Explore every episode of the podcast A Psychologist looks at Scripture
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mt 21. 33–43 Oct 4, 2026 Did God Require the Cross—or Did Jesus Reveal God Through It? | 27 Sep 2026 | 00:10:44 | |
In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who plants a vineyard, leases it to tenants, and then sends servants to collect the harvest. The tenants beat, stone, and kill the servants. Finally, the landowner sends his son, saying, “They will respect my son.” Instead, the tenants kill him as well, hoping to take possession of the inheritance. Matthew’s Gospel presents the parable as a warning that the kingdom of God will be entrusted to a people who produce its fruits. This interpretation has sometimes been used to suggest that God rejected the Jewish people and replaced them with Christians. Such a reading is dangerous and fails to respect the Jewish roots of Jesus, his disciples, and the Christian faith. Rather than using this parable to condemn another people, we should allow it to challenge every religious community—including our own. The question is not, “Who are the wicked tenants?” The question is, “How have we treated what God has entrusted to us?” | |||
| Mt 21.28-32 Sept 27-26 The Wages of Obedience: Why Saying Yes Isn’t Enough | 20 Sep 2026 | 00:07:09 | |
There is little room for misunderstandings in this parable. I am sure the Pharisees and Scribes who heard this story for the first time must have bristled in annoyance as they knew Jesus was referring to them. This parable speaks to us today as well. | |||
| Mt 20.1-16 Sept 20-26 Same Wage, Different Hours: Why God’s Generosity Feels Unfair | 13 Sep 2026 | 00:08:05 | |
I have often asked this question, If your faith became illegal, would there be enough evidence for your neighbor’s to convict you? This question is adapted from a question asked by John Wooden, a deeply religious basketball coach in 1997. This question highlights the deeper question about how much our faith impacts our daily life choices. I am reminded of this question when I reflect on the parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. This parable challenges our understanding of justice and mercy. It is a challenging parable. We may find ourselves more sympathetic to the workers who had worked all day and less so to those who only worked for an hour. I am reminded of the parable of the prodigal son found in Luke 15:11-32. I have given workshops on forgiveness and have used this parable to describe God’s forgiveness. I have noticed however that many people are more sympathetic to the eldest son, the responsible one, the one who stayed home and worked in his father’s fields than the son receiving his father’s merciful forgiveness. | |||
| Mt.18.21- 35 Sep 13- 26 The Debt You Could Never Repay—and the Grudge You Won’t Release | 05 Sep 2026 | 00:07:14 | |
In today’s Gospel Peter asks a question to Jesus, how many times does one forgive someone? Excellent question, to paraphrase Peter, Jesus is asked about the limits of forgiveness. Jesus poetically points out that forgiveness is limitless to anyone following him. This answer is not surprising; as Jesus frequently spoke about forgiveness. One of the last statements he made before his death on the cross is the prayer, “forgive them father for they do not know what they are doing”! Forgiveness in various forms is found in all major religions. Christianity is no different. I have spoken about forgiveness in this podcast. I invite my listeners to check out the editions on April 20, 2026, November 9, 2025, and February 16, 2025, for insights on forgiveness. | |||
| Mt.18.15-20 Sep 6-26 “Tell Them to Their Face”: Jesus’ Radical Psychology of Conflict | 30 Aug 2026 | 00:11:43 | |
This week’s Gospel reminds me of the letters of St. Paul to the Corinthians where he is addressing the different factions. Jesus realized that when two or more people get together there will be disagreements and in some cases conflict. Misunderstandings and different perspectives will impact all communities regardless of how unified or religious they are. Despite his frequent calls for peace, Jesus knew his followers would need to know how to deal with conflict. So many of the teachings of Jesus speak about how the expression of our faith is impacted by how we treat people. One of my favorite examples of this is the teaching from Matthew 25:40, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” We basically relate to God through our interactions with others. | |||
| C 22 0T Mt 16:21-27 “Get Behind Me, Satan”: Was Jesus Rebuking Peter—or His Own Fear? | 23 Aug 2026 | 00:09:28 | |
The most significant line in this Gospel is Jesus saying, “Get behind me, Satan”. In the past when I have preached on this Gospel, I’ve always understood this passage as Jesus directing this comment to Peter, thus indicating that while Peter recognized Jesus as the Messiah, he did not fully understand the mission. I am now wondering if Jesus was making this comment to himself. I wonder if Jesus had a brief moment of wanting to believe Peter and not have to suffer the fate he knew would be his. Let me share with you why I think this. | |||
| Mt: 16:13–20 Aug 23-26 Who is the Son of Man to YOU? | 17 Aug 2026 | 00:11:04 | |
It must have been frustrating for Jesus when people failed to recognize who he was. Some thought he was a prophet who had returned from the dead. Jesus was making a very direct point: people in the past had responded more positively to the prophets than his own generation was responding to him. Even John the Baptist had to make clear that he was not the Messiah, but that someone greater than himself was to come. Images of God are important to our spiritual lives, but every image has its limitations. No single image can fully contain the mystery of God. So I invite you to reflect on your own image of God. What do you expect God to be like? How do you expect God to act? Is there room for growth in your understanding? | |||
