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Messy Jesus Business

Messy Jesus Business

By: Sister Julia Walsh
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 Radical Discipleship: Essays. Poetry. Prayers. Podcasts. Reflections on following Jesus.© Julia Walsh 2023 Art Christianity Literary History & Criticism Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • Episode 100: A last look back, and a grand finale

    Episode 100: A last look back, and a grand finale
    Dec 18 2025
    Episode 100 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh. In this, our final episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with several previous guests and show producer Colin Wambsgans. You'll hear clips from some of our guests, such as Father Greg Boyle, Sister Helen Prejean, and Padraig O’Tuama, and new check-in interviews with Dr C Vanessa White, Father Justin Claravall, and Sister Sarah Hennessy. To conclude, Colin and Sister Julia reflect on the ways the podcast affected them through the years. We're truly honored to have you as a listener. Peace, and all good. To hear full previous episodes of prior guests, click on their name below: Father Greg Boyle Sister Helen Prejean Padraig O'Tuama Dr C Vanessa White Father Justin Claravall Sister Sarah Hennessy Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Email | RSS | More A transcript of the show is available. "Love is the messiest human thing there is." ~ Sr. Julia Walsh, FSPA ABOUT THE TEAM Julia Walsh is a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration based in Wisconsin. A storyteller, poet, and community-builder, her ministry experience includes teaching, retreat facilitation, preaching, spiritual accompaniment, justice advocacy, and caring for people who are unhoused and incarcerated. Sister Julia is the author of two books including For Love of the Broken Body: A Spiritual Memoir and is the founder of Messy Jesus Business, a website and podcast that explores the messiness of modern Christianity. The author of numerous articles, her work has been featured on the BBC, Relevant Radio, U.S. Catholic, America, and National Catholic Reporter. In 2017 she received a Master’s in Pastoral Studies from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago. Today she serves her Franciscan community as a vocation director and speaks to a variety of groups about topics such as creativity, contemplation, and Gospel living. Colin Wambsgans is a composer and sound designer living in Los Angeles. His original music often uses field recordings as a basis, and has been presented at Cafe Oto (London), exMus (Dallas), and several venues around Los Angeles, including The Hammer Museum, Music @ Boston Court, the wulf., and Dog Star Orchestra. For the theater, Colin was the sound designer for productions with LaMama (NYC), Chalk Rep (LA), Rogue Machine (LA), and Center Rep (Walnut Creek, CA). His film work includes original music for All Exchanges Final (2016) and Spoons (2024)and sound design for River Mama (2024) and While the Trees Sleep (2017), which was selected for the Edinburgh Film Festival and Canne’s Short Film Corner. He has worked on numerous podcasts, including original music for NPR’s “Embedded” and production and editing for “Messy Jesus Business”. He lives in Burbank, CA with his wife and kids. Mary Chuey Bishop writes spiritual nonfiction and speculative fiction and works as an editor, including for Messy Jesus Business. She lives, loves, writes, works, and worries from her home in Annapolis, MD. You can find her at marycbishop.com. MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans. Email us at messyjesusbusiness@gmail.com BE SOCIAL: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Twitter: @messyjesusbiz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messyjesusbusiness
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Kaitlin Curtice: story and cyclical spirituality

    Kaitlin Curtice: story and cyclical spirituality
    Dec 11 2025
    Episode 99 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh. In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh, FSPA talks with Kaitlin Curtice. They explore Indigenous spirituality, the power of stories, the cyclical nature of being, expansiveness and liminality, the difference between certainty and faith, joy in art, Mother Earth, community, taking time to heal, presence and contemplation, and much more. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Email | RSS | More A transcript of the show is available. "Liminality is just the gray areas of life, the spaces where we don't quite know yet. We don't quite have things figured out or it's complex. And I think that if we're honest, that's where so many of us live spiritually, is in those deep questions." -Kaitlin Curtice Kaitlin Curtice ABOUT THE GUEST Kaitlin Curtice is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. As an enrolled citizen of the Potawatomi nation, Kaitlin writes on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives. She also speaks on these topics to diverse audiences who are interested in truth-telling and healing. As an inter-spiritual advocate, Kaitlin participates in conversations on topics such as colonialism in faith communities, and she has spoken at many conferences on the importance of inter-faith relationships. Kaitlin leads workshops and retreats, as well as lectures and keynote presentations, ranging from panels at the Aspen Climate Conference to speaking at the Chautauqua Institution and at universities, private retreat centers, and churches across the country. In 2020 Kaitlin’s award-winning book Native: Identity, Belonging and Rediscovering God won Georgia Author of the Year in the religion category. Native explores the relationship between American Christianity and Indigenous peoples, drawing on Kaitlin’s experiences as a Potawatomi woman. In 2023, Kaitlin released two books, first, Living Resistance: An Indigenous Vision for Seeking Wholeness Every Day, which examines the journey of resisting the status quo of hate by caring for ourselves, one another, and Mother Earth, and second, her first children’s book called Winter’s Gifts: An Indigenous Celebration of Nature, which is the premier book in a series of four books on the four seasons coming out with Convergent, RandomHouse Books. Her second book in the series called Summer’s Magic was released in 2024. Besides her books, Kaitlin has written online for Sojourners, Religion News Service, On Being, SELF Magazine, Oprah Daily, and more. Her work has been featured on CBS and in USA Today. She also writes essays and poetry for The Liminality Journal and spends her time supporting other authors as they navigate the world of publishing. Kaitlin lives near Philadelphia with her partner, two dogs, and two kids. Find out more about Kaitlin at Instagram.com/kaitlincurtice, and The Liminality Journal on Substack. MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh. Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans. Email us at messyjesusbusiness@gmail.com BE SOCIAL: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Twitter: @messyjesusbiz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messyjesusbusiness SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/messyjesusbusiness
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    40 mins
  • The waiting soul gives: hope-filled resistance to tyranny

