Behold I stand at the door and knock...

We're so familiar with the parables of Jesus but we must be careful that being familiar with them does not dull our senses, make our hearing faulty and our spiritual vision clouded. This is precisely what was happening as Jesus told the parable of the sower. Throughout the centuries, right to this very day, the sharp point of this parable resounds and it is a call to action! If you would like...

Jesus describes Himself as “meek and humble of heart”. What does this mean? How can we be meek? What does being humble look like? If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send me an email and I will provide details for how you can ma...

This weekend the major relic of St Carlo Acutis will be visiting my parish here in Armidale. I would like to tell you about him because I didn't have to prepare a homily for this Sunday. Each Mass will have the homily  about St Carlo presented by Monsignor Figieuredo, who is the custodian of the relic and is travelling with the relic on its Mission throughout Australia. Here's some websi...

How kind God is! He never leaves us alone in our sufferings, whether that is interior or inflicted upon us from outside because we remain faithful to the Faith and to Truth. The story of the martyrs demonstrates this clearly. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you would like t...

The readings for this 11th Sunday in Ordinary Time caused me to reflect upon the compassionate and sacred Heart of Christ, who was moved for the people, who needed a shepherd to care for them, a priest to offer an effective sacrifice and an abiding presence. Thanks be to God because we have received all of these, not for our merits but because of the immensity of Divine Love. If you would like to...

The sacred liturgy for this Sunday is directed towards the very nature of God, who has revealed Himself to be a communion of divine persons, each sharing the same divine nature and yet distinct as persons. Every sacred liturgical action is directed towards the Most Holy Trinity and so nothing is different this Sunday except giving us the opportunity to deepen our appreciation and  give thanks for...

The solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is an annual opportunity to be reminded, and give God thanks, for the great mystery of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.  Once again, we should be in awe of what has been given to us; in a manner which is far beyond our means to invent, larger than what our minds can understand, and deeper than our hearts can hold....

The outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost was an unprecedented event in human history in which the divine gift is given freely, powerfully and abundantly to those who believe and are baptised. Thanks be to the most Blessed and Undivided Trinity! If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au...

The Ascension of the Lord marks the physical departure of the Risen Lord and His entry into exalted glory. He does not rest after His labours but continues His intercession for us in the heavenly liturgy and through the earthly liturgy associates us with Him. Surely, a day of rejoicing and triumph! If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do thi...

Since the beginning, the Church has been given an identity and a mission. Its identity is as a communion (not a community) of faith. Communion is deeper than friendship and courtesy; it means that Christ is the bond between us. The mission is to bring others into this communion so that they may share the faith and the life of grace. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions ...

The Collect of this Sunday’s Holy Mass and the Gospel present to us the saving power of Christ’s Paschal Mystery, which transcends time and also enters into it, and the deep longing that Jesus desires to be in our hearts for the future fulfilment of our salvation.   If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale...

The image of Jesus as shepherd is one that has been with the Church from the words of the Lord himself. It has been loved and revered in the Church since the beginning. But let us not forget that the corollary is the we are the sheep of the flock, who depend upon and trust our Good Shepherd. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this via e...

The mysterious stranger who joins the two disciples on the road to Emmaus is, as we know, Jesus. But the inner reality of His resurrection is not made visible on the outside. Gradually though, He reveals this to the disciples; and what a difference it makes to them! They run back to tell the others that the Lord is risen indeed. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or...

We Catholics use the term feast in both a spiritual meaning and a physical meaning. The spiritual takes precedence. So, on this 2nd Sunday of Easter, which ends the Octave of Easter, we rejoice and revel in Divine Mercy, just like we would at a banquet; but of course we do that feasting as well! Divine Mercy is not separate from Easter but part of it because how else would Our Lord go through with...

The wonders of the Resurrection are real and that is the reason for our hope and our joy. God bless all my listeners on this glorious and happy day. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you would like to support me in this work, plea...

Who is this man? Many asked this question in the narrative of the Passion that we listen to this Sunday. Some asked it quietly and answered it to themselves. Some asked it out loud and found different answers.  During Holy Week, perhaps we can ask ourselves this question, "Who do I say that he is?"  If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you...

The return of Lazarus to the life of this earth by Christ's divine power over death, like the last two Sundays, has a reference to Holy Baptism. Also, it foreshadows the resurrection of the body and life everlasting; which will be made possible by the resurrection of Jesus in the dawn of Easter Sunday. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you c...

The gospel episode of the Man Born Blind has much to teach us. As we noted last Sunday, one of the key lessons is about Baptism, and, in this case the light of faith that is given to us. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you would like to support me in this work, please send...

The interaction between Our Lord Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well is one of the most beautiful and intriguing events in the gospels. It is marked by the divine charity in the heart of Jesus and the human quest for happiness in a woman who is perhaps scarred by life.  This Sunday's gospel is one of those worthy of many reflections. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback,...

The Transfiguration is a breaking into time of the eternal now. The glory of Christ's body reflects the glory of heaven; and the presence of Moses and Elijah reminds us that Christ seals the Old Testament. This is a defining moment in the grand scheme of our salvation. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@...

The first Sunday of Lent reminds us of the temptations Our Lord faced in the desert as well the reason for our forty days of preparation for Easter. It’s more than recalling. It is also witnessing again the beginnings of the reversal of disobedience which would lead to the ultimate defeat of sin and its consequence, namely death. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or...

Continuing on from where we left off in St Matthew's gospel last Sunday, Our Lord teaches us that one aspect of the Jewish Law remains, and is elevated to a higher level, while the other two aspects of the Law have been fulfilled and perfected. This is an important teaching for us as Christians. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do t...

We know this bible verse well, don't we? But putting it in context, following right on from the Beatitudes, and then who says these words, gives us a different perspective. The image used is by William Brassey Hole If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au Also if you would like to supp...

This Sunday's gospel reading is the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, as it is sometimes called. The Beatitudes are more than being happy, but rather the charter (along with the Ten Commandments) of the Christian life.  In this episode, I tell the story of a saint who has been called the Man of the Beatitudes, St Pier Giorgio Frassati. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, s...

The calling of the first four apostles is not just a nice story, though it is. It is Jesus beginning His church, calling the first of twelve for whom He desired the role of leadership in His church; twelve just like the twelve tribes of Israel because the Church is the new Israel. This role of apostle continues today in every bishop around the world because this was Christ's intention. He did...