| C 20 OT Mt 15.21-29 Aug 16-26 Finding Jesus beyond the Fold | 09 Aug 2026 | 00:07:12 | |
In this Gospel, Jesus is approached by an unnamed Canaanite woman who asks him for help. At first, Jesus responds in a way that seems unusually critical. In biblical times, the Canaanites were regarded as outsiders and rivals, but that alone does not fully explain the sharpness of Jesus’ words. Perhaps Jesus is using a teaching style, or perhaps he is making a deeper point. What stands out is that the woman is not intimidated. Although she is not Jewish, she appears to understand something important about Jesus and his mission. She does not try to argue or force the issue. Instead, she responds with courage, humility, and insight. She seems to understand that, in Jewish expectation, the Messiah would first come to Israel and then extend salvation to the Gentiles. She does not give up. She remains proactive. Using metaphor, she respectfully reminds Jesus that the promise of God is not either/or, but both/and. In doing so, she shows a remarkable grasp of who Jesus is. That must have been refreshing for him, given how often he had to deal with misunderstanding from the disciples and others. | |||
| MT 14.22-33 Aug 9-26 “Fear Brought You Here—Now What? Lessons from Peter on the Water” | 02 Aug 2026 | 00:11:58 | |
Today’s podcast focusses on the Gospel of Matthew 14:22-33. It will be read in churches on August the 9, 2026. This Gospel is unusual. The Gospel focusses on Jesus’ walking on water and when asked by the disciple Peter, Jesus invites Peter to walk on water with him. There is no other Gospel like it. There are two other Gospels that are very unusual too. We have the account of the Transfiguration, from Matthew 17:1–9 and the story about “Paying the Temple Tax” where Jesus is asked to pay a temple tax and he instructs Peter to go out fishing for him and Peter catches a fish with the coin in his mouth, Matthew 17:24–27. I am not sure I could write a homily on that Gospel. It may not mean anything, but I noticed that the disciple Peter is involved in all three of the unusual Gospel experiences. I would like to focus your attention to the dialogue between Peter and Jesus. Peter asks if he can come to him. Jesus says yes and Peter jumps out but fear gets to him and he starts to sink. Notice that Jesus does not comment on Peter’s fear but rather his lack of faith. | |||
| Mt 14. 13-21 Aug 2 26 “Co-Creators or Bystanders? Rethinking Your Role in God’s Work” | 26 Jul 2026 | 00:08:50 | |
Today’s Gospel is one of the two stories of Jesus feeding a large crowd. I have spoken about this theme before. I invite my listeners to check out my podcasts released on June 15, 2025, and another on July 21, 2024, for different reflections on this Scripture passage. What is noteworthy is that Jesus uses the meagre contribution of humans to do great things. There are many examples of Jesus using the contribution of humans to do so much more. In Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–15 — the feeding of the 5,000: a boy’s loaves and fish are brought to Jesus, and he multiplies them. In Matthew 15:32–39; Mark 8:1–10 — the feeding of the 4,000: the available bread and fish are used to feed the crowd. | |||
| C OT 17 Mt:13.44-52 Jul 26-26 “Letting Go to Enter In: The Counterintuitive Psychology of God’s Kingdom” | 20 Jul 2026 | 00:07:37 | |
The Gospel for July 26, 2026 continues with the theme of describing the kingdom of God. Again, the kingdom of God appears to be something we live here on Earth. Jesus is not addressing what Heaven will be like but rather teaching us how to achieve Heaven. It appears the Gospel is a collection of teachings of Jesus linked together by common theme. There are a couple of themes worth noting here. We have an individual finding treasure and sell everything so that he can obtain the treasure. Nothing else is important. The selling off of possessions to purchase the field also has a notion of sacrifice and freeing up the individual to pursue what is valued by them. This is not a new theme. Jesus requires letting go of possessions, obligations, or burdens — especially Matthew 4:18–22 / Mark 1:16–20 (the first disciples leaving nets), Luke 5:27–28 (Levi/Matthew leaving his tax booth), Luke 9:57–62 (warnings about delaying or returning for family/business), Luke 14:25–33 (the cost of discipleship and renouncing possessions), Mark 10:17–31 / Matthew 19:16–30 (the rich young man told to sell all and follow), | |||
| Mt 13:24-43 July 19, 2026 Inside the Kingdom: Life Reimagined | 12 Jul 2026 | 00:06:38 | |
In this Gospel, Jesus presents three parables that illuminate God’s plan for creation. The first is the parable of wheat and the weeds. A farmer’s field is deliberately sown with weeds by an enemy. When the plants begin to grow, the laborers offer to remove the weeds, but the landowner declines, recognizing that in doing so they may also uproot the wheat. At a practical level, many who garden will recognize the risk of pulling out healthy plants along with weeds. At a deeper level, Jesus is speaking about the coexistence of good and evil and the necessity of discernment. Human beings are not simply passive actors; we are moral people capable of choice. Without alternatives, there can be no true choosing—only compliance. | |||
| July 12, 2026 Mt 13.1-23 Seeds Everywhere, Roots Nowhere: Why Faith Fails to Take Hold | 05 Jul 2026 | 00:06:58 | |
