Audio Divina

Until heaven and earth disappear: Jesus continues to reflect upon the Laws by reminding everyone of them. He interprets that law with the words, "But I say to you." On the authority of his own person and word he does not deny the value of the Law of Israel, but he asks we look deeper into the reasons for our obedience to God. The Law of Israel calls us to right living, and Jesus' interpretation of...

Salt of the earth and light of the world: As Jesus begins his famous sermon on the mount, he insists that Christian life must flow from deep internal faith and conviction. When that is the case, the lives of Christians will continue and perfect the function of the Law in Israel. Christian life will bring God's promises to perfection, shining forth like a city on a hill. It will give light and nour...

Salvation for all the Nations: Obedient to the Law of Israel, Jesus' parents present him in the Jerusalem Temple where Simeon, directed by the Spirit proclaims that a new age has arrived. All that Israels Scriptures expected has arrived: light for both Jew and Gentile yet there is more. This child will cause division, and even his Mother will feel the pain as his ministry leads to suffering and de...

Jesus ' ministry begins with power: The ministry of Jesus opens as that of John the Baptist comes to a close. His presence in Galilee recalls the promise of the Prophet Isaiah that light now dawns for both Israel and the Gentiles. Jesus proclaims the arrival of God's Kingdom, and shows the irresistible power of the Kingdom as he calls disciples and heals sickness and disease. Presented by world-re...

The Lamb of God and Son of God: Year A briefly turns away from Matthew's gospel to indicate the importance of John the Baptist in the revelation of Jesus to the world. John the Baptist sees Jesus passing but as the most reliable witness to Jesus, he can look upon Jesus and proclaim that he is the Lamb of God. He perfects the Jewish tradition of an expiatory lamb, making his own the task of freeing...

All that Righteousness Demands: All Gospels record Jesus' Baptism; the moment he begins his public messianic ministry. Matthew alone records God has a plan, through Jesus' interactions with John the Baptist. Jesus' first words in Matthew's Gospel sets the agenda: God's will must be done so that all righteousness be fulfilled in Jesus' death and resurrection, the turning point of the ages. Presente...

A Child Reveals God to the World: Within the Christmas cycle we meet the wise men from the East who are not Jews but know that a King has been born. Their obedient journey brings them to Jerusalem, where they learn that the Scripture says the child will be born in Bethlehem. The wise men represent the world outside Israel who enter God's design, recognise and honour the newborn King. Obedience to...

The Man from Nazareth: The birth of Jesus was accompanied by the murder of innocent Jewish children and a return from Egypt, fulfilling a prophecy that once applied to Moses: "Out of Egypt I have called my Son." However, the family must soon flee once again, fulfilling all the prophecies of the Messiah. Jesus will be known as a Nazarene, the messianic root of David yet his kingdom will not be buil...

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...