A Psychologist looks at Scripture

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...

Send us Fan Mail I urge you to spend some time reflecting on who God is for you?  The answer may give you insight about how you see God, your expectations of God and how you allow God to impact your life.  One of the questions I ask people is; “What does God have to do to get your attention?’  This is another way of looking at what God means to you and how you expect God to reach out to you.  Don’...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s Gospel is an account of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples.  This account is very different from the other accounts in the Gospels.  Jesus makes another appearance.  He welcomes his disciples with the call to Peace. I want to point out that Jesus said this to the disciples who were afraid, the doors were locked, they had isolated themselves out of fear.  Fear...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus makes some serious claims of those who follow Him, who will be able to drive out demons, speak new languages, pick up serpents, and even if they drink poison they will survive.  Jesus promises miraculous cures simply by laying hands on the afflicted.  I recognize that miracles do happen.  I am not questioning that, however in our own times we don’t always see the healings no...

Send us Fan Mail John is writing on his favourite theme of love.  We are given a command to love one another.  I struggle with this because one cannot be commanded to love.   I wonder if the personality of Jesus, described in the Gospels, could shed light on how to respond to the call to love.  We might start by focusing on and developing these personality traits in our own lives.  Complete our 1...

Send us Fan Mail In this Gospel Jesus compares himself to the true vine.  There are many points I want to draw your attention to.  This metaphor of the vine would be well understood by the people.  There were vineyards where people would grow grapes for wine.  People would understand that vines were frequently pruned to produce much more fruit.  Anyone who grows plants or interested in growing gar...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s podcast is from John 10: 11-18.  This Gospel will be read in churches April 21, 2024.  Jesus compares himself to a shepherd, not just any shepherd but a good shepherd.  Fortunately, Jesus goes on to clarify what he means.  Probably most of us have little or no experience with shepherds and likely have never met one.   Jesus frequently used common experiences that people wo...

Send us Fan Mail There are many stories in which Jesus is revealed to people in various communities.  I am proposing that the aspect community in our faith may be more important than we realize.  I want to draw your attention to Matthew 18:20 where Jesus promises, “When two or more are gathered in my name I am there”.  I am beginning to realize that being in a community can help mature our faith....

Send us Fan Mail In this Gospel of John, we have another appearance of Jesus.  Although the doors are locked Jesus has no trouble appearing to his disciples.  The first thing Jesus says is “Peace be with you”, and He will soon say it again.  Jesus makes it clear that peace is an important part of his Gospel.  He says it twice here and in several other scriptural passages.  Unfortunately, we Christ...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s podcast is from the Gospel of John 20: 1-9.  This gospel focuses on one of the earliest accounts of the resurrection of Jesus. The story starts with Mary of Magdala going to the tomb and finding it empty.   I wonder what it was like for the followers of Jesus during and after the crucifixion.  They were devastated!  Likely, some of the disciples could be diagnosed with Acu...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus is welcomed by the people of Jerusalem in a fashion reserved for royalty.  I have no way knowing for sure how Jesus felt.  On one hand he was likely pleased that the people were happy to welcome him.  He probably recognized many of the people and genuinely felt welcomed.  On the other hand, Jesus, who knew the thoughts of the Pharisees,  knew the depth of their faith and tha...

Send us Fan Mail One of the unusual themes found in this Gospel is the paradox of death leading to life.  What is unique here, is Jesus’ understanding about life and death, where death comes before life. One would think that you would have to live before you can die, however, Jesus turns that all around. Jesus teaches that one has to die first before one can live life fully.  It is only by experie...

Send us Fan Mail Jesus is sent to lead people to eternal life.  God is not condemning his people, but his message is offering them eternal life.  Interesting, Jesus makes it clear we are not meriting eternal life, we simply have to believe.  People have a hard time with this, still under the impression that we have to merit this invitation and the invitation could be taken away at anytime for any...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s gospel event is especially significant.  Scripture scholars have proposed that this event with Jesus overturning the money tables probably lead to his undoing and ultimately being betrayed and handed over to Pilate.  When Jesus drove out the money changers the Pharisees started losing money and they became more serious in their plans to get rid of him.   Jesus'anger w...