Best Dr Peter Doherty Podcasts (2025)

1
Mt 3:1-12 Dec 7-25 The Forerunner’s Mindset: Understanding John the Baptist’s Life and Ministry 14:46

Play Pause

3d ago14:46

14:46

Send us a text 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 context to gain insight into biblical times. Often tradition may have a political agenda and may not a…

1
Mt 24.37-44 Nov 30-25 "Being Spiritually Alert: Reading the Room in Life and Faith" 7:42

7d ago7:42

7:42

Send us a text 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 be. Retreats, Devotions such as the Daily Examination of conscience, a prayerful reflection develo…

1
Luke 23.35-43 The Outlaw’s Insight: Understanding Jesus Through Unexpected Eyes 7:38

8d ago7:38

7:38

Send us a text 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 responsible for his death. The most interesting conversation is between the two condemned men who are being cruci…

1
Luke 21.5-19 Nov 16-25 From Judas to Us: Understanding Betrayal Through Scripture and Science 10:55

22d ago10:55

10:55

Send us a text 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 especially hurtful. Betrayal undermines our ability to trust. Have you ever experienced betrayal? Betrayal …

1
John 2.13-22 Nov 9-25 Jesus speaking his truth to power 11:09

24d ago11:09

11:09

Send us a text 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 no immediate teachings, healings or witty dialogue. It is clear that Jesus is passionate about his faith, and he i…

1
Luke 7,11-17 Nov 2 – 25 "Life Restored: The Widow’s Son and the Jesus Miracle" 7:30

1M ago7:30

7:30

Send us a text 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 9:18-26) and now in today’s Gospel we hear about Jesus raising the son of a widow in a town called Na…

1
Lk 18.9-14 Oct 26-25 "Faith or Facade? Unpacking Motives in Doing Good" 8:07

1M ago8:07

8:07

Send us a text 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. The second man, the Tax collector has said little but admits to his wrongdoing and is truly sorry. It …

1
Luke 18:1-8 Oct 19-25 The Sacred Pause: Lessons on Waiting from the Bible 8:34

1M ago8:34

8:34

Send us a text 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 justice she was seeking. Jesus makes the interesting point that how much more will God grant what we as…

1
Luke 17:11-19 Oct 12-25 The Leper who Returned: Jesus, Healing, and the Power of Gratitude 9:54

2M ago9:54

9:54

Send us a text 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. Let’s take a step back to help put this Gospel in perspective. Leprosy or now known as Hansen’s Diseas…

1
Luke 17:5-10 Oct 5, 25 Exploring the Disciples’ Quest for More 10:07

2M ago10:07

10:07

Send us a text 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 Jesus what does he need to do to inherit eternal life? It was a fair question but where is the focus? T…

1
Luke 16:19-31 Sept 28-25 Guarding Wealth, Forsaking Grace 10:01

2M ago10:01

10:01

Send us a text 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 t…

1
Luke 16: 1-13 Sept 21-25 The Narrow Path of Loyalty: When Hearts Are Divided 8:17

3M ago8:17

8:17

Send us a text 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 for our time and energy. From my perspective, many people drift away from their faith not out…

1
John 3: 13-17 Sept 14-25 Are you ready to participate in creation? 7:24

3M ago7:24

7:24

Send us a text 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 in the Gospels not all the Pharisees were against Jesus. Yes, there was a small group that were agains…

1
Luke 14:25-33 Sep 7-25 Jesus shocks us with incredible teachings! 8:33

3M ago8:33

8:33

Send us a text 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. While there are no actual scriptural references from Jesus there are Gospel references of Jesus…

1
Luke 14: 1, 7-14 Aug 31-25 Do I really have to be humble to know God? 8:15

3M ago8:15

8:15

Send us a text 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 emphasizes a reversal of worldly status through humility. But what exactly did Jesus mean b…

1
Luke 13: 22-30 Aug 24-25 Will we be "saved"? 11:22

4M ago11:22

11:22

Send us a text Luke’s Gospel is very typical of Jesus style. We have read events where Jesus takes an accepted view, custom, or perception and reinterprets into something different. Often when Jesus is asked a question, he invites the questioner into a deeper meaning. What exactly did Jesus mean when he talks about the narrow gate. Let’s look furth…

