A Psychologist looks at Scripture
In this 8-10 minute podcast, I as a psychologist and a priest use my training and skills to examine the Gospels. I will present alternative interpretations and insights into the meaning of Scripture for men and women in the 21st century.
I can be reached at peter.dohertyomi@gmail.com.
Episodes
93 episodes
Lk 10:1-12 Jl 6-25 Living our faith with all its rewards and traps!
This story is unusual because we have two distinct parts. The first part focusses on the advice Jesus gives his disciples and the second part focusses upon their return. When the 72 return,, they are rejoicing after what appe...
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Season 2
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Episode 87
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9:08
Mt 16:13-19 June 29 -25 Who is Jesus for you?
Who is Jesus for you?Jesus asked this question to his disciples. We all know by now that when Jesus asks a question, he already knows the answer and a teaching follows. Today’s reading is no exception. Jesus asks ...
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Season 2
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Episode 86
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9:32
Lk 9-11b-17Jun 22-25 What happened during the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and two fish?
Today, our podcast focusses on one of the multiplication of loaves miracles. Luke begins describing the story with Jesus healing those who needed to be cured. It appears it’s the end of the day, so the disciples want to send t...
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Season 2
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Episode 85
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11:37
Jn 16:12-15 Jun 15-25 What level of spirituality are you on?
The opening section of this Gospel brings to mind 1 Corinthians 13:11, where Paul uses the metaphor of childhood to describe spiritual immaturity: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When ...
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Season 2
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Episode 84
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8:25
John 14:15-16, 23b-26 Jun 8 The Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives
To help us understand the Holy Spirit, the reading begins by emphasizing God’s love for us—a recurring and familiar theme in John’s Gospel.Love inherently involves vulnerability. The more deeply we love, the more at risk we are to being ...
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Season 2
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Episode 83
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8:34
Mk16:15-20 Jun 1 - 25 Jesus gives us instructions before he ascends to the Father
Jesus makes some incredible claims, and provides signs of God’s presence amongst his followers, driving out demons, speaking new languages, picking up serpents, drinking poison and miraculous healings, only to name a few. This passa...
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Season 2
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Episode 82
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10:42
John 14-23-29 May 25 Love Peace and the Holy Spirit
Love is a central and recurring theme in John’s Gospel, and it has been a focus in previous episodes. Love lies at the core of Christian faith. However, I invite you to reflect on whether your image of God is one that is easy to love. Many iden...
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Season 2
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Episode 81
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7:25
Jn 13-31-33a-34-35, May 18-25 How to increase our ability to love
Jesus’ call to love is not easy, people are so afraid of being taken advantage of or they do not feel love for the person. Is Jesus calling his followers to something they cannot achieve? Are people who are loving more vulnerable to...
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Season 2
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Episode 80
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13:02
Jn 10-27-30, May 11-25 Are there shepherds amongst us?
Jesus portrays shepherds as protectors and guides for the sheep. Likely they served as metaphors of God’s protective and guiding nature. I wonder if there is more here. Perhaps the shepherd has a role to play in our faith.&nbs...
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Season 2
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Episode 79
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8:06
Jn 21-1-19 May 4-25 Leadership, Christian style
This teaching on leadership must have been revolutionary to the first listeners to this teaching. Jesus addresses this in Mark 10:42-45, as Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentil...
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Season 2
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Episode 78
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7:28
Jn 20:19-31 Apr 27-25 How do we live Christian Peace?
Peace is not just an absence of conflict. Lasting peace needs justice. There are also several levels of peace. There is peace between countries, communities, families and ultimately our own internal peace. Most of us are...
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Season 2
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Episode 77
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9:21
Jn 20:1-9 Apr 20-25 Jesus is risen in an adult Easter
This Gospel is one of the early resurrection stories. We read about Mary of Magdala going to the tomb, knowing that she would not likely be able to go into the tomb because it would be blocked by a huge stone; but she went anyway. S...
