Audio Divina

I will be with you always! The celebration of the Ascension of the Lord marks the end of an era. Jesus is no longer with us. The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles tell of a departure of Jesus through an ascension. But the Gospel of Matthew reads this period between Jesus' presence and his final return differently: It will be a time when he will be with us. He is Lord of all, calling all...

To love Jesus and to keep the commandment of love: Anyone who claims to love Jesus must live according to his commandments. We all hope to love Jesus, but wonder if we can keep the commandments. But we are not alone. As Jesus was the "first Advocate," teaching and showing us what love is all about, his return to the Father will lead to the gift of "another Paraclete who will equally journey with u...

I am the way, the truth, and the life: Last week, we heard Jesus present himself as "the gate," and now we hear why - he is the way, the truth, and the life. On the night before he died he delivers a long discourse to the disciples. He is about to leave them, and they must continue on in the world in his absence, calling on them to have faith so that they might continue his "way" in the world, unt...

I am the gate!: The tenth chapter of the Gospel of John eventually identifies Jesus as the Good Shepherd, as do other passages in the Gospels (see John 10:11-18; Luke 15:3-7; Matthew 18:12-14). However, the opening ten verses to John 10 that we use in the Liturgy today do not identify Jesus as the Good Shepherd. He is presented as the gate. This is surprising, but the Gospel passage on Jesus as th...

From Jerusalem to Emmaus, and back again!:  For Luke, the centre-point of God's saving presence among us is Jerusalem. There all the Paschal events take place. There the community will begin. But two disillusioned disciples have had enough. They walk away from Jerusalem. The risen Jesus sets out to journey with them. They know everything, but they do not see Jesus. By explaining the Scriptures and...

Blessed are those who do not see, yet believe: Today's reading focuses upon the risen Jesus' gift of peace to his frightened disciples. Most importantly, it blesses all subsequent disciples who, unlike the first disciples and Thomas, believe without seeing. John wrote his Gospel for these subsequent disciples. Presented by world-renowned biblical scholar Rev. Professor Francis J. Moloney SDB AM, A...

The Birth of Easter Faith: The empty tomb does not generate belief in Jesus as the Risen One for Mary Magdalene, nor for the two disciples, Simon Peter and the Beloved Disciple. But they are drawn to the tomb. There they see that God has been victorious over death. The clothes of death have been emptied. Even though he does not "see" the Risen Jesus, the Beloved Disciples sees God's victory, and b...

The Risen Jesus Promises a New Era in Galilee: Matthew has already  reported earth-shattering events such as an earthquake, splitting of rocks and the resurrection of the dead at Jesus' death. He does the same in his account of the resurrection, marking the turning point of the ages. The women only find an empty tomb, are told to announce Jesus' resurrection and his future meeting with them all in...

The death of Jesus, and the birth of a new era: John's story of Jesus' passion is unique. Jesus is in control at all times in the Garden, before Jewish authorities, before Pilate, on the Cross, and is buried as a king. At the centre of the story, Pilate proclaims him as a King, and on the Cross he comes to his final glory, perfecting the task given to him by his Father. In dying, he pours down the...

The Foot Washing: Jesus symbolically shows his limitless love for his own in his self-gift for "his own." His loving care for others is the way all his disciples are called to follow. Presented by world-renowned biblical scholar Rev. Professor Francis J. Moloney SDB AM, Audio Divina, is a Lectio-Divina styled reflection on the gospel for Holy Thursday, Year A. Gospel Reading: John 13:1-15 Read by...

The Death of Jesus, and the Birth of a New Era :  Matthew's passion narrative tells the story of Jesus' last night with his disciples, his arrest, trials, and eventual execution. Through this account of Jesus' unjust and violent death Matthew has insinuated a message central to his understanding of what God has done for us in and through Jesus: he has opened the way to God for all nations as all t...

Do you believe this? Instruction on true faith continues. The sickness and death of Lazarus is not "unto death," but to manifest the glory of God and set in motion the glorification of Jesus, the Son of God. The disciples, Martha, Mary, and the Jewish people all struggle to cope with Jesus' claim to be the resurrection and the life. His restoration of Lazarus to life is a sign that his claim is tr...

From blindness to sight - from sight to blindness: The story of the man born blind leads us further in our understanding of true faith. The man begins totally without sight. Gradually he comes to confess that "the man called Jesus" is a "prophet," possibly "from God," and falls before Jesus confessing that he is "the Son of Man." He has journeyed from blindness to sight. Another story is also told...

The Saviour of the World: Over the next weeks those to be baptised at Easter, and those of us already baptised, will be instructed on the nature of true Christian faith. The Samaritan woman is led by Jesus from total inability to accept his offer of waters that will produce eternal life, through the hope that he might be the Messiah. Summoned by their kinswoman, the Samaritan villagers come to Jes...

No Place to Pitch a Tent: Today's Gospel reminds us who it is that we are following to a cross. The transfiguration indicates that the suffering Son of Man is also the Messiah, the Son of God. Chosen disciples are witness to this truth, and they would like to bring Jesus' journey to death to an end by making tents,to hold this moment. Christian life cannot just "pitch a tent" - the journey to Jeru...

The testing of God's Son: Our Lenten Gospels begin with Matthew's account of Jesus' temptation by Satan. Immediately prior to this passage, a voice from heaven cried out that Jesus is God's beloved Son so Satan tests whether or not this is true. Using Israel's Scriptures, he challenges Jesus: "If you are the Son of God ..." but Jesus rejects the temptations by using the Scriptures against Satan, d...

Ash Wednesday: Jesus instructs his disciples to focus upon the God who makes sense of life and love, rather than themselves and their glory. Presented by world-renowned biblical scholar Rev. Professor Francis J. Moloney SDB AM, Audio Divina, is a Lectio-Divina styled reflection on the gospel for Ash Wednesday Gospel Reading: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 This week's readers are  Julia and Dino Narrated and...

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...