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
125 episodes
Mt 5.17-37 Feb 15-26 Law as Spiritual Compass: Navigating Faith's Path
As we develop our faith life our view of the law will change from following the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. Jesus was often critical of the Pharisees who lived by the letter of the law and chose not to recognize the purpos...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 117
•
10:03
Mt 5.13-16 Feb 8-26 Jesus' Images: Spiritual Symbols, Mental Realms
In today’s Gospel Jesus describes living our faith in three metaphors that would be easily understood by the first listeners. Also, I suspect the choice of the metaphors may have additional meaning too.The first metaphor that Jesus...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 116
•
7:26
Mt 5.1-12 Feb 1-26 Soul Science: The Beatitudes Unmasked
In the podcast today we are introduced to a segment of the teachings of Jesus known as the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes gives us insight into the mind of Jesus. There is some debate about what Jesus actually meant but let’s look more ...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 115
•
14:45
Mt 4.12-17 Jan 25-26 From Nets to the Unknown: The Disciples' Shocking Yes!
This Gospel describes the early beginnings of Jesus ministry. The death of John the Baptist seems to be the trigger for Jesus, and he begins by inviting people to join him in his mission. There are two points I want to draw your att...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 114
•
7:56
John 1:29-34 Jan 18-26 Where does doubt fit in my spirituality?
The lesson for us is not to get alarmed if we have periods of doubt or question aspects of our faith. As pointed out, these are signs of an adult faith. I invite you to see doubts as an invitation to explore, to be curious, to quest...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 113
•
9:53
Mt 3.13-17 Jan 11-25 Unburden the Soul: Faith, Forgiveness, and Mental Freedom
Today’s edition focuses on the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. This is only recorded direct episode of Jesus interacting with John the Baptist. To give you some context, John was inviting people to the Jordan River for a spiri...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 112
•
8:05
Mt 2.1-12 Jan 4-26 - The arrival of the Magi
This Gospel speaks about the days after the birth of Jesus. What should have been a joyous event has a very dark layer behind it. In this account we have the Magi coming to acknowledge the birth of a king. On this note I encou...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 111
•
9:19
Mt 2.13-15, 19-23 Family December 28-25
In today’s Gospel we hear of another dream that Joesph had. If you are joining us for the first time, I urge you to listen to last weeks podcast edition where I speak about the dreams that Joseph had. I also recommend that you liste...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 111
•
7:22
Mt 1:18-24 Dec 21-25 Dreams and the Divine: Pathways to Spiritual Growth
In this podcast today I will be focusing on the dreams that Joseph had. We don’t have much else on St. Joseph. We don’t hear much about him after the birth of Jesus. He is mentioned in the story of the finding in the temple wh...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 110
•
10:54
A Adv 3 Mt 11:2-11 Dec 14-25 Voices in the Wilderness: Guiding Spiritual Growth Together
John was the Hearld of the Messiah. His role was simple, increase the awareness of the people of the coming Messiah. In the Gospel of John 3:30, John the Baptist says, "He must increase, but I must decrease," referring to Jesus Chri...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 109
•
9:13
Mt 3:1-12 Dec 7-25 The Forerunner’s Mindset: Understanding John the Baptist’s Life and Ministry
I focus on information from the Scriptures and try to figure out what likely was the back story. I will attempt to explain more in detail as we unpack the life of John the Baptist. I am very careful in using tradition and historical...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 108
•
14:46
Mt 24.37-44 Nov 30-25 "Being Spiritually Alert: Reading the Room in Life and Faith"
I recognize that staying alert can be exhausting at times and there may be times when taking a break would be appropriate. I highly recommend developing skills to reflect on our lives when we might not have been as alert as we needed to b...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 107
•
7:42
Luke 23.35-43 The Outlaw’s Insight: Understanding Jesus Through Unexpected Eyes
This Gospel describes some of the last moments of the life of Jesus on Earth. The Gospel seems more appropriate for Lent and Easter. Jesus says very little. He is dying on the cross, he is dismissed by the leaders who are resp...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 106
•
7:38
Luke 21.5-19 Nov 16-25 From Judas to Us: Understanding Betrayal Through Scripture and Science
Jesus warns us that we will be betrayed not just by anyone but by people who are close to us, family members. Experiencing betrayal is unfortunately more common than we would like. Being betrayed by those who are close to us is espe...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 105
•
10:55
John 2.13-22 Nov 9-25 Jesus speaking his truth to power
Todays Gospel is quite different from most others. In this Gospel we have Jesus aggressively driving the money changes and sellers out of the temple. At first glance it is quite different from Jesus’ usual way. There are...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 104
•
11:09
Luke 7,11-17 Nov 2 – 25 "Life Restored: The Widow’s Son and the Jesus Miracle"
There are three stories in the Gospels where Jesus raises someone from the dead. We have the story of Lazarus being raised (John 11:38-44), Jarius’ 12-year-old daughter being raised as recorded in (Mark 5:21-43, Luke 8:40 and Matthew 9:18...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 103
•
7:30
Lk 18.9-14 Oct 26-25 "Faith or Facade? Unpacking Motives in Doing Good"
So, we overhear the prayers of two very different men. One man, the Pharisees has done a lot and includes what he has done in a list expecting I guess to impress God. He was doing okay until he compared himself to the tax collector....
•
Season 3
•
Episode 102
•
8:07
Luke 18:1-8 Oct 19-25 The Sacred Pause: Lessons on Waiting from the Bible
In the Gospel of Luke 18:6-8 Jesus is teaching his disciples to pray always. He uses a short parable of a woman seeking justice from a corrupt judge. The woman successfully hassles the judge, wearing him down to finally getting the ...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 101
•
8:34
Luke 17:11-19 Oct 12-25 The Leper who Returned: Jesus, Healing, and the Power of Gratitude
In today’s Gospel we read about a healing, specifically the healing of ten people with leprosy. Although this account is about people getting healed of a dreaded disease it is what happens after the healing that is most significant....
•
Season 3
•
Episode 100
•
9:54
Luke 17:5-10 Oct 5, 25 Exploring the Disciples’ Quest for More
In today’s Gospel Jesus is asked by his disciples on how to increase their faith. It looks like the disciples are finally understanding the ministry of Jesus. Remember the story of the rich young man found in Matthew 19:16 who asks ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 99
•
10:07
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 feas...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 98
•
10:01
Luke 16: 1-13 Sept 21-25 The Narrow Path of Loyalty: When Hearts Are Divided
Today's Gospel highlights the importance of consistency and faithfulness, even in the small things. I find Jesus’ teaching about serving two masters particularly thought-provoking. Often, it feels like we have more than two masters competing fo...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 97
•
8:17
John 3: 13-17 Sept 14-25 Are you ready to participate in creation?
Today’s Gospel from John focusses on a conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus. To give you some important background information, Nicodemus was a Pharisee. Scripture scholars remind us that despite the negative portrayal of Pharisees...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 97
•
7:24
Luke 14:25-33 Sep 7-25 Jesus shocks us with incredible teachings!
For someone not familiar with Jesus’ style of teaching this Gospel would be shocking. I suspect the Gospel would be shocking for the first listeners. It completely contradicts the 5th commandment about honouring one’s parents Exodus 20:12...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 96
•
8:33
Luke 14: 1, 7-14 Aug 31-25 Do I really have to be humble to know God?
Today’s Gospel begins with Jesus accepting an invitation to dine with one of the leading Pharisees. During this gathering, Jesus shares a teaching inspired by His observations that challenges the conventional understanding of social status. He ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 95
•
8:15