Unpacking The Mass with Keith Nester

Episode: 4th Sunday of Easter (May 8, 2022)

Date Recorded: May 7, 2022
Theme: God’s invitation through the Scriptures and our response – Jew and Gentile, sheep and Shepherd, invitation and response.

Episode Overview

Keith Nester leads listeners through the Catholic lectionary texts for the 4th Sunday of Easter, focusing on God’s invitation to all people—Jews and Gentiles alike—to receive and respond to the Gospel. He delves into the context and meaning of the readings from Acts 13, Psalm 100, Revelation 7, and John 10, emphasizing how personal faith and relationship with Jesus are foundational to Christian life. The core message centers on inclusion, response, and the threefold requirement of revelation, relationship, and obedience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context of Acts 13 and the Early Church’s Mission

[01:05 – 08:42]

• Keith sets the stage with Acts 13, describing the missionary journey of Paul (Saul) and Barnabas.
  • The Holy Spirit and the Church’s role:
    • "They didn't just wake up one day and say, hey, I think I’ll go start my own church... This was all led by the Holy Spirit." [03:00]
• The synagogue as the stage for Paul and Barnabas’s proclamation.
• Distinction between Jews (the chosen people) and Gentiles (everyone else), including the historical tension and superiority complex.
• God’s original plan of inclusion for all nations through Abraham (Genesis), realized in Jesus.

2. The Turning Point: Gospel Goes to the Gentiles

[08:43 – 16:52]

• Paul and Barnabas face jealousy and rejection from Jews but acceptance among Gentiles.
  • "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first. But since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles..." [10:44]
• Keith references Romans 11 to explain Paul’s theology of Jews and Gentiles:
  • Gentiles are "grafted in" to the olive tree of God’s people.
  • Warning: Gentiles are not to look down on Jews, just as Jews shouldn't despise Gentiles.
  • Inclusion is not about ethnicity or status, but about receiving God’s invitation through Christ.

3. The Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22) & Its Prophetic Implications

[16:53 – 22:40]

• Jesus’ parable is used to illustrate God’s invitation and human response.
  • The Jews were the invited guests; by rejecting Jesus, they forfeit their place, making room for others.
  • Prophecy of Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 AD as foreshadowed in the parable.
  • "For many are invited, but few are chosen..." [22:15]
• The lesson: All are invited, but only those who respond and receive are included.

4. Your Response to God’s Invitation: Psalm 100 & Revelation 7

[22:41 – 27:21]

• The Responsorial Psalm celebrates being God’s people, "the sheep of his flock."
• Keith ties Revelation 7 (the great multitude in white robes) back to the wedding garment parable:
  • Inclusion in the Kingdom is visualized as a feast for all nations, who have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." [24:39]
• The question posed: "You’ve been invited to the party. The question is, will you receive the invitation? Will you go?" [25:29]

5. The Voice of the Shepherd: John 10 and the Triple Response

[27:22 – 39:00]

• Central theme: "My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me." (John 10:27)
• Keith unpacks what it means to be part of God’s flock:
  • Revelation: Hearing God's voice
  • Relationship: Being known and loved by Jesus
  • Obedience/Action: Following Him
• Three pitfalls if any are missing:
  • No Revelation: Builds faith on personal or cultural ideas, not God’s actual word and truth.
    • "They claim to have this passionate relationship with Jesus...but they don’t have the truth. They haven’t received the revelation." [30:05]
  • No Relationship: Legalistic, rules-only religion (e.g., the Pharisees, Catholics or Protestants focused only on doctrine).
    • "If you don’t have love for Jesus in your heart… you’ve missed the point." [34:12]
  • No Application/Obedience: Knowing and loving Jesus but not following Him.
    • "A lot of us, we know what the Lord’s called us to… but man, we struggle with following." [36:19]
• Call to self-examination: Where are you lacking—hearing, loving, or following?
• Assurance: Being in a “state of grace” — when all three aspects are present, you can have confidence in your salvation.
  • "In a state of grace, you have absolute assurance..." [37:48]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the inclusivity of God’s invitation:
  • "God reaches out to everybody, okay? And anyone who rejects God... will be outside of God’s plan for them. But anyone who receives God can have eternal life. That’s ultimately... the lesson that we’re going to see." [07:56]
• On religious pride:
  • "The Jews had a very superior... attitude... Jewish men, when they woke up in the morning, they thanked God that they weren't a woman and a gentile dog. I mean, these guys were pretty full of themselves." [05:47]
• On assurance and humility:
  • "It’s not that we don’t have assurance of salvation. It’s just we don’t have assurance that we’re always going to hear, know and follow..." [37:30]
• On God’s invitation:
  • "God’s house will be filled. The question is, will you be there? Will you be at the party?" [22:30]

Important Timestamps and Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:05 | Introduction to Acts and the Church’s Mission | | 07:56 | Jew and Gentile Background; God’s Plan of Inclusion | | 10:44 | Jews Reject, Paul Turns to Gentiles; Quoting Acts 13 | | 13:50 | Romans 11 Explained (Gentiles Grafted In) | | 16:53 | Parable of the Wedding Banquet; Matthew 22 | | 22:41 | Psalm 100 & Revelation 7 – The Great Multitude | | 25:29 | Application: Will You Respond to the Invitation? | | 27:22 | The Good Shepherd and The Triple Requirement (John 10) | | 30:05 | Hearing God: The Need for Revelation | | 34:12 | Relationship: Avoiding Legalism and Hollow Religion | | 36:19 | Obedience: The Struggle to Follow | | 37:48 | Assurance of Salvation in a State of Grace |

Flow and Tone

Keith’s style is energetic, engaging, and pastoral—mixing practical explanations with heartfelt personal application. He alternates between explaining Scripture, sharing spiritual wisdom, and exhorting listeners to deeper faith and commitment. His language is conversational, real, and sometimes pointed, always inviting self-reflection.

Takeaways for Listeners

• God’s plan is inclusive—Jew, Gentile, all nations are invited.
• It’s not status, knowledge, or ritual that brings salvation, but acceptance of God’s invitation in Christ.
• Being a disciple means hearing Christ’s voice (revelation), knowing Him (relationship), and following Him (obedience).
• Listeners are invited to self-examine: “What do you need to work on—hearing, loving or following?”
• Assurance of salvation rests in remaining in relationship, not in spiritual pride or presumption.

Final Exhortation

"Just as the Holy Spirit set aside Paul and Barnabas for the work of the kingdom, may the Holy Spirit set aside us for his work that we might respond to that invitation that we’ve been given to become part of the family of God, to be his sheep, and that we might recognize where we’ll wind up one day in that incredible worship party banquet in Revelation…" [39:13]

For further reflection, Keith encourages listeners to read, pray, and respond—in head, heart, and life—to the invitation of Jesus Christ, preparing themselves for both Mass and eternal celebration.