In the Gospel today we hear one of the most famous of parables. Jesus uses a well-known event to describe people’s faith experience. People would be familiar with gardens especially vegetable gardens. Most people did not have the luxury of growing flowers for their beauty. As I have mentioned in a previous podcast the gardener was quite generous in sowing the seed. Likely people took notice. Collecting seeds for next season’s garden was critical if you wanted food in the next season. After some reflection and to put this in a more positive perspective the gardener was indeed very generous with the seeds. He wasn’t being selective. Every space got an opportunity to receive the seed. Later the disciples ask Jesus to explain the parable. Its very clear and simple. Jesus is talking about threats to our spirituality and faith. Notice that in no situation did the seed refuse to grow. But something happened, not immediately but something later prevented the seed from growing. | |||
| Mt 11.25-30 Not Just for the Wise: How Scripture Undermines Spiritual Elitism | 28 Jun 2026 | 00:06:08 | |
This passage is distinctive in that Matthew presents Jesus offering a prayer of thanksgiving. Jesus praises the Father because understanding has been revealed to the “little ones”—those without status or power—while remaining hidden from those who might be expected to possess knowledge. The message is clear: true knowledge of God is not achieved solely through human effort or intellectual attainment, but is ultimately received through relationship with Christ. | |||
| June 28, 2026 Mt 10.37-42 God or Everything Else: Why He Refuses to Be Second | 22 Jun 2026 | 00:07:22 | |
At first hearing, this Gospel may seem somewhat jarring. However, its central theme is not unfamiliar. It echoes the foundation of our faith. Jesus teaches that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and that the second is to love your neighbor as yourself, as found in Matthew 22:36–40. At the same time, Scripture also calls us to honor our father and mother, and we recall the powerful account of Abraham being asked to sacrifice Isaac in Genesis 22. Across these passages, a consistent thread emerges: God is to be the most important relationship in our lives. As we have noted before, Jesus often used strong and even extreme language to emphasize his message. | |||
| Mt 10.26-33, “Anxious Faith: When Jesus Tells You to Calm Down” | 14 Jun 2026 | 00:07:11 | |
The early Christian community lived with significant fear—fear of rejection, persecution, and uncertainty about God’s presence in their suffering. That experience remains familiar today. While Scripture frequently refers to the “fear of the Lord,” it is noteworthy that this exact expression does not appear in the Gospels. Traditionally, it has been understood as reverence rather than terror. Even as a child, I recall questioning this language—why speak of “fear” when “reverence” seems clearer? That tension highlights how easily fear can be misunderstood in both faith and life. From a psychological perspective, fear is often at the root of many human struggles. It can manifest as pride, driven by fear of insignificance or weakness; as anger or violence, rooted in perceived threat or humiliation; as deceit, arising from fear of exposure or rejection; and even in forms of sexual behaviour that attempt to compensate for loneliness or inadequacy. Recognizing fear beneath these patterns can be important, particularly when we are trying to understand or forgive others. | |||
| Mt 9:36-10-8 June 14-26 Go, But Not There: Unpacking Jesus’ Confusing Commands | 07 Jun 2026 | 00:08:56 | |
In this Gospel, Jesus sends out his disciples to minister to the people. We don’t know exactly at what point in Jesus ministry did he send out the disciples. We have many references to Jesus sending out his disciples to evangelize people from different cultures. I want to draw your attention to several points made in this reading. Jesus instructs them not to go to pagan territory. He is more specific when he cautions his disciples not to go into a Samaritan town. This is very unexpected as we have many scriptural references to Jesus visiting Samaria. | |||
| C Mt 9:36-10:8 Jun 7-26 When God Becomes Food: The Intimacy That Confuses and Terrifies Us | 31 May 2026 | 00:08:44 | |
Today's reading needs to be unpacked to grasp the full meaning of the Gospel. Likely, this Gospel is of the same caliber as many of Jesus' statements that were meant to challenge the people and focus on the passion of the teachings. Other examples of this model include Matthew 18:9: "It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell." Another example is from Matthew 18:8–9, where He adds the hand and foot together: "If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter life lame or maimed than having two hands or two feet to be thrown into eternal fire." Likely, these readings were not meant to be taken literally; they powerfully describe the passion of Jesus' teaching. | |||
| John 3:16-18 May 31-26 Love Without Exception: How God’s Love Transforms the Human Heart | 24 May 2026 | 00:07:55 | |
Love is a defining theme throughout John’s Gospel. Not only does John emphasize God’s love for us, but he also stresses our call to love one another. In John 13:34–35, Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples.” Loving others becomes the visible sign of our faith. Love is also central to spiritual growth. Across many traditions, love is understood as a transformative force—one that moves us beyond self-centeredness and opens us to a broader, deeper awareness of life. As we grow spiritually, our capacity to love expands. This makes love not only spiritually significant but also psychologically essential. Nurturing stable and supportive relationships leads to better mood, reduced distress, and greater resilience. | |||
| John 20:19-23 “The Fire and the Psyche: What Pentecost Means for Inner Transformation?” | 17 May 2026 | 00:09:01 | |
