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 Tissot painted somewhere between 1886 and 1894. It is the collection of the Brooklyn Museum, New York.

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

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Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

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 do this via email:

frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au

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Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

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 not fully understand the splendour, the power nor the amazing nature of grace.

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 Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

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 send me an email and I will provide details for how you can make a donation.

Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

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 Our Lord teaches us in this parable and at many other times.

The drawing, "The Rich Man and Lazarus" is from Harvard Art Museums and is by John Everett Millais.

The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on their website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes.

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 Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

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.

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 Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay

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 who they were and the lives they led, they inspire us to greatness.

St Pier Giorgio's favourite saying "Verso L'Alto", which is English means "To the Heights" is what both of them want to do for us, namely, to lead us to the heights of heaven.

St Pier Giorgio and St Carlo, pray for 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 me an email and I will provide details for how you can make a donation.

Music by Samuel F. Johannson and by Tomomi Kato from Pixabay