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.

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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 Australian composer whose name I couldn't recall is James McCauley and he worked with Richard Connolly. Together they have left to the Catholic Church in Australia some worthy and memorable hymns. Look them up!

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frpchandler@armidale.catholic.org.au

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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 blind Bartimaeus, by Johann Heinrich Stöver, 1861

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. After a very unsatisfactory experience with Buy Me A Coffee, I would prefer to handle this directly myself. Thank you.

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, 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. After a very unsatisfactory experience with Buy Me A Coffee, I would prefer to handle this directly myself. Thank you.

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 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. After a very unsatisfactory experience with Buy Me A Coffee, I would prefer to handle this directly myself. Thank 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 command.

The image is the marriage of Mary and Joseph by Raphael

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. After a very unsatisfactory experience with Buy Me A Coffee, I would prefer to handle this directly myself. Thank you.

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 one podcast to examine every aspect of this but I hope you find what I say helpful and enlightening.

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. After a very unsatisfactory experience with Buy Me A Coffee, I would prefer to handle this directly myself. Thank you.

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. After a very unsatisfactory experience with Buy Me A Coffee, I would prefer to handle this directly myself. Thank you.