We have the disciples gathered behind lock doors. There they are processing their experience of crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. That is all they can do. Then God’s mysterious presence in the form of the Spirit moves these individuals to courageously share faith with anyone who will listen. There is no indication that they gained insight into their experiences, and the Spirit doesn’t offer to protect them. Only one disciple, John, would die from natural causes. The rest would ultimately give up their life for their faith. The apostles will share their faith to all people regardless of racial origin or religious background. We read that there were many people in Jerusalem from different cultures and they are able to understand the disciples. It is miraculous. We ought not be too surprised. In the Gospel that describes the Ascension of Jesus, final instructions were that the disciples are to baptize all nations. | |||
| Ascension Mt 28:16-20 "The Ascension and the Ache of Letting Go: Why Goodbyes Shape the Soul" | 10 May 2026 | 00:07:17 | |
Like many goodbyes, the Ascension is bittersweet. Jesus has completed his ministry on Earth. He can have a sense of accomplishment. Yet he is saying goodbye to his disciples. There were likely many positive memories of comradeship, caring and supporting each other. He reassures them they will have help in their ministry in the form of the Spirit of Truth, the Advocate, or the Holy Spirit. Saying goodbye is often not easy. Have you ever had the experience of saying to someone who was leaving, “see you later” while knowing in your heart that you will not likely see them again? Why do we do this? It’s not easy to let go of someone or something we love, value or has meaning in our lives. Some people cope by not investing in people at all because they have been hurt or know that there will likely come a time when they will have to say goodbye. | |||
| Jn 14:15-21-May 10 26 "Truth: The Raw Foundation of Divine Love" | 03 May 2026 | 00:08:12 | |
As Jesus introduces the spirit of Truth as part of our relationship with God. Truth is absolutely foundational for spiritual growth, not just an optional “nice‑to‑have” accessory. In Christian teaching, truth is what God uses to convert and set people free. Spiritual growth therefore depends on a willingness to hear teaching, examine one’s life, and reject self‑deception, which is why “hunger for truth” is listed as an indicator of genuine spiritual growth alongside love and hatred of sin. With these elements spiritual growth happens; without it, our growth becomes shallow, fragile, or even counterfeit. | |||
| Jn 14:1-12 May 3-26 The God You Picture Shapes Your Mental Health—Is Yours Healthy? | 26 Apr 2026 | 00:08:06 | |
In today’s edition there is a lot going on in this Gospel which is typical in John’s Gospel. The Gospel starts with Jesus trying to reassure his disciples. He speaks about providing a place for them and returning to come and get them. It is obvious that Jesus is feeling a connection and is being protective of them. When people feel they belong—whether in a family, community, or spiritual group—they are more willing to be vulnerable, explore questions of meaning, and let themselves be “seen” by others and by the Divine. It is important to examine who is Jesus for you? Is he relevant to your life? What is his personality like? Are you comfortable seeing Jesus as brother, a friend, wise mentor? I am always fascinated with the answers I get when I ask who is God for you? Some believe in God but see God as a supreme being, others a creator or judge. How we perceive God goes a long way on how we relate to our God and our spiritual development. | |||
| A 4 East Jn 10.1-10 Apr 26-26 Faith’s Breaking Point: Surviving the Crisis of Trust | 20 Apr 2026 | 00:09:16 | |
One of the techniques that Jesus used was using situations that the people would be familiar with. The readings today are no exception. The people would be familiar with the gate keeper for the sheep. To give you some background, most villages had a walled in field where the local shepherds would bring their flocks for the night. The shepherds would take their turn guarding the gate to make sure no one came it to hurt any of the sheep. I am thinking of people who might want to have lamb chops for supper. This arrangement allowed the shepherds to spend time with their families. In the morning the shepherds would come and literally call their sheep out by name. This teaching focuses on the protective aspect of our God. This is not the only example of God’s protective stance. Do you have a sense of God’s protective love? Sadly, many do not feel this protective love and more than once felt abandoned or wonder if God actually cares or has taken a hands-off approach. | |||
| Lk 24.13-35 Apr 19-26 Burning Hearts, Blind Eyes: Why We Miss the Divine in Plain Sight | 12 Apr 2026 | 00:08:53 | |
In today’s edition from Luke 24 we hear about two disciples on a walk from Jerusalem to a village 7 miles away called Emmaus. While it seems like an innocent walking excursion, there is so much going on. We gain insight into the early days of the Church. Two of his disciples are discussing what had happen in Jerusalem just a few days ago. The situation suddenly became very interesting when they were joined by what appeared to be a very uninformed stranger. The stranger admits his lack of knowledge and the two travellers take it upon themselves to “educate” the stranger about Jesus and his crucifixiion. I would like to focus on the statement that the disciples recognize that their hearts burned within them. Their intuition recognized Jesus for who he is. This statement poetically reminds us that while it is important to have knowledge of Scripture and even Theology, we also need to pay attention to what is going on in our hearts to discern the will of God and grow in our spirituality. | |||
| Easter John 20:19-31 Apr 12-26 Beyond Pacifism: Unpacking Christ's Radical Call to Peace | 05 Apr 2026 | 00:06:40 | |
