16th April 2020
Catholic Social Teaching is often described as the ‘jewel in the crown’ for Catholics. At this time when communities are coming together to act in solidarity to battle the spread of COVID-19, Catholic Social Teaching is more relevant than ever.
Churches are closed, friends are separated, the elderly and vulnerable are self-isolating – some away from their families – and the rest of us are on lockdown to protect the herculean efforts of the NHS as the virus reaches its peak in the UK.
Professor Jim McManus is Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire and has been helping guide the Catholic Church’s response to COVID-19.
He talks to us about the vital guiding principles of solidarity, subsidiarity and upholding the common good to protect the most vulnerable in our society.
“We often neglect what’s called ‘horizontal subsidiarity’ – the skills of good citizenship. The skills we learn of participating, of helping one another out, of good behaviour, of pro-social behaviour. This is the time when these networks of skills and goodwill are most needed.
“The ‘soft skills’ we need as a society are the things we need to practice. So ‘horizontal subsidiarity’ absolutely comes in. It is derived, theologically, from a duty we owe one another in justice – as fellow creatures – and we should follow that.”
13th April 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 28 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
Early on Sunday morning the women go to the tomb and are met by an angel who tells them that Jesus is risen from the dead and instructs them to meet Jesus in Galilee. The disciples go to the mountain in Galilee where Jesus instructed them to ‘make disciples of all nations’ and he promised ‘I am with you always, to the end of the age’.
‘Reading Matthew in Lent‘ is a series of simple podcasts for the Lenten season offering a daily reading from St Matthew’s Gospel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday.
10th April 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 27 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
Jesus is taken before Pilate who shows him to the crowd. They call for Jesus to be crucified and he is led to Golgotha where he is mocked by those around him. Joseph of Arimathea takes the dead body of Jesus and buries it in a tomb.
‘Reading Matthew in Lent‘ is a series of simple podcasts for the Lenten season offering a daily reading from St Matthew’s Gospel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday.
9th April 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 26 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
Before the events of Jesus’ passion and death his feet are anointed in the house of Simon the Leper. Following supper with his disciples at which he gives himself Jesus goes to Gethsemane to pray and there is he is arrested. He is brought to appear before Caiaphas and the Council.
‘Reading Matthew in Lent‘ is a series of simple podcasts for the Lenten season offering a daily reading from St Matthew’s Gospel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday.
8th April 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 25 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
Jesus’ last parable is about the last judgment which he pictures as the division of sheep and goats. He asks what people have done to help the poor and the needy – those who have helped the least have welcomed Jesus.
‘Reading Matthew in Lent‘ is a series of simple podcasts for the Lenten season offering a daily reading from St Matthew’s Gospel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday.
7th April 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 25 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
Jesus tells two parables about the coming of the Son of Man. In the first ten virgins wait at a wedding feast to escort the bridegroom. In the second a master goes on a journey, before he goes he gives his servant money (talents), when he comes back he sees what his servants have done and judges accordingly.
‘Reading Matthew in Lent‘ is a series of simple podcasts for the Lenten season offering a daily reading from St Matthew’s Gospel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday.
6th April 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 24 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
Jesus talks to his disciples on the Mount of Olives about the ending of the age and the coming of the Son of Man. He warns them to stay awake and be ready for no one know the day or the hour.
‘Reading Matthew in Lent‘ is a series of simple podcasts for the Lenten season offering a daily reading from St Matthew’s Gospel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday.
3rd April 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 23 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
As the crowds in Jerusalem gather around Jesus he speaks of the Scribes and Pharisees in a series of seven ‘woes’ which condemn them for their hypocrisy and double standards. The chapter ends with Jesus lamenting for Jerusalem itself.
‘Reading Matthew in Lent‘ is a series of simple podcasts for the Lenten season offering a daily reading from St Matthew’s Gospel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday.
2nd April 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 22 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
Jesus continues to teach the crowds in a variety of ways. Through the parable of the wedding feast where many are called but few are chosen. In response to questions about paying taxes to Caesar and about the nature of the resurrection. A lawyer then asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment.
‘Reading Matthew in Lent‘ is a series of simple podcasts for the Lenten season offering a daily reading from St Matthew’s Gospel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday.
1st April 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading the second part of Chapter 21 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
In the second parable of the vineyard Jesus speaks about the tenants who reject the servants of the owner and finally take and kill the son.
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‘Reading Matthew in Lent‘ is a series of simple podcasts for the Lenten season offering a daily reading from St Matthew’s Gospel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday.
31st March 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading the first part of Chapter 21 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
As Jesus approaches Jerusalem he makes preparation for his entry. The crowd welcome him with shouting and by waving branches. He enters the Temple and overturns the tables of the money-changers and them heals the blind and the lame. Jesus tells the first of two parables about a vineyard where he speaks of tax collectors and prostitutes entering the kingdom of heaven because they respond to God’s mercy.
‘Reading Matthew in Lent‘ is a series of simple podcasts for the Lenten season offering a daily reading from St Matthew’s Gospel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday.
30th March 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 20 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
Jesus tells the parable of the labourers in the vineyard to show that the last shall be first. For the third time he foretells his own death and resurrection. In response to request from the mother of two of the disciples Jesus says that the Son of Man can not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.
‘Reading Matthew in Lent‘ is a series of simple podcasts for the Lenten season offering a daily reading from St Matthew’s Gospel from Ash Wednesday to Easter Monday.
