Audio Divina

The Word became Flesh: The Prologue to the Gospel of John is among the most profound passages in the Bible. It tells of the pre-existent union of love between God and the Word, the Word's saving gifts of light and life, and our ambiguous response. But the Word is Jesus Christ who dwelt among us, showing us the wonderful presence of God's saving truth. Those who accept that truth become children of...

Swaddling Clothes and a Manger on the Road: Luke's account of a birth of Jesus, as with the appearance of John the Baptist, is fixed in a given time and place. But it is surrounded by the symbols of swaddling clothes, only used for a king, a manger, from which Israel should be nourished, recognition by the simplest of people, the Shepherds, and the heavenly proclamation of God's glory. Jesus is bo...

Born of the Spirit, the Saviour and the Emmanuel: On this final Sunday of Advent we turn to the story of Jesus' birth; it contains a message full of wonderful promise. The puzzlement created by Mary's pregnancy is overcome by the angel's explanation because this child is "of the Spirit". Matthew's story of Jesus' first coming prepares us for a promise that the risen Jesus will make in the very las...

Are you the one who is to come? From prison, John the Baptist asks an anxious question of Jesus: is he the one who is to come, or must we wait for another. Jesus responds by announcing that he is the fulfilment of the messianic prophecies. He then praises John the Baptist as the greatest figure to be born of a woman in the era before the coming of the Kingdom. Amazingly, he then points to the incr...

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand: John the Baptist calls for conversion, and the acceptance of a ritual of baptism using the words that Jesus will also use, "The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand." But what John is doing is only a preparation for the fiery immersion into the Spirit-filled baptism that the Jesus will bring; for Jesus is the true master whose sandals John is not worthy to untie. Presente...

The Two Advents of Jesus Christmas celebrates the "first coming" of Jesus, in the incarnation of the Son of God. But the Advent Season also focusses upon the second coming of Jesus at the end of time. Advent is a time when we recognise that we live between the two comings of Jesus Christ. Towards the end of Matthew's Gospel, Jesus uses the story of Noah to teach us that the ordinary things go on a...

A crucified King?   As Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple, his disciples assume that he is speaking of the proximate end of the world. He corrects them by pointing to the long history of suffering and faithfulness that lies ahead of them, and explains that only God can determine the signs and times of the end of history. Presented by world-renowned biblical scholar Rev. Professor Francis...

When will the end come?   As Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple, his disciples assume that he is speaking of the proximate end of the world. He corrects them by pointing to the long history of suffering and faithfulness that lies ahead of them, and explains that only God can determine the signs and times of the end of history. Presented by world-renowned biblical scholar Rev. Professor F...

The Sadducees strike back:  Having arrived in Jerusalem, Jesus preaches in the Temple. The Sadducees attempt to discredit his teaching, based on their understanding of the Law. Jesus shows them that they neither understand the power of the resurrection, nor the Word of God. Presented by world-renowned biblical scholar Rev. Professor Francis J. Moloney SDB AM, Audio Divina, is a Lectio-Divina style...

Jesus and the tax-collector:  As Jesus passes through Jericho, nearing Jerusalem, a tax-collector is prepared to make a fool of himself to see him. Lovingly welcomed by Jesus, everyone is shocked that a religious figure like Jesus would share his table with such a sinner. Presented by world-renowned biblical scholar Rev. Professor Francis J. Moloney SDB AM, Audio Divina, is a Lectio-Divina styled...

The Pharisee and the tax collector: Jesus tells his famous parable about a Pharisee who thinks he is a good person, and a tax-collector who is aware of his failures. This situation endures today. We are all called to approach God humbly in prayer, to be given the good gifts that only God can give. Presented by world-renowned biblical scholar Rev. Professor Francis J. Moloney SDB AM, Audio Divina,...

Faith and prayer:  Wicked and unjust judges can be persuaded to render justice if it serves their own ends, so how much more would our gracious God give hope and satisfaction to those who turn to him? But we must believe that God actually cares for us. When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? Presented by world-renowned biblical scholar Rev. Professor Francis J. Moloney SDB AM, Audi...

