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.
A Psychologist looks at Scripture
Luke 16:19-31 Sept 28-25 Guarding Wealth, Forsaking Grace
In today’s Gospel, Jesus shares a profoundly interesting parable. I would like to examine it further and in detail. In the parable, Jesus introduces the rich man, we do not know his name, but he wears purple, the color of royalty and feasts, not just on special holidays but every day. We then learn about Lazarus, a poor man. Unlike the rich man, Lazarus has a name. We would expect people to describe the rich man as the one having the name, but we know Jesus frequently reversed social order to make a point or have his listeners see the issue from a unique perspective. Remember the line in Matthew 20:16, “the first shall be last and the last shall be first”. Lazarus is very hungry and longed to feed on the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Notice that Lazarus never speaks throughout. He is the example of the poor and voiceless in our society. The rich man likely knew about the state Lazarus was in as Lazarus lived on his doorstep not somewhere on the other side of town. We know the only friends Lazarus had were the dogs who licked his sores. Dogs usually lick the people they like and bite or growl at the people they do not like.
The contrast between Lazarus and the rich man are clear and profound.
Hello, and thank you for joining me on “A Psychologist Looks at Scripture.” I am Peter Doherty—a Catholic priest and psychologist—and I am delighted you can join me.
In this podcast, I draw from my background in psychology and scripture studies to provide fresh insights into the Gospels. The Gospels consistently invite us to deepen our faith, find new wisdom, and grow spiritually. There is always something more to discover together.
Each episode runs about 7 to 10 minutes. I know my listeners are busy, so I keep my podcasts short. If you have time and are interested, please check out the earlier episodes listed on the podcast website and on YouTube. Please let me know if you have questions and comments, they truly matter—they help this podcast grow and flourish.
I have a brief announcement and invitation. As I mentioned last week next month on October 10, I want to acknowledge that this podcast will be two years old. Anniversaries are a time of reflection and looking forward. So, I am inviting all the listeners to write a comment in the comment section saying where you are from and what you like about the podcast or what you would like to see more of. I am including a link to a very short survey in the podcast website or if you are using YouTube, it will be in the comment section. So, please fill out the survey or leave a comment! I have learned the difference between writing a podcast or writing a homily or sermon is that during the homily or sermon I can see the congregation. I can tell by their facial expression whether they are understanding my point or not. I can adjust my homily on the spot. This is not true for podcasts. Unless I get direct feedback, I have little opportunity to know how effective the podcasts are.
Today, we are focusing on the Gospel according to Luke 16:19-31. This Gospel will be read in Churches on September 28, 2025.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus shares a profoundly interesting parable. I would like to examine it further and in detail. In the parable, Jesus introduces the rich man, we do not know his name, but he wears purple, the colour of royalty ….. and feasts, not just on special holidays but every day. We then learn about Lazarus, a poor man. Unlike the rich man, Lazarus has a name. We would expect people to describe the rich man as the one having the name, but we know Jesus frequently reversed social order to make a point or have his listeners see the issue from a unique perspective. Remember the line in Matthew 20:16, “the first shall be last and the last shall be first”. Lazarus is very hungry and longed to feed on the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Notice that Lazarus never speaks. He is the example of the poor and voiceless in our society. The rich man likely knew about the state Lazarus was in as Lazarus lived on his doorstep not somewhere on the other side of town. We know the only friends Lazarus had were the dogs who licked his sores. Dogs usually lick the people they like and bite or growl at the people they do not like.
The contrast between Lazarus and the rich man are clear and profound.