1
Luke 12:49-53 Aug 17-25 Do we fully understand the passion of Jesus? 5:54

4M ago5:54

5:54

Send us a text This passage might seem surprising—even unsettling. Here, we don’t see the serene, peaceful Jesus, but instead a passionate figure intensely devoted to his mission and faith. I believe Jesus is speaking metaphorically when he refers to fire—using it to symbolize the fervor and intensity he expects in our faith lives. He was not passi…

1
Luke 12:32-48 Aug 10-25 Are we TOO busy? 10:06

4M ago10:06

10:06

Send us a text In this Gospel we learn that the Father is pleased to give you the kingdom, this is incredible! The kingdom is given, not earned but a free gift. This is not the only such reference, in Luke 13:29 we read that "people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God,". J…

1
Luke 12-13-21 Aug 3-25 Be careful, procrastination is a threat to our spirituality! 9:56

4M ago9:56

9:56

Send us a text We have someone asking Jesus to help settle his case, to judge the merits of an inheritance dispute. Jesus does not take the bait and makes it clear to the individual that he is not here to judge. This is a valuable reminder to people who so often see God as one who judges and punishes. Jesus is very clear about his role. Jesus tells…

1
Luke 13:1-13 July 27, 25 How to pray like Jesus taught us. 9:18

5M ago9:18

9:18

Send us a text The disciples of Jesus note that John the Baptist has taught his disciples to pray. They had likely seen Jesus pray or go off to a lonely place to pray so they are curious. Jesus gives them direction and insight into prayer. These “instructions” have become a prayer, the well know Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father. Prayer is very impor…

1
Luke 10:38-42 July 20, 2025 The story of Martha and Mary, who is your favorite? 8:05

5M ago8:05

8:05

Send us a text Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus were friends of Jesus and they are frequently mentioned in the Gospels. We don’t have any record of anythng that Lazarus said but he is one of the three people in the Gospels that Jesus raised from the dead. The biblical record identifies these three explicit resurrection miracles performed by J…

1
Luke 10:25-37 July 13-25 Are you ready for eternal life? 9:20

5M ago9:20

9:20

Send us a text In today’s Gospel Jesus is asked by a lawyer what must he do to inherit eternal life. The question is direct and honest, unlike many of the questions of the Pharisees and Sadducees that are often multi layered and are intended to trap Jesus rather learn from him. Jesus answers directly by asking him about the Law. This was understand…

1
Luke 10:1-12 July 6-25 Living our faith with all its rewards and traps! 9:08

5M ago9:08

9:08

Send us a text This story is unusual because we have two distinct parts. The first part focusses on the advice Jesus gives his disciples and the second part focusses upon their return. When the 72 return,, they are rejoicing after what appears to be a most successful mission.. They are excited about what they saw. It is noteworthy that the first th…

1
Mt 16:13-19 June 29 -25 Who is Jesus for you? 9:32

5M ago9:32

9:32

Send us a text Who is Jesus for you? Jesus asked this question to his disciples. We all know by now that when Jesus asks a question, he already knows the answer and a teaching follows. Today’s reading is no exception. Jesus asks his disciples “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Jesus gets a variety of answers, most people think he is a prop…

1
Lk 9-11b-17Jun 22-25 What happened during the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and two fish? 11:37

6M ago11:37

11:37

Send us a text Today, our podcast focusses on one of the multiplication of loaves miracles. Luke begins describing the story with Jesus healing those who needed to be cured. It appears it’s the end of the day, so the disciples want to send the people into the villages to get something to eat and possibly seek lodging. Rather than sending the people…

1
Jn 16:12-15 Jun 15-25 What level of spirituality are you on? 8:25

6M ago8:25

8:25

Send us a text The opening section of this Gospel brings to mind 1 Corinthians 13:11, where Paul uses the metaphor of childhood to describe spiritual immaturity: “When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put away childish things.” Spiritual immaturity refers to a stage in whic…

1
John 14:15-16, 23b-26 Jun 8 The Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives 8:34

6M ago8:34

8:34

Send us a text To help us understand the Holy Spirit, the reading begins by emphasizing God’s love for us—a recurring and familiar theme in John’s Gospel. Love inherently involves vulnerability. The more deeply we love, the more at risk we are to being hurt. This vulnerability makes trust essential in any relationship. Trust can be given or earned,…

1
Mk16:15-20 Jun 1 - 25 Jesus gives us instructions before he ascends to the Father 10:42

6M ago10:42

10:42

Send us a text Jesus makes some incredible claims, and provides signs of God’s presence amongst his followers, driving out demons, speaking new languages, picking up serpents, drinking poison and miraculous healings, only to name a few. This passage reminds me of the dramatic style of teaching Jesus used to introject passion into his teachings. Rem…