The faith of a Samaritan: Jesus' journey to Jerusalem goes on, and he encounters ten lepers. Asked to fulfill the legal requirements to re-enter Jewish society through the approval of the priest, they set off, only to find that they have been cured while on their journey. But only one "turns back" to Jesus. Presented by world-renowned biblical scholar Rev. Professor Francis J. Moloney SDB AM, Audi...

The Faith of a Servant:  As Jesus' instruction of his disciples nears the end, he focuses upon the need for faith. Jesus instructs them that even with very little faith, they will work miracles. Faithful servants receive everything they have as a gift from God and we are called to administer these gifts as servants and in this way, we will have only done our duty. Presented by world-renowned bibli...

What if someone should rise from the dead?   Jesus' parable of the rich man and Lazarus is told entirely in the light of Jewish folk-lore. As their situations are reversed, the rich man speaks to Abraham, seeking comfort for himself, and light for his brothers. Abraham refuses both these requests. The gulf between Lazarus, in the bosom of Abraham, and the rich man "in the earth," cannot be crossed...

Jesus praises the cunning steward:  Today's Gospel is puzzling. The rich man's steward seems to be a thief, yet Jesus praises him. The Jewish law against making interest on a loan lies behind the steward's actions, and the master must praise him for his cunning ability to make friends through his actions. Jesus then turns to his followers and instructs them on the need to use the material possessi...

There was a father who had two sons:  The God who brings fire on earth in and through Jesus, who sends us to the broken, and asks that we place first things first may seem demanding. But that same God is the Father who gives his children the freedom to make mistakes, and who welcomes them back when they fail. The parable of the father with the two sons ends with the Father out in the dark, trying...

The Cost of Discipleship: Jesus' challenging words on discipleship now seem to become more than challenging: they are harsh. Anyone who wishes to be a disciple much reckon their deepest and most intimate relationships, and all their possessions, as lesser than their following of Jesus and the gift of God's reigning presence among us. But as we plan for our ultimate future, it is crucial that we pu...

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled:  Within the setting of one of Luke's favourite scenes, a meal-table, Jesus turns the value-system and the way of judging one another on its head. We expect honours and privileges to be given to the significant people in out society. As Jesus has shown in his loving self-gift for us, this is not the way things work in the kingdom of God. Seeking the lower pla...

We have heard you preach and shared your table:  When asked who will be saved, Jesus responds that we must work hard to enter the narrow door. Many who regard themselves as having a privileged place because they have shared a meal with Jesus and heard his word might find that the door is shut on them ... because they do not do their best to enter the narrow door. The simple, honest, loving, Christ...

Fire on earth:  A fire burnt in the life of Jesus, his unconditional acceptance of what his Father asked of him, and it dominated his life- to the Cross. The same fire burns in all of us who follow him. However, as we know, the passionate living of a Christian life of love and self giving, or care and goodness to others, directed by the Word of God and nourished by the Church and our fellow Christ...

Servants of the Servant Messiah:  Jesus instructs his disciples on the need for them to be servants, ready for the return of their servant Messiah, so that he may serve them yet again. We only know that this moment will come. We do not know when that will be. Peter asks to whom this message is directed. Jesus responds by describing the qualities of the good and faithful servant, and the failure of...

Storing up treasure:  Jesus will not enter into a debate over who owns what. He insists that such concerns miss the point. It is important that we be good stewards of the treasures that come to us through our hard work, and our care for others. But the danger is that we come to thing that our lives are made secure by what we own. We know that this is not true, but we live as if it were. The parabl...

Teach us to pray:  Our reflection on Luke's Gospel has instructed us to care for others, and to learn from the word of Jesus. Today's Gospel tells us how to respond to our God, who is our Father, as Jesus responded to his Father. This much loved prayer calls us to place God's name and God's kingdom first. How hard that can be. It also asks that we be forgiven as we forgive others. That is risky in...

To serve, to listen - or both?  The famous episode of Jesus' presence in the house of Martha, accompanied by her sister Mary, must be interpreted in the light of immediately before this account, Luke tells last week's parable: the Good Samaritan. It is crucial to care for others, as does Martha in today's Gospel. But we must also listen to the word of Jesus, as does Mary. Indeed, we are invited to...