    The waiting soul gives: hope-filled resistance to tyranny
    Dec 4 2025
    Note from the editor: Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Messy Jesus Business podcast and blog schedule have been switched around this month. Check back the next two weeks for our final podcast episodes, with many more blog posts to follow! Modern Christians often fail to discuss that the Christian Church was established during a time of widespread violence and persecution. Our creeds were drafted, faith traditions formed, and the community of believers expanded during a time when it was risky to declare that Jesus Christ is the Prince of Peace. We seem to forget that Christian devotion was never about being comfortable, cozy, or complacent. We often fail to proclaim that living the Gospel, following The Way of Christ, is meant to be dangerous. For about the first 300 years of Christianity, the Pax Christi (Peace of Christ) that Christians professed was in stark contrast to Pax Romana (Peace of Rome) that defined the structures of the Roman empire. The founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ, repeatedly told his followers to “be not afraid.” Meanwhile, the governmental structures of the time ruled through fear: controlling the populace with oppression by taxation, slavery, and ongoing threats and violence. A read-through of the New Testament reminds the modern believer that the early Christians were not only dealing with violence and persecution, but they were filled with a fierce hope that Jesus Christ was about to return. (See 1 Peter 4; James 5:7-9; 2 Thessalonians 2; John 5:28-29; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:28 and elsewhere.) Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good;love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor.Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.Contribute to the needs of the holy ones, exercise hospitality.Bless those who persecute [you], bless and do not curse them.Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.Have the same regard for one another; do not be haughty but associate with the lowly; do not be wise in your own estimation.Do not repay anyone evil for evil; be concerned for what is noble in the sight of all.If possible, on your part, live at peace with all. --Romans 12:9-18 The early Church mothers and fathers were motivated to be moral because they wanted to be ready for Jesus’ return, they wanted to be “caught doing good.” Their hope for Jesus’ return motivated them to be generous, hospitable, prayerful, and bold in their acts of compassion, mercy, and justice, finding ways to include the outcast, the poor, ill, and migrants into their underground, subversive communities. They understood that those in need were the face of Christ. Photo by Kenta Kikuchi on Unsplash Compare these foundations of Christianity to Advent in the United States nowadays. Christians often avoid the discomfort of our faith. Instead, we succumb to the cozy culture of commercialized Christmas: trendy décor, consumerism, waste, and general gluttony. See the examples of the silly and expensive so-called Advent calendars to see how far we have drifted from the Tradition of resisting the violence of empire and having hope in Jesus alone. Nowadays, those who are comfortable feast on the festive feelings while gaps grow between rich and poor, families are torn apart, people are detained and tortured, and the US government protects the interests of billionaires and the war machine. Bombs are falling and systems are collapsing, yet we snuggle into the sofa to be numbed by sugared Hallmark holiday cheer. Here's the thing: I like being cozy and comfortable too. I believe in the power of sabbath, rest, and retreat. And, during the Advent season, I love lighting candles, singing along with cheery music, baking cookies, writing cards and notes, and visiting people I love. When I pray at home during the Advent season, I’m usually snuggled into a fluffy blanket. I have more than enough to eat, and don’t fear a raid, detention, or warfare. The calm and quiet is so ordinary, that I could easily take it for granted. If I am not staying awake, I could quickly cocoon into safety and avoidance. What is the nature of a soul that is waiting for the return of Jesus Christ? If we remain rooted in our faith tradition, Advent actions will move us from the sacred stillness to a spirit of bold generosity and compassion. We give up our plans and preferences for the sake of the other. I was reminded of this recently as I accompanied a couple people dear to me through surgeries and recoveries and then some Emergency Room visits. To be present and centered on what’s most important– such as compassion for another—I had to adjust and be flexible, changing the date of a podcast interview and the release of an episode.This may not be a radical act, but it was a great reminder for me about the need to be ready, open, and available for whatever newness Christ is ...
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    1 min
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