A Psychologist looks at Scripture

Send us Fan Mail This Gospel was written over 2,000 years ago and the world is still here so I am less convinced the readings were written to prepare us for the end times.  However, many of the early Christians understood these readings as a sign pointing to  the end of the world.  One of the reasons why the Gospels were written so late, was because many people believed Jesus literally, and that t...

Send us Fan Mail The lesson in today’s Gospel is clear, do not get seduced by appearances! There is also a sub-theme of humility. Jesus is critical of the Scribes for their hypocritical behaviour. As Luke 12:48,  states, "To whom much is given, much will be required." Jesus emphasized the idea of responsibility that comes with blessings and resources. The verse suggests that those who ha...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s Gospel Jesus is asked by a scribe, “Which commandment is the first of all?”  Jesus answers his question directly. Jesus talked about loving God exclusively, with all your heart, mind and all your strength. Jesus did not leave anything out. Jesus does not stop there but teaches that we are to love our neighbor as our selves. Jesus would later go on to define his understa...

Send us Fan Mail Bartimaeus was blind and so had to resort to begging to feed himself.  As a beggar he had to compete with other beggars in order to survive.  His life was undoubtedly harsh.  We do not know if he had any support from his family.   Probably, he learned to be pushy to get what he needed.  We can see his assertiveness in the Gospel reading.  He is not going to be stopped by a bunch o...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus points out that following him is not going to be easy and there are no special concessions.  Jesus is teaching his disciples and ultimately his followers about what following him is all about. This was an issue for the early Christians who were experiencing the persecutions who wondered why God allowed these terrible things to happen to His people.  The Scriptural passage fr...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s Gospel from Mark describe a man asking what must I do to inherit eternal life?  I want to draw your attention to the question.  I am struck by the fact that the man is focused solely on his own needs.  While there is nothing wrong with that the question it does say much about his level of faith development.  It is very self-focused.  Jesus asks the expected questions, arou...

Send us Fan Mail Many Christian denominations have interpreted this Scripture passage differently, but I want to draw your attention to the comment Jesus made, and I quote: “What  God has joined together, no human being must separate.”   This is a very important line.  We assume that when someone has a wedding in a Church witnessed before a priest or minister that they are married.   I’ve made it...

Send us Fan Mail Being passionate about one’s faith is not being fanatical.  Being passionate about one’s faith is being inspired, actively seeking deeper understanding and being committed to living the values in our faith life.  The problem is that anyone’s faith can become complacent, left unchallenged our faith may ultimately becomes stale.   In Matthew 5:13 Jesus states, “You are the salt of t...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus was very clear in his understanding of leadership.  For example, His teachings on leadership are found in Matthew 20:26, where he states, "But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant." This reflects the principle that true leadership is about serving others rather than seeking power or authority.  It is sad when o...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus, like any good lawyer never asked  a question that he did not already know the answer to. After the disciples answer his question Jesus increases the heat by asking them who they think he is.   Peter responds with the perfect answer and Jesus points out that his answer is a reflection of God’s presence in his life.  Unfortunately for Peter he continues talking and shows that...

Send us Fan Mail In today’s Gospel we have a description of a healing, specifically the healing of a deaf and mute man.  Jesus orders the man not to tell anyone but Jesus orders falls on deaf ears, if you don’t mind the irony and the miracle is proclaimed anyway. Jesus must have known that the miracle would be proclaimed, and the people could not keep this a secret.  Jesus probably couldn’t help h...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s Gospel reading is from a group of teachings where Mark describes Jesus challenging the Scribes and Pharisees about the practice of their faith. The Scribes and Pharisees were not doing anything wrong. They were literally following the law and the traditions of their ancestors. The point that Jesus is making with them is that they are focusing on little details and missing...

Send us Fan Mail This Gospel is likely one of the most difficult to understand. Understandably, his first listeners are struggling to comprehend this teaching especially because they were taking Jesus literally. Jesus develops the lesson inviting his listeners  to think on the level of Spirit.   We have an account of a significant loss of disciples here.  Many of the disciples found the teaching t...

