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
Mt 13:24-43 July 19, 2026 Inside the Kingdom: Life Reimagined
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In this Gospel, Jesus presents three parables that illuminate God’s plan for creation. The first is the parable of wheat and the weeds. A farmer’s field is deliberately sown with weeds by an enemy. When the plants begin to grow, the laborers offer to remove the weeds, but the landowner declines, recognizing that in doing so they may also uproot the wheat.
At a practical level, many who garden will recognize the risk of pulling out healthy plants along with weeds. At a deeper level, Jesus is speaking about the coexistence of good and evil and the necessity of discernment. Human beings are not simply passive actors; we are moral people capable of choice. Without alternatives, there can be no true choosing—only compliance.
My name is Peter Doherty. I am a Catholic priest and psychologist with a particular interest in the relationship between psychology and spirituality. Although these two disciplines have often regarded one another with suspicion, they are, in fact, deeply complementary. Sound psychological insight can strengthen spiritual life, while authentic spirituality—grounded in psychological well-being—can deepen meaning, resilience, and daily functioning.
This podcast offers a weekly reflection on the Gospel reading for the coming Sunday. It is intended as a resource for those preparing homilies, as well as for anyone who teaches, studies, or simply wishes to engage more deeply with Scripture. Drawing on psychological research, biblical scholarship, and anthropological perspectives, I aim to make the Gospel both accessible and relevant. I approach Scripture not only as a source of faith, but also as a guide to human development—recognizing that the biblical authors wrote within a worldview different from our own, yet one that offers profound insight into identity, suffering, and hope.
Today’s reflection is based on Matthew 13:24–43, which will be proclaimed in churches on July 19, 2026.
In this passage, Jesus presents three parables that illuminate God’s plan for creation. The first is the parable of wheat and the weeds. A farmer’s field is deliberately sown with weeds by an enemy. When the plants begin to grow, the laborers offer to remove the weeds, but the landowner declines, recognizing that in doing so they may also uproot the wheat.
At a practical level, many who garden will recognize the risk of pulling out healthy plants along with weeds. At a deeper level, Jesus is speaking about the coexistence of good and evil and the necessity of discernment. Human beings are not simply passive actors; we are moral people capable of choice. Without alternatives, there can be no true choosing—only compliance.
In psychological terms, we sometimes see individuals who attempt to avoid responsibility by appealing to external authority: “I was just following orders,” or “I just work here.” Such responses reflect a distancing from personal accountability. This parable challenges that stance. It reminds us that we are responsible for our actions, and that growth—both spiritual and psychological—requires the willingness to own our choices.
At the same time, the distinction between good and evil is not always immediately clear. History shows that individuals and groups can rationalize harmful actions and convince themselves they are acting for the greater good. This ambiguity calls for humility and ongoing reflection. Fear can also be used to rationalize harmful actions.
It is also noteworthy that while Jesus explains this first parable, he does not provide explicit interpretations for the two that follow. Both begin with the phrase, “The kingdom of heaven is like…,” but their meaning is left open. This invites the listener into a more reflective process of interpretation, one that may deepen with spiritual maturity and life experience.
The second parable, that of the mustard seed, emphasizes the contrast between small beginnings and significant outcomes. While the mustard seed may not be the smallest seed by modern scientific standards, in its original cultural context it functioned as a familiar image of tininess. The point is not botanical precision, but transformation.
This parable offers encouragement. What may seem like a small or insignificant action can have far-reaching consequences. It speaks to a God who works through even the smallest human contribution, bringing about outcomes beyond our immediate vision. This theme is echoed in the feeding of the five thousand, where a modest offering—five loaves and two fish—becomes the means through which abundance is revealed (Matthew 14:13–21 and John 6:1–14). In this sense, we participate in God’s creative work. Unfortunately, we might not be aware of the results of our good work. We sow but may not be around for the harvest. I invite my listeners to reflect on the people who have helped you in your life. Do they know how important their words and/or actions have been for you? My point here is that even small acts of kindness or timely words of encouragement can have a positive impact days, weeks or even years later. Sadly, the same dynamics happen with evil. Many people who do evil have themselves been victims of evil actions. In my work with dysfunctional families, I have often seen patterns of the dysfunctional behavior passed down from previous generations.
The third parable, that of the leaven, shifts the focus from visible growth to hidden transformation. Leaven works quietly within the dough, bringing about change at a fundamental level. While people in Jesus’ time may not have understood the biological mechanisms involved, they recognized its transformative power.
Here, the kingdom of heaven is presented not as a place, but more clearly as a dynamic process—one that unfolds from within. This suggests that creation itself is ongoing, and that we, as part of that creation, are continually being formed and transformed.
The invitation, then, is to develop the eyes to see and the ears to hear this process at work in our lives and in the world around us. Be encouraged by the transformation, you are maturing spiritually.
Thank you for joining me.
If you find this podcast helpful, I invite you to join me each week. I also welcome your questions and reflections, and I encourage you to share the podcast with others who may benefit. If you are listening on YouTube, you can support the podcast by subscribing and leaving a review. I would also be interested to know where you are listening from.
Next Sunday, July 26, 2026, we will reflect on Matthew 13:44–52, where Jesus continues to describe the kingdom of heaven through parables, focusing on the transformative impact of encountering it.
New episodes are released every Sunday, focusing on the upcoming Gospel. Special thanks to Heather Patel Doherty and Richard Coulombe for their continued support.
May God bless you.