1
John 14-23-29 May 25 Love Peace and the Holy Spirit 7:25

7M ago7:25

7:25

Send us a text Love is a central and recurring theme in John’s Gospel, and it has been a focus in previous episodes. Love lies at the core of Christian faith. However, I invite you to reflect on whether your image of God is one that is easy to love. Many identify as Christians out of a desire for salvation yet seeking salvation and loving God are n…

1
Jn 13-31-33a-34-35, May 18-25 How to increase our ability to love 13:02

7M ago13:02

13:02

Send us a text Jesus’ call to love is not easy, people are so afraid of being taken advantage of or they do not feel love for the person. Is Jesus calling his followers to something they cannot achieve? Are people who are loving more vulnerable to being taken advantage of? Some people act as if they have a finite amount of love to give and so don’t…

1
Jn 10-27-30, May 11-25 Are there shepherds amongst us? 8:06

7M ago8:06

8:06

Send us a text Jesus portrays shepherds as protectors and guides for the sheep. Likely they served as metaphors of God’s protective and guiding nature. I wonder if there is more here. Perhaps the shepherd has a role to play in our faith. We don’t see many shepherds in most western towns and cities. When I think of shepherds, I think of individuals …

1
Jn 21-1-19 May 4-25 Leadership, Christian style 7:28

7M ago7:28

7:28

Send us a text This teaching on leadership must have been revolutionary to the first listeners to this teaching. Jesus addresses this in Mark 10:42-45, as Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Ins…

1
Jn 20:19-31 Apr 27-25 How do we live Christian Peace? 9:21

8M ago9:21

9:21

Send us a text Peace is not just an absence of conflict. Lasting peace needs justice. There are also several levels of peace. There is peace between countries, communities, families and ultimately our own internal peace. Most of us are not in a position to directly impact peace between countries but we can work for peace within our communities, our…

1
Jn 20:1-9 Apr 20-25 Jesus is risen in an adult Easter 8:02

8M ago8:02

8:02

Send us a text This Gospel is one of the early resurrection stories. We read about Mary of Magdala going to the tomb, knowing that she would not likely be able to go into the tomb because it would be blocked by a huge stone; but she went anyway. She gets to the empty tomb and understandably believes the body has been taken away. Later she would rec…

1
Luke 22-14-23,56 Apr 13-25 Where is divine support for our struggles? 9:13

8M ago9:13

9:13

Send us a text This Gospel is an account of the last meal Jesus had with his disciples. The meal is better known as the last supper. Soon Jesus' earthly mission will be over. The disciples do not realize yet that this evening is going to take a very different turn. I wonder what Jesus was feeling. We read that he was in agony in the garden but what…

1
John 8: 1-11 Apr 6-25 The story of the woman caught in adultery teaches us about self-reflection 8:23

8M ago8:23

8:23

Send us a text Today’s Gospel is a teaching, Gospel. Its also unusual. In most instances the person seeks out Jesus or recognizes him before asking for something. I suspect the woman in this story wanted to be anywhere else but there. She was not only embarrassed but terrified. Without Jesus’ intervention she faced a painful death. She has a brief …

1
Luke 15:1-3,11-32 New Insights on the Prodigal Son 8:13

9M ago8:13

8:13

Send us a text Jesus describes a young man who wants adventure and asks for his share of his father’s estate. After he receives his inheritance, he leaves and lives a carefree life. I want to draw your attention to the fact that he did not earn the money he is spending, it is his father’s hard-earned money. This would be a good time to pause and re…

1
Luke 13:1-9 Jesus teaches us about sin and misfortune 10:59

9M ago10:59

10:59

Send us a text In this Gospel Jesus talks about two situations where innocent people were killed. Jesus articulates the thoughts of the people who believed that the people who were killed were not only responsible for their misfortunate but that their bad luck was likely a result of God punishing them. Jesus challenges this “blaming the victim’ sta…

1
Like 9-28b-36 The Transfiguration, having a mystical experience 8:48

9M ago8:48

8:48

Send us a text This Podcast focusses on one of the most unusual Gospel passages of all the Gospels; the Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus in front of Peter, James and John. The event seems unexpected and following the event the disciples are silent about the experience. They don’t tell anyone. How could they possibly explain to so…

