The week ahead – from 18 to 24 August

Giving up things for Lent. Social media, and the still centre invaded by noise. Reconquering the still centre and inviting God in. The Scriptures as paint applied year by year. Paying other people to do our charity. Jonah and comedy. Ezekiel and hereditary guilt. The anniversary of this podcast. How to donate: universalis.com/donate Episode notes.

The Book of Job. Some Lenten exercises. Almsgiving: secret or public? How the Word on Fire conference went. Episode notes.

The Book of Ecclesiastes. Greek philosophy and Jewish wisdom. Where true value comes from. The goodness of work. How Universalis started. Get up and do something! Episode notes.

The Book of Proverbs. Wisdom literature in general. "The Creed in Slow Motion" and next weekend's Word on Fire conference. Episode notes.

Saint Scholastica; the Shipwreck of St Paul; Our Lady of Lourdes; Saints Cyril and Methodius, and the Basilica of San Clemente. Episode notes.

Candlemas, the feast of the Purification of Mary and the Presentation of the Lord. Purification. The celebration and sanctification of transitions. Episode notes.

Sunday of the Word of God. Reading; listening; commentaries. Lectio Divina. Saint Thomas Aquinas. Episode notes.

The wedding-feast at Cana. Joy, pleasure and delight. Episode notes.

The Baptism of the Lord. Baptism. The uncanonised Henry Edward Manning. Episode notes.

The Epiphany. Melchizedek and the Magi. Episode notes.