Behold I stand at the door and knock...

January 26th is the national day of Australia. It is the day on which Catholics, through the holy sacrifice of the Mass, pray for our nation and its peoples, and entrust our past, present and future into God's merciful and loving providence. 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 Als...

In our "woke" culture, where every difference is celebrated (and enforced) it may seem a counter-cultural claim that Jesus, born in Bethlehem, is the Saviour of every person. But that is not a claim we as Christians invented. On the contrary, it is the plan and will of God that has been revealed to us through Christ. The Epiphany of the Lord is a day when we can give thanks to God that w...

This beautiful and ancient title given to Mary has weathered many objections over the centuries. It is a title beloved of Catholics and one we use regularly with great love. But to those outside the Catholic faith it is either misunderstood or rejected. We as Catholics should know how to defend this title, and so defend our heavenly mother, and give reasons for the faith we hold; the faith that is...

Between the Nativity of our Saviour and the Solemnity of the Mother of God, our attention turns to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. This was a singular grace for Nazareth to have the perfect family, free from sin, living in its midst. This can be a cause for fruitful contemplation and devout speculation, which can lead us deeper into understanding the virtues of family life. May the Holy...

The title of this podcast may seem somewhat strange. But I meant it to sound that way. Follow along with me and you will see what I mean that Christmas opens our eyes and our hearts as well as touching our humanity in a profound way. 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 woul...

The fourth Sunday of Advent brings us not to the birth of Christ but to those nine months after his conception.  Mary, the living tabernacle of the Lord, went on the first Eucharistic procession. She carried the Saviour to the house of Zechariah and Elizabeth. John the Baptist leaps for joy in his mother’s womb and Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit and recognises the mother of her Lord. Als...

The beautiful and uplifting tones and sights of Gaudete Sunday lift our hearts and summon our minds to the nearness of Christ's nativity. We begin to experience the joy of all those who surrounded the birth of Jesus: His holy Mother and His earthly father, the shepherds and the Magi, and the angels who rejoiced in heaven. Although we have to contain our joy, for the day has not yet arrived, i...

On the Second Sunday of Advent, we are reminded of the vigilance that we need to be ready to receive our King; both in remembrance of His first coming at Bethlehem; in His regular coming in mystery and sacrament into our hearts and souls; and His Second Coming in glory. Are we ready? Do we keep ourselves in a state of readiness? Come, Lord Jesus. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback...

A new liturgical year begins! We find our attention being thrust forwards and backwards as we enter into this holy season of preparation and waiting. As our attention moves quickly back and forth, Our Lord demands of us vigilance and holy expectation for His coming again in glory. There is so much going on during Advent that it really becomes an exciting and constantly moving few weeks. Come, Lord...

The liturgical year draws to a close with this Feast of Christ our King. This was instituted in 1925, at a time when the world needed to hear loudly and clearly that the way to peace, harmony, and the fulfillment of peoples rests in and with Christ. All forms of government and all forms of headship of states must find their model in Christ. All nations must allow Christ to be King. Only then is re...

As we come towards the end of the liturgical year, and the beginning of Advent, the Church always reminds us of the last things of our own life and the cosmic event that is the Second Coming of Christ. While awesome and of immense significance, these will be times of hope for all who have remained faithful and in friendship with Christ. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggesti...

There are many lessons for us always in Holy Scripture. The two widows presented to us in this Sunday's readings demonstrate genuine and real kindness; not being nice; not being polite; but exactly what kindness is and should be. As Jesus teaches the apostles and disciples what this means, He reveals to us that real kindness makes demands upon us. If you would like to contact me to provide fe...

The Scripture readings are centred upon love this Sunday. Charity is the virtue infused into our souls at Holy Baptism that enables us to love God for His own sake and to love others out of love for Him. The Sacred Heart of Jesus shows us this charity perfectly because He has divine love within a human heart. By divine grace, although not perfectly in this life, that is also possible for us. The A...

Bartimaeus, the blind man, is healed of his blindness by Jesus in this Sunday's gospel reading. The joyful and trusting faith of Bartimaeus is both an example for us and an encouragement to us. It is a reminder that faith saves us, liberates us, and draws us deeper into the mystery of our redemption, which is presented to us at every Holy Mass. The statue in the photograph is Jesus healing bl...

We continue to witness the apostles being taught and formed by Jesus in this Sunday's gospel reading. As we do this, we too are formed, taught and instructed. This Sunday we are called to examine the connection between suffering and humility, but also obedience in following Jesus. Then also, once more the wider question of who will be saved? If you would like to contact me to provide feedback...

This is the question that the apostles ask Jesus after they witnessed the conversation between Him and the rich young man. A reasonable question in the circumstances it is. But Jesus leads them to understand both what it means to be saved as well as the role of money and wealth in the life of His followers. The image is by Heinrich Hofmann, "Christ and the Rich Young Ruler", 1889 If you...

No longer does our society understand marriage as God does. It's part of the spiritual decline of the West. It is harder for us to remain faithful to what Christ taught us about marriage, which we also call Matrimony since it has been raised by Christ to the dignity of a sacrament. But it's not impossible because, as in all things. God makes the demand and gives the grace to obey the com...

There is a teaching of the Catholic Church, repeated at Vatican II, and contained in the Catechism, that the fullness of truth and salvation is found in the Church through Christ alone. This is a nuanced doctrine because at the same time we acknowledge that the Holy Spirit can act outside the Church, as the first reading and gospel reading of this Sunday's Mass indicate. There is not space in...

It is First Holy Communion in my parish this Sunday. So, I would like to share with you the story of two children, a brave boy and a devoted girl, who both loved Jesus present in Holy Communion. May they inspire the children who will receive Our Lord for the first time tomorrow at Holy Mass. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to ask questions you can do this via e...

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 Pixabay

Being Fathers Day today , I want to speak about the role and value of fathers in our family and in society. Apart from this day, I think fatherhood is generally undervalued. Then, since my parish is beginning the Alpha program I also want to reflect upon what is evangelisation and the context in which we find ourselves today. If you would like to contact me to provide feedback, suggestions  or to...

The third instalment of the 6th chapter of St John's gospel, finds us watching the Jews, who clearly understand what Jesus is saying, go further into their disbelief and rejection of what He means. It is saddening to witness this, in much the same way as we witness many, even Christians and Catholics, who do not take Jesus seriously and literally. The website I mention in the podcast is: http...

In the gospel of this Sunday, Jesus maintains His teaching that He is the Bread of Life , despite the rejection He begins to experience from the Jews. We are also reminded that Holy Mass is both a memorial and a sacrifice. 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 s...

So says Our Lord Jesus in the gospel reading of this Sunday, which begins a four week reading of the 6th chapter of St John's Gospel. The Church invites us to listen and to ponder anew the teachings given directly to us by the Son of God about the Eucharist and His presence therein. To match the opening scenes of this conversation, I offer two interpretative lenses by which to follow and unde...

Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, was not just a good man and a great teacher! He was and is God. His divinity we acknowledge every time we bow our head at His holy name and genuflect before Him present in the tabernacles of our churches. We must be vigilant not to water down the supernatural aspect of His miracles, like the one in the gospel for this Sunday. If you would like to contact me to p...