Jesus greets his disciples with "Peace," the first words he speaks—signaling its central place in our spirituality. Amid world events and ongoing wars, this topic feels especially timely. Jesus frequently taught about peace: from the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the peacemakers" (Mt 5:9); to instructions for entering a house (Mt 10:13); and Zechariah's prophecy at his Presentation in the Temple, guiding our feet into the way of peace (Lk 1:79). Yet peace is often misunderstood. | |||
| Easter Jn 20:1-9 Apr 5, 26 The Empty Tomb's Echo: Trauma and Triumph in Early Faith. | 29 Mar 2026 | 00:07:55 | |
On April 5, 2026, we celebrate Easter, the radiant heart of Christianity, with joyful celebrations, family gatherings, and renewed hope. Yet in our familiarity, we risk missing its visceral intensity. We view the full story through history's lens—what comes next is assured. But imagine the raw uncertainty: the searching, questioning, desperate hoping, and plunging despair of those first witnesses. Tuning into their emotions isn't mere curiosity; it mirrors our own struggles to make sense of chaos, offering empathy and insight for today's followers. | |||
| MT 21.1-11 Mar 29-26 Hail to the King: When Adoration Turns to Betrayal | 22 Mar 2026 | 00:09:27 | |
There are many spiritual lessons in this seemly simple Gospel. At the beginning of the Gospel Jesus gives very specific instructions. I suspect Matthew is telling his listeners that Jesus knew what was going on and that this was a very deliberate act. I wonder what Jesus was thinking about while he was on the colt entering the city. He is listening to the people shout hosanna, wave palm branches which was a customary way to welcome an important dignitary. I am sure he appreciated the warm welcome he was receiving from the people. But he knew that the same people who were honouring him with the words “Hosanna” would within a week be yelling “crucify him” as he was carrying his cross. It is often stated that Jesus knew what thoughts were in people’s hearts, check out John 2:24-25. It must have been a difficult time for him. | |||
| 5 Jn 11:1-45, Mar 22-26 Awakening the Soul: Lazarus' Story Through Spiritual Psychology | 15 Mar 2026 | 00:08:19 | |
The Gospel for March 22, 2026, is the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. This is one of three resurrection stories in the Gospels—the others involve Jairus's daughter and the son of the widow of Nain. What sets Lazarus's story apart? Jesus knew Lazarus, along with his sisters Mary and Martha, whom we've encountered before. The deepest lessons emerge before the miracle itself. Jesus invites us to see death differently. Awareness of mortality prompts us to prioritize what truly matters, fostering deeper appreciation for life. This shifts focus from trivial worries to making meaningful actions, building psychological resilience and stronger relationships. | |||
| John 9.1-34 Pharisees' Blind Spot: Escape Groupthink Today | 08 Mar 2026 | 00:08:05 | |
The Pharisees are fixated on the fact that Jesus healed the man on the Sabbath and missing the more significant and obvious miracle of a man being given the opportunity to see for the very first time. The Pharisees clearly have an agenda and rigidly hold on to it despite the facts and that their perspective is literally missing the bigger picture. . The man who was once blind has not only gained his sight but is able to see more than the Pharisees who have always had their sight. | |||
| John 4.5-43 Mar 8-26 From Trauma to Truth: Jesus' Radical Therapy at the Well | 01 Mar 2026 | 00:07:02 | |
Jesus reveals he's the Messiah only three times in the Gospels (here, to a Samaritan woman; and twice at his trial). He sees her wounds but also her resilience and faith. Despite pain, she's tied to her community. I wonder if these qualities made her a good candidate for Jesus to share his true identity with her. Unlike the sceptical Pharisees, she grasps who Jesus is—and leads her village to him. In John 4:40–42, the Samaritans invite him to stay two days. Many villagers believe through his words, telling her, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; we have heard for ourselves, and we know this is truly the Savior of the world." This verse is incredible. The people are converted by the preaching alone. There is no record of miracles events – no healings or people getting fed. The people are converted by the Word alone. This is a different scenario from what Jesus usually experiences. | |||
| Mt 17:1-9 Mar 1, 2026 Peter, James, and John's radiant vision atop the mountain reveals altered states of consciousness, linking mystical experience to psychological transcendence | 22 Feb 2026 | 00:06:43 | |
The Transfiguration stands out from accounts of Jesus' healings and teachings. There's a group of miracles that feel different—perhaps even puzzling—but they're deeply spiritual. Consider Jesus walking on water and inviting Peter to join him (Matthew 14:22-33); calming the storm amid the disciples' pleas (Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41; Luke 8:22-25); turning water into wine at a wedding (John 2:1-11); finding a coin in a fish's mouth for the temple tax (Matthew 17:24-27); or casting demons into a herd of pigs (Matthew 8:28-34; Mark 5:1-20; Luke 8:26-39). You might think of others. | |||
| Mt 4.1-11 Feb 22-26 Stones to Bread: When Desire Hijacks Your Divine Calling | 15 Feb 2026 | 00:06:48 | |
In today’s podcast we focus on Matthew’s account of Jesus completing 40 days in the desert. It is not clear whether Matthew is drawing a connection between Jesus’ time in the desert and the Israelites wandering around in the desert for 40 years. What is noteworthy is that we have Jesus being tempted by the devil. The temptations give us insight into the heart and mission of Jesus. The first one is the devil suggesting that Jesus turn the stones into bread. Jesus is clearly hungry. He had fasted for a long time. It would make sense, at least superficially, to use his power to regain his strength. Jesus is not seduced by this reasoning and realized the ends did not justify the means. | |||
