Genesis to Revelation.” We have been doing this work for more than a decade and we’re super excited to finally see it in book form! If you’ve been here for a while, you’ll know we’ve always been big proponents of storytelling, telling YOUR story, and approaching Scripture through a queer lens. In this book we explore how moving beyond defensiveness and moving toward joy, wonder, and deeper spiritual insight brings a richer understanding of Scripture. The book is available for pre-order now and releases December 1 in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook. There are also some pre-order bonuses as a thank you for being part of this journey with us and for helping us share a message of queer joy, spiritual possibility, and good queer gospel with the world! Resources:

This week we queer Matthew 20:1–16, the familiar parable of the laborers in the vineyard, and uncover a lesson that is deeply concerned with labor, wages, economic justice, and generosity. This passage is often taught as a story about salvation and getting into heaven, but when we explore what emerges when we take Jesus’ words about workers, wages, and equality seriously, it shows again how the gospel is political. We also reflect on what it means to welcome people who join the work late, distinguish genuine participation from simply claiming allyship, and hold space for both the frustration of those who have carried the burden for a long time and the generosity of those ready to join. It’s a powerful reminder that the kingdom of heaven is here and now and we are invited to dream bigger and with more generosity where we are today. There is so much more that is possible!

For this episode, we queer the text from the Wisdom of Solomon. This is a deuterocanonical Jewish text that reflects on wisdom as something active, relational, and continually calling us toward growth. This is one of those passages that just seems to queer itself by inviting us to seek wisdom with the ongoing work of learning, internalizing, and living out what we discover as we seek wholeness and integration in our sexuality, gender, spirituality, relationships, and justice work. Another aspect of this text that is so vivid, is the personification of Wisdom as a woman who seeks, awakens, and invites desire.