The parable of the pharisee and the tax collector (or publican) is again a parable about prayer but also a parable about the sin of pride and the virtue of humility. Pride leads to be being happy about oneself and the humility leads to being at rights with God. The latter is what we should be striving towards. The image used in this podcast is "The Pharisee and the Publican" by James Tissot painted somewhere between 1886 and 1894. It is the collection of the Brooklyn Museum, New York. If y...
The title of this podcast might have you wondering, particularly if you have looked at the readings for this Sunday's Holy Mass. If you listen you will see how the necessary reverence shown to the Blessed Sacrament fits within the question that Our Lord poses at the end of this Sunday's gospel. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you would like to support me in this work...
Amazing Grace is the title and first words of a well-known hymn, composed by John Newton. Its appeal goes wide among Christians. I have called this podcast after the hymn, not because I want to talk about it, or its composer, but rather because the Collect of today's Mass prays to God for grace to accompany us. So, I thought a teaching about grace would be in order. I find many Catholics do not fully understand the splendour, the power nor the amazing nature of grace. If you would like to co...
What a beautiful prayer that the disciples make to Jesus! Their request is one that we can make our own too. But as the Lord often does, He wishes to teach more than the disciples expect. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I will provide details for how you can make a donation. Music by Samue...
This Sunday's parable of Lazarus, the poor man, and Dives, the rich man, is a lesson in charity towards the poor but also a lesson in the end-of-life result of living separated from God, namely Hell. It's not popular to talk about Hell since the prevailing notion is that Hell does not exist, or that it is empty, or that as long as I am nice, I won't go there. But that is not what Our Lord teaches us in this parable and at many other times. The drawing, "The Rich Man and Lazarus" is from...
The parable of the steward in this Sunday's gospel is a masterful teaching story given to us by Our Lord Jesus. The steward is referred to as dishonest, unrighteous, cunning but also astute. What and how can he be all these at once? There are so many aspects to this parable, that deserve our attention, but too many, I think, to address all at once. But, I hope what I do focus on is helpful. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this v...
Today's important Feast Day supplants the Sunday in Ordinary Time and gives us another opportunity to reflect upon and appreciate the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, its immense and perfect power and its effect upon all of Creation. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I will provide details for how ...
This podcast, first of all, has some comments upon the school shooting during the past week in Minneapolis, continuing to address the reality of evil and human free will, which was mentioned in the previous podcast. Then attention is turned to Holy Communion as it is First Holy Communion Day in the parish. I explore many things and use some insights from the-soon-to-be-saint, Carlo Acutis. He called Holy Communion his highway to heaven. It worked for him. It can work for us too! If you...
To follow Christ faithfully and truly is not easy. He demands of us a surrender of our will and that we love Him with all our heart, and soul and mind. Some will not understand this. They may even be members of our family; some may be our friends. The world will not understand and may reject us because they have already rejected Him. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if y...
Please accept my apologies, I should have remembered to say this is the podcast. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I will provide details for how you can make a donation. Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay
The parable of the Good Samaritan is so well known. Let us not, though, be too familiar with it so as to miss whatever the Divine Teacher reveals to us each time we hear or read it. The image used for this podcast is The Good Samaritan by William Henry Margetson If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email an...
The word "abasement" is used in the Collect of this Sunday's Mass. What does it mean? And what is Christ's abasement? What does it have to do with us? Good questions deserve good answers. I hope this episode helps to answer those questions. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I will provide details fo...
Well, a special occasion! The feast day of two saints bumps aside the Sunday liturgy in Ordinary Time. We shouldn't be surprised because these two saints are both extraordinary and immensely significant for the Church. We know a deal about them in terms of their accomplishments and their endeavours. Also we know their words and their mind from the pages of the New Testament. But let us not forget that it is their love for Jesus and their holiness that brings us to celebrate their feast day. M...
What a great feast and solemnity! We honour the abiding presence of Christ in the tabernacle, the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus promised to be with His Church until the end of time and He fulfils that promise perfectly and constantly by His eucharistic presence. With thankful hearts and lively faith, let us keep this marvellous holy day. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if yo...
Our yearly contemplation of the profound mystery of the Holy Trinity brings us to the central doctrine of our faith. It is a mystery beyond our comprehension but one that God has allowed us to have access to, indeed, even one that shapes and directs our life. Praised be the most Blessed Trinity, one God in Three divine persons! If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you wou...
The Ascension of the Lord, celebrated in Australia on this Sunday (though biblically it really occurred last Thursday 40 days after Easter Sunday) is another major event in the Pachal Mystery. The Lord has physically left this earth leaving His Church to be His presence in the world and given to her an important and ongoing mission. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if yo...
What a marvellous reality does Jesus tells us in today's gospel reading: that God wants to dwell within our soul through the working of sanctifying grace! We don't deserve this. We don't merit it in any way. But this is God's gracious gift to us obtained for us by the Paschal Mystery, the life, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We must then be truly grateful and truly faithful. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do thi...
The command to love and the expectation that we love as Christ has loved us is at the very centre of our Christian faith. It could be said to define who we are as well as how we should act. St Thérèse of Lisieux is a teacher of love in her "little way" that she taught to the whole Church. May she pray for us that we may be faithful to the way of love. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.ca...
Good Shepherd Sunday is always the Fourth in Eastertide because we hear each year the Lord's own words about Himself and us; as flock and shepherd. It is true that our shepherd leads us to green pastures but also that His abiding presence makes us confident in times of trial and difficulty. Because He is beside us, there is nothing we shall want, nothing that we need that He will not supply. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this ...
The Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff is days away. In God's awesome providence, the divine Scriptures read at Mass this Sunday give us a powerful statement about the role of the Pope. Let us pray for a good and holy Pope, who is zealous for the faith. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I wil...