| Mt 5.17-37 Feb 15-26 Law as Spiritual Compass: Navigating Faith's Path | 08 Feb 2026 | 00:10:03 | |
As we develop our faith life our view of the law will change from following the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. Jesus was often critical of the Pharisees who lived by the letter of the law and chose not to recognize the purpose of the law. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus accused them of meticulously paying tithes on tiny herbs like mint, anise and cummin but ignoring "weightier matters" like justice, mercy, and faith, showing their focus on literal compliance over the Law's spirit. Jesus called them "blind guides" for straining gnats (minor ritual impurity) from water while swallowing camels (major violations), highlighting disproportionate literalism on trivial purity laws Matthew 23:24. | |||
| Mt 5.13-16 Feb 8-26 Jesus' Images: Spiritual Symbols, Mental Realms | 02 Feb 2026 | 00:07:26 | |
In today’s Gospel Jesus describes living our faith in three metaphors that would be easily understood by the first listeners. Also, I suspect the choice of the metaphors may have additional meaning too. The first metaphor that Jesus uses is comparing the impact of faith on others to the impact of salt on seasoning our food. The use of salt today has changed radically. We still need salt to prevent such diseases as hyponatremia and impacting insulin absorption for diabetics. Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure. It is not unusual for physicians to suggest to their patients to reduce their salt intake. I urge my listeners to hear these teachings in the context they were made. 2000 years ago, salt was a cherished commodity. Salt was used in food to improve taste. Other spices such as cinnamon and cumin were imported and available to the wealthy while other herbs and spices such as mint, thyme, garlic and onions were available to the average person. Salt was still very important, and, in many cases, people were paid in salt (or used it as a form of currency in various ancient societies where it held high value for preservation and trade. The word salary is from the word salt; reflecting the fact that many people were paid with salt. | |||
| Mt 5.1-12 Feb 1-26 Soul Science: The Beatitudes Unmasked | 25 Jan 2026 | 00:14:45 | |
In the podcast today we are introduced to a segment of the teachings of Jesus known as the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes gives us insight into the mind of Jesus. There is some debate about what Jesus actually meant but let’s look more closely. The Beatitudes are also found in Luke’s Gospel with some differences. For example, the first Beatitude is “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. | |||
| Mt 4.12-17 Jan 25-26 From Nets to the Unknown: The Disciples' Shocking Yes! | 19 Jan 2026 | 00:07:56 | |
This Gospel describes the early beginnings of Jesus ministry. The death of John the Baptist seems to be the trigger for Jesus, and he begins by inviting people to join him in his mission. There are two points I want to draw your attention to. In most cases one would expect the disciples to ask Jesus, but we have it the other way around. Jesus is asking them. It is noteworthy that Jesus is asking them so early in his ministry. Most of the disciples as far as we can tell were invited by Jesus for particular reasons, reasons that we can not be sure of. We do know that its not because they were particularly good or that they had achieved any special accomplishment. It is noteworthy to mention that we don’t have any record of Jesus inviting any of the Pharisees. | |||
| John 1:29-34 Jan 18-26 Where does doubt fit in my spirituality? | 11 Jan 2026 | 00:09:53 | |
The lesson for us is not to get alarmed if we have periods of doubt or question aspects of our faith. As pointed out, these are signs of an adult faith. I invite you to see doubts as an invitation to explore, to be curious, to question and be motivated to resolve the doubt. The sad part is that so many people just hold the tension and do little or nothing with their doubts. Some people are worried that their faith is weak and are reluctant to do anything or seek help. This is probably the worst possible choice. Check out the podcast about Disbelieving Thomas published on March 31, 2024. St. Thomas and his doubt experience can provide insight into understanding those periods of doubt in our own faith journey. John the Baptist’s faith life will be a source of spiritual hope for you. | |||
| Mt 3.13-17 Jan 11-25 Unburden the Soul: Faith, Forgiveness, and Mental Freedom | 04 Jan 2026 | 00:08:05 | |
Today’s edition focuses on the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. This is only recorded direct episode of Jesus interacting with John the Baptist. To give you some context, John was inviting people to the Jordan River for a spiritual cleansing. This spiritual cleansing has been referred to as Baptism. John the Baptist was not the first to use this model of using water to wash away sin. There are many examples in Scripture of special rituals used to described spiritual washing. Two examples from the Hebrew Testament are Ezekiel 36:25 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleanness.” From Isaiah 1:16 we have “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes.” From the New Testament we have Hebrews 10:22, “Our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” There are others but you get the point. This raises the question, why did Jesus request a spiritual practise that was used to wash away sin when Jesus did not sin? | |||
| Mt 2.1-12 Jan 4-26 - The arrival of the Magi | 28 Dec 2025 | 00:09:19 | |