1
Lk 4: 1-13 Jesus is tempted by the Devil 9:40

9M ago9:40

9:40

Send us a text We don’t know for sure what Jesus actually did while he was in the desert. In biblical times, going to the desert held significant spiritual, symbolic, and practical meanings. Here are some key aspects of its significance. The desert was often a place where individuals were prepared for their destinies. The desert offered solitude, w…

1
Lk 6:39-45 Jesus teaching us to be wise 7:18

9M ago7:18

7:18

Send us a text Jesus is calling his followers to be wise. He gives a few tools on how to be wise. The list is not complete. What is wisdom? Wisdom is correlated with intelligence but its not absolute. I suspect you may know someone who is highly educated but not wise, often making the same mistake over and over again. On the other hand, you may kno…

1
Luke 6-27-38, Loving our enemies. Are you serious? 10:10

10M ago10:10

10:10

Send us a text Christians are called to go beyond the bare minimum. Let’s unpack this Gospel, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Tough words. The basic message is Jesus telling the people that your actions should be based on your personal values not a reaction to someone else’s bad behavior. The teaching is…

1
Lk 6 :17, 20-26 Feb 16-25 The Beatitudes 8:34

10M ago8:34

8:34

Send us a text The Beatitudes are not merely statements of happiness; they encapsulate profound spiritual truths about God's kingdom and our spiritual development. They highlight qualities such as humility, mercy, and a thirst for righteousness, promising future rewards for those who embody these traits. Consequently, the Beatitudes are foundationa…

1
Lk 5 -1-11 Feb 9-25 St. Peter throws his nets for the last time. 6:03

10M ago6:03

6:03

Send us a text The call of Peter and the other disciples illustrates God's invitation for us to follow Him. Despite his initial reluctance and desire to return home after a long night of fishing, Peter allows Jesus into his boat. This kind of openness is crucial for our own spiritual growth. I want to emphasize the moment when Jesus asks Peter to l…

1
Lk 2:22-40 Feb 2-25 Simeon and Anna recognizes Jesus as the Messiah when he was a baby 7:07

10M ago7:07

7:07

Send us a text When Jesus was presented in the temple, it was likely an ordinary event among many similar presentations each week. However, Simeon and Anna's ability to perceive something extraordinary suggests that spirituality often eludes those who do not actively seek it. What insights did they possess that others lacked? This passage prompts u…

1
Luke 1:1-21 Jesus describes for us his mission statement 5:49

11M ago5:49

5:49

Send us a text During Sabbath services, it was customary for males to read from Scripture or the Torah. Jesus reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, which is significant because Isaiah made many prophecies about the Messiah. The Gospel of Matthew speaks about how these prophecies are fulfilled. This reading serves as a blueprint for Jesus’ mi…

1
John 2-1-11 Are we aware of God's interventions in our life? 11:42

11M ago11:42

11:42

Send us a text The Gospel today is about the first miracle that Jesus performed. It is unique. There are no healings, or obvious teachings. The teaching is actually rather subtle. Jesus makes wine for a wedding at the request or expectation of his mother. There are a few points that I want to draw your attention to because they are useful teachings…

1
Luke 3-15-16, 21-22 Baptism of Jesus Do we need to embrace community? 8:39

11M ago8:39

8:39

Send us a text In Luke’s Gospel we have a brief description of Jesus being baptized by his cousin, John the Baptist. The details are scarce. We don’t know why Jesus chose to participate in this ritual or how it impacted his ministry. This story is problematic however, as this ritual was designed for sinners, why would Jesus who had not sinned be pa…

1
Epiphany Mt 2: 1-12 The Gentile Scientists welcome Jesus 9:33

11M ago9:33

9:33

Send us a text In today’s Gospel the arrival of the Magi is noted. This Gospel is full of symbolism about who Jesus would be. Some biblical traditions list the Magi as kings and some traditions have even named them, Caspar (or Gaspar), Melchior, and Balthazar. Likely, this naming is primarily derived from Western Christian tradition. Its highly unl…

1
The Spirituality of New Years Resolutions Can we take another look? 10:10

11M ago10:10

10:10

Send us a text I like to do something special for Lent and Advent. Last Easter I set up an internet retreat. This Christmas season I want to talk about the spirituality of New Years Resolutions. I feel very strongly about this. I am surprised the Church doesn’t say more about New Years Resolutions. I believe there is something spiritual happening w…