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Season 2
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Episode 76
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8:02
Luke 22-14-23,56 Apr 13-25 Where is divine support for our struggles?
This Gospel is an account of the last meal Jesus had with his disciples. The meal is better known as the last supper. Soon Jesus' earthly mission will be over. The disciples do not realize yet that this evening is going to tak...
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Season 2
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Episode 75
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9:13
John 8: 1-11 Apr 6-25 The story of the woman caught in adultery teaches us about self-reflection
Today’s Gospel is a teaching, Gospel. Its also unusual. In most instances the person seeks out Jesus or recognizes him before asking for something. I suspect the woman in this story wanted to be anywhere else but there. ...
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Season 2
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Episode 74
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8:23
Luke 15:1-3,11-32 New Insights on the Prodigal Son
Jesus describes a young man who wants adventure and asks for his share of his father’s estate. After he receives his inheritance, he leaves and lives a carefree life. I want to draw your attention to the fact that he did not earn th...
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Season 2
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Episode 73
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8:13
Luke 13:1-9 Jesus teaches us about sin and misfortune
In this Gospel Jesus talks about two situations where innocent people were killed. Jesus articulates the thoughts of the people who believed that the people who were killed were not only responsible for their misfortunate but that their b...
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Season 2
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Episode 72
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10:59
Like 9-28b-36 The Transfiguration, having a mystical experience
This Podcast focusses on one of the most unusual Gospel passages of all the Gospels; the Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus in front of Peter, James and John. The event seems unexpected and following the...
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Season 2
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Episode 71
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8:48
Lk 4: 1-13 Jesus is tempted by the Devil
We don’t know for sure what Jesus actually did while he was in the desert. In biblical times, going to the desert held significant spiritual, symbolic, and practical meanings. Here are some key aspects of its significance. The desert was often ...
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Season 2
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Episode 70
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9:40
Lk 6:39-45 Jesus teaching us to be wise
Jesus is calling his followers to be wise. He gives a few tools on how to be wise. The list is not complete. What is wisdom? Wisdom is correlated with intelligence but its not absolute. I suspect you may know someo...
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Season 2
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Episode 69
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7:18
Luke 6-27-38, Loving our enemies. Are you serious?
Christians are called to go beyond the bare minimum. Let’s unpack this Gospel, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Tough words. The basic message is Jesus telling the people that ...
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Season 2
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Episode 68
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10:10
Lk 6 :17, 20-26 Feb 16-25 The Beatitudes
The Beatitudes are not merely statements of happiness; they encapsulate profound spiritual truths about God's kingdom and our spiritual development. They highlight qualities such as humility, mercy, and a thirst for righteousness, promising fut...
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Season 2
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Episode 67
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8:34
Lk 5 -1-11 Feb 9-25 St. Peter throws his nets for the last time.
The call of Peter and the other disciples illustrates God's invitation for us to follow Him. Despite his initial reluctance and desire to return home after a long night of fishing, Peter allows Jesus into his boat. This kind of openness is cruc...
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Season 2
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Episode 66
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6:03
Lk 2:22-40 Feb 2-25 Simeon and Anna recognizes Jesus as the Messiah when he was a baby
When Jesus was presented in the temple, it was likely an ordinary event among many similar presentations each week. However, Simeon and Anna's ability to perceive something extraordinary suggests that spirituality often eludes those who do not ...
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Season 2
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Episode 65
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7:07
Luke 1:1-21 Jesus describes for us his mission statement
During Sabbath services, it was customary for males to read from Scripture or the Torah. Jesus reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, which is significant because Isaiah made many prophecies about the Messiah. The Gospel of Matthew ...
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Season 2
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Episode 64
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5:49
John 2-1-11 Are we aware of God's interventions in our life?
The Gospel today is about the first miracle that Jesus performed. It is unique. There are no healings, or obvious teachings. The teaching is actually rather subtle. Jesus makes wine for a wedding at the request or expectation of his mother. The...
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Season 2
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Episode 63
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11:42