Behold I stand at the door and knock...

The title of today's podcast may lead you to believe that it will be a long one. Not necessarily! Though volumes have been written on prayer, on faith and on the nature of God, I take a simpler approach, seeking to find what does the sacred liturgy lead us to understand and appreciate on this Sunday. I hope you find it helpful. The image is of St John the Baptist by Annibale Caracci, held by...

The Baptism of the Lord reveals Christ to the nations as the Beloved of the Father, the One on whom the Holy Spirit rests, and the Saviour who is in solidarity with fallen human nature, and with sinners. This is a wondrous feast, not just an event. 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 A...

The Epiphany of the Lord is the story of our life of faith. It was also an historical event whereby the divine entered into time, space and history. Can we be like the Magi who looked for, saw and adored the Son of God? Can we do this more than once in our life? If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.cat...

In the sacred liturgy and in our beliefs, we do not pass over the obvious reality that Jesus was born into a family. Rather, we spend this Sunday within the Octave of Christmas giving our attention to this perfect and holy family. We do this not to wonder at the ideal but draw from it inspiration and grace; for us and for our families.  If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggesti...

The birth of Christ is always seen, because of Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition, as light entering a world in the grip of darkness. Even the circumstances of His show us this. There is really too much to say about the Nativity of the Saviour. Perhaps that is why the Church brings us to celebrate it each year so that we deepen our understanding of and appreciation for God coming to meet us. If you...

This podcast attempts to offer a way in which we as Catholics can pray when 15 people were killed last Sunday on Bondi Beach. Echoing the words of Archbishop Fisher of Sydney, a great evil has visited our nation. Our faith does not explain why it happened apart from recognising that evil exists and will be active until Christ comes again. However, the holy scripture of today's Mass offers how...

The Collect of this Sunday's Mass places together "solemn worship" and "glad rejoicing". What is this kind of joy that is compatible with solemn worship? 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 em...

Two important aspects of this podcast: an idea that is theological and important to understand our salvation, and another which is a timely message for our day. 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 pro...

This First Sunday of Advent reminds us of the final coming of Christ, when He will come to judge the living and the dead. The Lord Jesus calls us to vigilance, which is being in a state of readiness by living in truth and virtue and by faith. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus. The image used is Ercole Ramazzani, “The Last Judgment,” 1597 (public domain) If you would like to contact me to provide feedbac...

Pope Pius XI instituted this Feast of Christ the King* in 1925. Of course, the Pope wasn't inventing anything new; that's not the way Popes operate, or shouldn't. The Pope is the guardian of the deposit of faith but at times in history a Pope has had to, for various reasons, make explicit what has always been believed.  Often the best way to do that, is to enter the dogma into the s...

The basilica that we honour today has an interesting history as well as being of high significance for us all around the world. I hope you will enjoy learning about its history and, perhaps, being reminded of the spiritual significance of our holy buildings, of which this one has a unique place . If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this...

These two important and great days that herald the beginning of the month of November, the month of the Holy Souls, are worthy of our attention together this year because one falls on a Saturday and one on a Sunday. Not just for that reason though, together they tells us about who we are and where we are going. They remind us also of the doctrine of the Communion of the Saints on earth, in heaven...

The parable of the pharisee and the tax collector (or publican) is again a parable about prayer but also a parable about the sin of pride and the virtue of humility. Pride leads to be being happy about oneself and the humility leads to being at rights with God. The latter is what we should be striving towards. The image used in this podcast is "The Pharisee and the Publican" by James Tis...

The title of this podcast might have you wondering, particularly if you have looked at the readings for this Sunday's Holy Mass. If you listen you will see how the necessary reverence shown to the Blessed Sacrament fits within the question that Our Lord poses at the end of this Sunday's gospel. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can...

Amazing Grace is the title and first words of a well-known hymn, composed by John Newton. Its appeal goes wide among Christians. I have called this podcast after the hymn, not because I want to talk about it, or its composer, but rather because the Collect of today's Mass prays to God for grace to accompany us. So, I thought a teaching about grace would be in order. I find many Catholics do n...

What a beautiful prayer that the disciples make to Jesus! Their request is one that we can make our own too. But as the Lord often does, He wishes to teach  more than the disciples expect. 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 sen...

This Sunday's parable of Lazarus, the poor man, and Dives, the rich man, is a lesson in charity towards the poor but also a lesson in the end-of-life result of living separated from God, namely Hell.  It's not popular to talk about Hell since the prevailing notion is that Hell does not exist, or that it is empty, or that as long as I am nice, I won't go there. But that is not what O...

The parable of the steward in this Sunday's gospel is a masterful teaching story given to us by Our Lord Jesus. The steward is referred to as dishonest, unrighteous, cunning but also astute. What and how can he be all these at once? There are so many aspects to this parable, that deserve our attention, but too many, I think, to address all at once. But, I hope what I do focus on is helpful. I...

Today's important Feast Day supplants the Sunday in Ordinary Time and gives us another opportunity to reflect upon and appreciate the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, its immense and perfect power and its effect upon all of Creation. 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 yo...

Today in Rome, Pope Leo XIV will declare that the Church has two new saints - St Pier Giorgio and St Carlo Acutis. It's been a long wait for those who love Pier Giorgio - 100 years!! Somewhat less for Carlo - 19 years. But, these two young men have much in common, more than just being young and Italian. Both these two young saints show us holiness to an extraordinary degree but, because of wh...

This podcast, first of all, has some comments upon the school shooting during the past week in Minneapolis, continuing  to address the reality of evil and human free will, which was mentioned in the previous podcast. Then attention is turned to Holy Communion as it is First Holy Communion Day in the parish. I explore many things and use some insights from the-soon-to-be-saint, Carlo Acutis. He cal...

Once more, Jesus speaks of difficult realities. Those who think that Jesus never makes demands upon us have never read the gospels.  Today Our Lord and Saviour speaks of how we  must strive to enter heaven. It should not surprise us because we follow Him who suffered and died that we might just do that, join the saints and angels in heaven. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, sugg...

To follow Christ faithfully and truly is not easy. He demands of us a surrender of our will and that we love Him with all our heart, and soul and mind. Some will not understand this. They may even be members of our family; some may be our friends. The world will not understand and may reject us because they have already rejected Him. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions...

The parable of the Good Samaritan is so well known. Let us not, though, be too familiar with it so as to miss whatever the Divine Teacher reveals to us each time we hear or read it. The image used for this podcast is The Good Samaritan by William Henry Margetson If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this via email: frpchandler@armidale.cat...

Please accept my apologies, I should have remembered to say this is the podcast. 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 make a donation.  Music by TheNonVisibles from Pixa...