This Gospel speaks about the days after the birth of Jesus. What should have been a joyous event has a very dark layer behind it. In this account we have the Magi coming to acknowledge the birth of a king. On this note I encourage my listeners to check out the editions of this podcast published on December 29, 2024, and December 30, 2023, where I speak about the Wisemen and the role they played. The wisemen were looking for the infant who would be king of the Jews. Even though the Star that was guiding them was according to tradition, a testimony that something very special was happening, there is no indication that they actually thought or knew that they were some of the first witnesses to recognize the birth of the Messiah. | |||
| Mt 2.13-15, 19-23 Family December 28-25 | 21 Dec 2025 | 00:07:22 | |
In today’s Gospel we hear of another dream that Joesph had. If you are joining us for the first time, I urge you to listen to last weeks podcast edition where I speak about the dreams that Joseph had. I also recommend that you listen to the December 17th edition published in 2023 where I speak about Joseph’s mission. Today I want to speak about the dream that Joseph has. In the dream Joseph is warned to flee to Egypt as the king was plotting to kill the child. I want to draw your attention to fact that the angel directed Joseph to take the child to Egypt. We never learn where in Egypt or how long they would live in Egypt. I cannot help but wonder why Egypt? There were many other countries or places Joesph could have been directed to go. Don’t forget that the Jews had experienced slavery in Egypt. The book of Exodus, one of the books in the Torah is devoted to the Jews gaining their freedom and embarking on reclaiming the promised land. Passover is one of the most widely observed and venerated Jewish holidays, embodying themes of freedom, faith, and community remembrance that are central to Jewish life and spirituality. Yet, Egypt is the country chosen to protect the Messiah. | |||
| Mt 1:18-24 Dec 21-25 Dreams and the Divine: Pathways to Spiritual Growth | 14 Dec 2025 | 00:10:54 | |
In this podcast today I will be focusing on the dreams that Joseph had. We don’t have much else on St. Joseph. We don’t hear much about him after the birth of Jesus. He is mentioned in the story of the finding in the temple when Jesus was 12 years old but that is it. We learn that Joseph was a dreamer. There are four dreams recorded, outlining what Joseph experienced. In Matthew 1:16, 18-20, an angel appears in the dream instructing Joseph to take Mary as his wife, in Matthew 2:13-14 Joseph dreams that they are in danger so decide to flee to Egypt. In Matthew 2:19-20 Joseph returns because in a dream he learns that it is now safe. He has another dream Mt 2:22 instructing him to live in Galilee. In each case Joseph makes a significant choice. I am wondering if our dreams may also have an important place in our spirituality. | |||
| A Adv 3 Mt 11:2-11 Dec 14-25 Voices in the Wilderness: Guiding Spiritual Growth Together | 07 Dec 2025 | 00:09:13 | |
John was the Hearld of the Messiah. His role was simple, increase the awareness of the people of the coming Messiah. In the Gospel of John 3:30, John the Baptist says, "He must increase, but I must decrease," referring to Jesus Christ. This expresses John's understanding that his own role and influence were meant to diminish as Jesus' ministry and prominence grew. John’s statement reflects humility and the acknowledgment that Jesus must be exalted above all else. I am curious why Jesus had a herald, someone to prepare for him. Did Jesus need someone to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah. The people had been waiting for centuries. I suspect that many prophets played an important role in supporting Jesus. | |||
| Mt 3:1-12 Dec 7-25 The Forerunner’s Mindset: Understanding John the Baptist’s Life and Ministry | 30 Nov 2025 | 00:14:46 | |
I focus on information from the Scriptures and try to figure out what likely was the back story. I will attempt to explain more in detail as we unpack the life of John the Baptist. I am very careful in using tradition and historical context to gain insight into biblical times. Often tradition may have a political agenda and may not always be factual. For example, Christian tradition holds that Herodias, fearing John might come back to life if body and head were together, had John’s head buried in Herod’s palace in Jerusalem. Islamic tradition believes the head of John the Baptist is buried under a specific pillar in Damascus, Syria, which was once the Basilica of Saint John the Baptist. Some traditions also claim the head was buried on the Mount of Olives by Joanna, the wife of Chuza, where it remained hidden for centuries. Various relics purported to be of John have been claimed in several other places, including France, specifically Amiens Cathedral, Turkey, and other parts of the Middle East. I think you can see why I will not be commenting on where John the Baptist is buried. The good news is we can get more reliable insight to what the world was like from historians who lived and wrote at the time or shortly after the life of Jesus. | |||
| Mt 24.37-44 Nov 30-25 "Being Spiritually Alert: Reading the Room in Life and Faith" | 23 Nov 2025 | 00:07:42 | |
I recognize that staying alert can be exhausting at times and there may be times when taking a break would be appropriate. I highly recommend developing skills to reflect on our lives when we might not have been as alert as we needed to be. Retreats, Devotions such as the Daily Examination of conscience, a prayerful reflection developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola may be helpful. Other examples are spiritual direction, contemplative prayer, Lectio Divina which is a meditative reading and contemplation of Scripture that draws attention to God's word through slow, reflective reading and prayerful response. These spiritual exercises help us compensate when we are not alert and need extra help to focus. Developing a reflective stance is worth the cost. Finding time and space in your life will not be easy for some. | |||
