On this Hill #5 - Divine Mercy

In this fifth episode of On This Hill, hosts Wes Olsen and Craig Weinberg kick things off with their signature blend of music, banter, and “value-for-value” reflections—thanking their studio musicians, joking about dreadlocks and haircuts, and inviting listeners to subscribe or donate at onthishill.org.

They then dive into a rich conversation sparked by Craig’s recent encounter with the Broadway musical Hadestown, using its mythic “don’t look back” storyline to explore how God’s commandments serve as protective guideposts rather than burdensome rules. From there they wander into “sonic theology,” discussing the Hammond organ’s call-and-response roots in Black church worship and how music itself can convey spiritual truths.

The heart of the episode tackles the Divine Mercy Chaplet versus the traditional rosary. Drawing from St. Faustina’s 1930s visions, they outline how the chaplet directly invokes Christ’s redemptive sacrifice, promises extraordinary graces on Divine Mercy Sunday, and immerses the soul in Calvary’s mystery. In contrast, the rosary meditates on Mary’s life and intercession “at the right hand of the King of Kings.” They wrestle with Catholic doctrines of purgatory, sacramental theology, and private revelations—ultimately affirming that faith in Christ alone should be the bedrock, above any ritual or institution.

They close by teasing next week’s deep dive into what “church membership” really means—both biblically and legally—and reminding listeners to send prayer requests or show feedback via onthishillpodcast@pm.me. Stand firm, ask the hard questions, and join them “on this hill.”