Send us Fan Mail already figured out this is a very pronounced theme in John. This Gospel is likely one of the most difficult to understand. Without doubt, those who first heard Jesus speaking these words must have struggled to comprehend this teaching especially because they were taking Jesus literally.  We need to remember that Jesus has taught like this before, dramatic and in a style that port...

Send us Fan Mail Most loving relationships do  experience  the ebb and flow of relationships.  Relationships go through periods of intensity and periods of distance.   People  sometimes like being close and other times they need their space.  Its clear that God respects our space, but we can clearly see he is the pursuer in this relationship.  Some people may feel God is distant, not involved much...

Send us Fan Mail In the Gospel, we are told that the people have found Jesus after having searched for him for awhile.  Jesus challenges them to look at their reasons for following him.  Ideally Jesus probably wished they were following him because they wanted to learn more in order to deepen their faith.   Jesus realizes however, that most people are searching for him because they want to see mir...

Send us Fan Mail John describes the miracle of Jesus feeding a large group of followers. John indicated 5,000 men. We don’t know how many women or children were present.  I suspect there might be some exaggeration here.  Although Jesus knew what he was going to do, he still asks Philip to give an opinion of what could be done. It is a great teaching tool where the teacher highlights the student’s...

Send us Fan Mail In Today’s Gospel from Mark, we learn that the apostles had returned from some mission activity and are updating Jesus on their experiences.  What is immediately noteworthy is that Jesus’ first response is an invitation to get away and rest.  It seems to me that Jesus is talking about the value of rest. Jesus is a head of his time. Psychologists and other mental health professiona...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus is sending his disciples to gain some missionary experiences.  The first thing is that Jesus sends the disciples out two by two.  I thought Jesus could have doubled his impact by sending them out alone.  It becomes clear that Jesus is not concerned with numbers.   He is making several teaching points about spirituality and faith that are helpful in deepening our faith.  Jesu...

Send us Fan Mail The Gospel Mark 6:1-6 is unusual, it seems that Jesus is returning to his hometown, likely to visit his family and friends.   We don’t know if this visit occurred early in his mission work or towards the end.  However, his family and friends have heard about his ministry, and they are not impressed.  Jesus is understandably disappointed in their behavior and attitude.  Jesus did n...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s Gospel is a miracle story within a resurrection story.  The first is the story of a woman who is healed after many years of suffering from   hemorrhages.  This miracle story is unique as the miracle happens without her saying anything to Jesus.  She believes that she simply needs to touch the hem of his garment for the healing.  She is correct, she is indeed healed.   Jesu...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s Gospel describes an experience Jesus had with his disciples on the Sea of Galilee.  This story was well known during the early days of the Church, especially during the persecutions.    The early Church community was often in crisis as it dealt with factions from within and persecutions from the Roman Empire.  The people were often afraid and certainly asked themselves the...

Send us Fan Mail We have two very short parables where Jesus is describing the Kingdom of God.   The first question that comes to mind is what does Jesus mean by “kingdom of God”?  The term is used 126 times in the Gospels alone.   I am also reminded of the statement where Jesus said: “If you had the faith the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain move from here to there and it wil...

Send us Fan Mail This Gospel is perhaps one of the most unusual of all the Gospels.  Jesus’ family, including his mother Mary are coming to take him home believing that he is either possessed or has lost his mind.  Jesus is accused of being possessed by members of his own family.  Due to the lack of understanding of mental illness in those days, strange behavior was often seen as possession.  Jesu...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus and the disciples are celebrating the Passover Meal, a major feast day in the Jewish faith and history.  The Passover commemorates the “passing over” of the angel of death who would strike down the first born of the Egyptians.  This was the tenth and final plague that Moses would bestow on the Egyptians to force the Pharaoh to release the Israelites from their slavery.   Eve...