27th March 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 19 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
In the crowds which follow Jesus there are those, the Pharisees, who are seeking to test him with questions on divorce, and those who seek to learn from Jesus, such as the rich young man who despite his keeping the commandments find Jesus’ invitation to sell all his possessions hard to follow. At the heart of the chapter Jesus blesses children of whom he says the kingdom of heaven belongs.
‘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.
26th March 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 18 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
The chapter begins with Jesus’ invitation to become like children to enter the kingdom of heaven. He has harsh warnings for those who succumb to temptation but contrasts this with God’s mercy in the parable of the Lost Sheep. The chapter ends with Jesus speaking of the need for forgiveness from the heart.
‘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.
25th March 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 17 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
Jesus goes up a high mountain with Peter, James and John. There he is transfigured and appears with Moses and Elijah.
When they come down Jesus heals a boy possessed a demon and speaks again of the disciples’ faith. Again he foretells his death and resurrection.
‘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.
24th March 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 16 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
In this chapter the Pharisees and Sadducees are intent upon Jesus proving to them that he is sent from heaven that they ask him for signs, Jesus will warn his disciples of their teachings. Alongside his warning Jesus fortells of his Death and Resurrection before asking them to Take up Your Cross and Follow Him.
‘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.
23rd March 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 15 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
In this chapter we see Jesus feed the four thousand after his healing of the many. The Pharisees and scribes come to Jesus about his disciples breaking traditions but jesus responds with we should all follow Gods Commandments.
‘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.
21st March 2020
Our latest podcast again features Professor Jim McManus who’s Hertfordshire County Council’s Director of Public Health and a key contributor to the Catholic Church’s Healthcare Reference Group.
Now, sadly, we’ve had to suspend public acts of worship, Jim gives us an update and offers some dos and don’ts when it comes to self-isolation and social distancing.
We talk about how we can all stay safe and how when we protect ourselves, we protect others – particularly the most vulnerable and those who are not in a position to work from home.
20th March 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading Chapter 14 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
The chapter features some of Jesus’s most well-known miracles – the feeding of the five thousand, walking on water and healing the sick in Gennesaret. However it’s a sober start with the death of John the Baptist after the daughter of Herodias, who danced for Herod on his birthday, demanded John’s head.
‘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.
19th March 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading the last part verses 44-56 of Chapter 13 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
Jesus continues to speak to his disciples in parables. He tells them the parable of the hidden treasure, the parable of the pearl of great value, the parable of the net.
When Jesus finished telling these parables to his disciples he returns to his hometown of Nazareth to teach in the synagogues. But the people of Nazareth reject him and question his wisdom….. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary?
‘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.
‘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.
18th March 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading the first 43 verses of Chapter 13 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
The disciples ask Jesus why He speaks in parables. He tells them that they know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven but others do not. “…because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.”
The chapter is full of parables – the parable of the sower, the parable of the weeds and the parable of the mustard seed and the leaven.
Jesus describes of the parables are prophetic: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”
‘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.
17th March 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading the second half of Chapter 12 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
The chapter concludes with the scribes and Pharisees asking Jesus to show them a sign. But He rebukes them saying, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” He warns that this generation will face judgement. Jesus also describes how unclean spirits return to those who think they have their house in order.
The chapter ends with Jesus gesturing to his disciples describing them as his mother and brothers: “Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
‘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.
16th March 2020
We continue our ‘Reading Matthew in Lent’ series today by reading the first 37 verses of Chapter 12 of St Matthew’s Gospel.
The chapter starts with the Pharisees accusing Jesus’s disciples of unlawful behaviour on the Sabbath.
He tells them that the Son of Man is the Sabbath and rebukes them for condemning the guiltless. He also healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath and the Pharisees started to conspire against him. Finally, in these verses, Jesus warns that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
‘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.
14th March 2020
There’s an understandable level of anxiety generated whenever anyone talks about Coronavirus and the global impact of COVID-19. But what is always needed is clear information and a sensible approach to containing, delaying and coping with the virus.
Professor Jim McManus joins us today to discuss COVID-19 and how we can all do our bit to combat the spread and keep ourselves safe – especially the most vulnerable members of our society.
Jim is the Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire and Vice President of Directors of Public Health. He is also a key contributor to the Bishops’ Conference Healthcare Reference Group for the Catholic Church and worked on our guidelines for Catholics.