Continuing on in the story, both Lazarus and the rich man die. Right away the situation changes. Lazarus is carried to heaven by the angels while the rich man is buried. It is interesting that Jesus describes Lazarus as being beside Abraham the father of the Jewish faith. In the Transfiguration account, Matthew 17:1-8, we see Moses and Elijah but here in this parable we have Abraham. Abraham was the father of the Jewish faith, and it is Abrham that speaks for Lazarus. I wonder if Jesus is making the point that we would do well to let our faith speak for us in times of difficulty. The rich man asks for a sip of water from Lazarus, but Abrahm says no; pointing out that there is a barrier to prevent people from passing from one side to the other. This is interesting as Jesus is described as spending 3 days in Hell before his resurrection. I wonder what the full meaning of is having an unpassable chasm between the two. Jesus often spoke with a sense of urgency; the time for repentance is now. Procrastination hampers spiritual growth. I direct my listeners to the podcast released last month on July 27, 2025. In this parable, Jesus indicates that a time will come when no further opportunities remain, emphasizing the urgency of acting now.
Next, we see a sign of the rich man’s concern for his brothers when he asks that Lazarus to go back and warn his 5 brothers. This is the first time we hear of the rich man thinking about anybody else but himself. The rich man is not asking for himself but out of a sincere desire to protect his brothers. Abraham says that is impossible as they would not believe Lazarus and would not be converted even if he rose from the dead. I am wondering if Jesus is making a statement about his belief that the people will not believe in the Good News even when He rises from the dead.
At first look this parable may look like a statement against being rich. Actually, the rich man is being punished because he received good things while Lazarus had to wait to receive good things. There is a danger that this parable could be seen by some as a call to be patient. If you are lacking now God will make it up to you when you get to heaven. I do not think that is true as Jesus continually challenged the unjust status quo. Likely Jesus is talking about social responsibility. The rich man is punished because he did not help Lazarus when he could have. The needs were right in front of him, the rich man had the resources, yet he chose to do nothing.
This parable is not meant to be a “guilt trip” for us. Not everyone was cured in Palestine when Jesus was there. We cannot meet all the needs around us but being aware of the needs and having the openness to reach out is instrumental for our spiritual development. I get uncomfortable when people talk about their personal lord and savior. Yes, Jesus is our lord and saviour, but he is the lord and saviour of us all. Going back to the parable there are several key points that I want to pull out for you. According to Dr. Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, social awareness published in 1995, pointed out that social awareness is a key element of emotional intelligence. Social and emotional skills can greatly impact the quality of our lives, our relationships, and our work. Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe wrote an excellent article on the power of social awareness in Psychology Today, 2024. She pointed out that our social awareness is shaped and deepened as we begin to engage with diverse communities and navigate more complex situations and environments. Learning to recognize and understand our own emotions can be helpful to be able to understand the feelings of others. She offers several ways to improve our social awareness. They are self-reflection, being present in the moment, practicing active listening, paying attention to both verbal and nonverbal clues. Finally practicing communicating with empathy and compassion.
We can change how we relate to others in ways that encourage spiritual growth. Many spiritual traditions emphasize the importance of connection and social responsibility, helping us move beyond focusing only on ourselves but towards building unity, justice, and well-being for everyone. Social awareness—part of emotional intelligence—is about understanding and empathizing with others. It fits closely with spiritual values such as compassion, kindness, and serving others. When we bring social awareness into our spiritual lives, it supports shared values and community, providing emotional support, accountability, and encouragement on our spiritual paths. This helps us feel more connected to ourselves, to others, and to the wider world, strengthening both our spiritual growth and personal resilience. Social awareness and spirituality work hand in hand: social awareness nurtures the virtues at the heart of spirituality, while spiritual growth encourages caring and compassionate action in the world. Now is the time to take a fresh look at our social awareness.
Thank you for being here today.
Next Sunday I am releasing a podcast from Luke 17:5-10 about the strength of our faith.
If you’re new to the podcast, I invite you to check out previous episodes on major podcast platforms or YouTube. Regular YouTube listeners, please consider subscribing and sharing with friends who have an interest in Scripture. A new episode is released every Sunday, focusing on the week’s Gospel, and your feedback is always welcome and essential for the continued growth of this community.
A special thanks to Heather Patel Doherty and Richard Coulombe for their invaluable assistance in preparing each episode.
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to reach out at peter.dohertyomi@gmail.com.
May God bless you abundantly.