| Luke 23.35-43 The Outlaw’s Insight: Understanding Jesus Through Unexpected Eyes | 16 Nov 2025 | 00:07:38 | |
This Gospel describes some of the last moments of the life of Jesus on Earth. The Gospel seems more appropriate for Lent and Easter. Jesus says very little. He is dying on the cross, he is dismissed by the leaders who are responsible for his death. The most interesting conversation is between the two condemned men who are being crucified with Jesus. We do not know what their crimes were. In those days it did not take much to be condemned to death. We know nothing about the criminals. The two criminals take very different positions with Jesus. The first one taunts Jesus but is rebuked by the second who seems to have an amazing understanding of who Jesus is. It is ironic that the Pharisees with all their training in Scripture fail in recognizing Jesus as the Messiah yet here we have this criminal who is being executed but he is able to recognize who Jesus is. The criminal is rewarded for his faith. I suspect that the other criminal was pardoned too. There is no limit in the willingness of Jesus to forgive. | |||
| Luke 21.5-19 Nov 16-25 From Judas to Us: Understanding Betrayal Through Scripture and Science | 09 Nov 2025 | 00:10:55 | |
Jesus warns us that we will be betrayed not just by anyone but by people who are close to us, family members. Experiencing betrayal is unfortunately more common than we would like. Being betrayed by those who are close to us is especially hurtful. Betrayal undermines our ability to trust. Have you ever experienced betrayal? Betrayal is a prevalent theme in the Gospels. From the moment Jesus was born there was betrayal. I direct you to Matthew 2: 1-12 where the wisemen who have tracked the star to Bethlehem ask King Herod where the infant king of the Jews is. After consulting with his advisors, he tells the wisemen to go find the child and report back to him so can go and give homage. The scheme almost worked but the wisemen are warned in a dream not to go back to Herod. King Herod lied to the wisemen to get information from them so he could kill the child. He betrayed the wisemen who had made it clear to Herod that their intention was to pay homage to the child not set him up to be killed. | |||
| John 2.13-22 Nov 9-25 Jesus speaking his truth to power | 02 Nov 2025 | 00:11:09 | |
Todays Gospel is quite different from most others. In this Gospel we have Jesus aggressively driving the money changes and sellers out of the temple. At first glance it is quite different from Jesus’ usual way. There are no immediate teachings, healings or witty dialogue. It is clear that Jesus is passionate about his faith, and he is not willing to compromise. Professor David Landry of the University of St. Thomas and many other biblical scholars suggest that "the importance of the episode is signalled by the fact that within a week of this incident, Jesus is dead”. This event likely functioned as the 'trigger' for Jesus' death. The Scribes and Pharisees tolerated Jesus. They did not like the fact that Jesus was popular with the people, his insightful teachings and the fact that Jesus won every debate with them. It was not until Jesus attacked their financial interests did, they escalate their intentions to stop him. Before I go any further, should you wish to follow up on this theory, I invite you to check out David Landry’s article "God in the Details: The Cleansing of the Temple in Four Jesus Films". published in 2009 in the Journal of Religion & Film. | |||
| Luke 7,11-17 Nov 2 – 25 "Life Restored: The Widow’s Son and the Jesus Miracle" | 26 Oct 2025 | 00:07:30 | |
There are three stories in the Gospels where Jesus raises someone from the dead. We have the story of Lazarus being raised (John 11:38-44), Jarius’ 12-year-old daughter being raised as recorded in (Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40 and Matthew 9:18-26) and now in today’s Gospel we hear about Jesus raising the son of a widow in a town called Nain. What is interesting in this Gospel is how few facts we have about the story. In the two previous resurrection stories we have names, and we are made aware of some background information, and we are provided teachings but not here. It’s clear that this resurrection was not planned. If Jesus had arrived an hour earlier or the funeral was an hour later there would have been no miracle. What does this mean? | |||
| Lk 18.9-14 Oct 26-25 "Faith or Facade? Unpacking Motives in Doing Good" | 19 Oct 2025 | 00:08:07 | |
So, we overhear the prayers of two very different men. One man, the Pharisees has done a lot and includes what he has done in a list expecting I guess to impress God. He was doing okay until he compared himself to the tax collector. The second man, the Tax collector has said little but admits to his wrongdoing and is truly sorry. It must have come as a shock to the first listeners to this parable. There are several points to this story. Appearances can be deceiving. It’s important not to rush to judgement. Also, despite the tax collector’s past he did have one thing the Pharisee lacked and that is the awareness of who he was. I wonder if being aware of where we need to grow and change in our lives is important for the development of our spirituality. I am not talking about being self deprecating but choosing rather to seek self awareness and humility that might be critical in the development of our spirituality. Likely the Pharisee was not aware that he had completely missed the values of the practice of his faith. Because of his lack of self-awareness, it is likely that he will not see the need for personal growth or recognize opportunities in his life to grow. | |||