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…

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…

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 …

Shawn van der Linden has a background in clinical mental health counselling as an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker, practising in Australia. Starting out his working life as a qualified carpenter, Shawn subsequently discerned consecrated life with the Missionaries of God’s Love (MGLs), which involved intensive years of spiritual formation and…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Back again with my friend and life coach Peter Prochacka, we talk about how to build healthy relationships in a world that has forgotten the importance of the roles of men and women in society. Through the archetypes of men and women spoken about in the scriptures, we talk about how to overcome evil, and build relationships formed by first building…

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 …

This episode is the first in a two part series about relaionships. I sit down with my good friend Peter Prochacka to discuss the current toxic trends in relationships and dating. This is about focusing on how the role of evil has infiltrated society and sowed confusion and discord leaving many broken hearted. In the next episode, we discuss how to …

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…

In this episode, I chat with Fr Chris Eaton MGL about navigating the right line between the lures to sin and temptation in the world that can be detrimental to our mental health versus the beauty we can experience in the world as God intended. Fr Chris is an artist, singer/song writer and you can find his work on Spotify at the link below: https://…

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…

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…

In this episode I sit down with Fr Dave Callaghan MGL. We discuss the purpose of Lent, how we find our identity and freedom in Christ through the disciplines of fasting, prayer and alms giving. This includes healing from loneliness and addiction If you like what Fr Dave has to say, you can hear more from him on his podcast, The Novitiate by clickin…

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…

In this episode, Brian Welsh joins me to talk about how he found the saving, healing hand of Christ from the depths of despair. Brian invites each one of us to respond to God's call on our hearts and minds, to give ourselves over to the Lord and to trust that He will act in His perfect time. Hill to Thrive On: Finding Hope in a Sea of Despair is in…

In this episode I sit down with my good friend, Peter Prochaka. We talk about everything from loneliness and despair to how to find meaning and purpose in life. Meaning, and purpose through faith in Christ as the hope of building resilience, rising from the pit of darkness to the light of day. Hill to Thrive On: Finding Hope in a Sea of Despair is …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Send us a text The Gospel today is quite different from our usual readings. It is a story from when Jesus was a twelve-year-old boy. This Gospel story is likely every parent’s nightmare; having one of their children lost. I can hardly imagine what Mary and Joseph were going through during those 3 days of searching for their son, Jesus. It seems tha…

Send us a text In today’s podcast we have Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth. There are several points in this Gospel I want to point out. We have Mary who is pregnant herself going to help her cousin Elizabeth . Mary’s sense of service is obvious. We know that Elizabeth was likely past childbearing years. She was not able to have a child in a cult…

Send us a text In this podcast from Luke, we hear more about John the Baptist. John is giving advice to individuals who want to change their life to reflect their beliefs. These individuals realize that their faith is not just practiced on holy days but will also impact their behavior at work and at home. There are a couple of key points that I wan…

Send us a text In today’s podcast we are introduced to John also known as John the Baptist not to be confused with the apostle John, the beloved disciple. John the Baptist was related to Jesus, his mother Elizabeth and Mary, the mother of Jesus were first cousins. Likely John and Jesus knew each other growing up. John is seen as the one prophesized…

Send us a text We are encouraged to stand firm Lk 21:19 and be careful (Lk 21:34). These are valuable lessons for life, not just for coping with the end times but also applicable in the present moment. I wonder if Jesus was talking about the end of the world or teaching us something about our spiritual lives. I wonder if Jesus is telling us to be r…

Send us a text Jesus is asked by Pontius Pilate if he is the king of the Jews. Pilate is not talking about a heavenly kingdom but an earthly kingdom. Pilate was not making an act of faith. He wanted to know if Jesus was a political threat or not. Jesus responds knowing that Pilate would not likely understand but encourages Pilate and the listeners …

Send us a text This Gospel was written over 2,000 years ago and the world is still here so I am less convinced the readings were written to prepare us for the end times. However, many of the early Christians understood these readings as a sign pointing to the end of the world. One of the reasons why the Gospels were written so late, was because man…

Send us a text The lesson in today’s Gospel is clear, do not get seduced by appearances! There is also a sub-theme of humility. Jesus is critical of the Scribes for their hypocritical behaviour. As Luke 12:48, states, "To whom much is given, much will be required." Jesus emphasized the idea of responsibility that comes with blessings and resources.…

Send us a text In today’s Gospel Jesus is asked by a scribe, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answers his question directly. Jesus talked about loving God exclusively, with all your heart, mind and all your strength. Jesus did not leave anything out. Jesus does not stop there but teaches that we are to love our neighbor as our selves.…

Send us a text Bartimaeus was blind and so had to resort to begging to feed himself. As a beggar he had to compete with other beggars in order to survive. His life was undoubtedly harsh. We do not know if he had any support from his family. Probably, he learned to be pushy to get what he needed. We can see his assertiveness in the Gospel reading. H…

Send us a text Jesus points out that following him is not going to be easy and there are no special concessions. Jesus is teaching his disciples and ultimately his followers about what following him is all about. This was an issue for the early Christians who were experiencing the persecutions who wondered why God allowed these terrible things to h…

Send us a text Today’s Gospel from Mark describe a man asking what must I do to inherit eternal life? I want to draw your attention to the question. I am struck by the fact that the man is focused solely on his own needs. While there is nothing wrong with that the question it does say much about his level of faith development. It is very self-focus…

Send us a text Many Christian denominations have interpreted this Scripture passage differently, but I want to draw your attention to the comment Jesus made, and I quote: “What God has joined together, no human being must separate.” This is a very important line. We assume that when someone has a wedding in a Church witnessed before a priest or min…

Send us a text Being passionate about one’s faith is not being fanatical. Being passionate about one’s faith is being inspired, actively seeking deeper understanding and being committed to living the values in our faith life. The problem is that anyone’s faith can become complacent, left unchallenged our faith may ultimately becomes stale. In Matth…

Send us a text Jesus was very clear in his understanding of leadership. For example, His teachings on leadership are found in Matthew 20:26, where he states, "But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant." This reflects the principle that true leadership is about serving others rather than seeking …

Send us a text Jesus, like any good lawyer never asked a question that he did not already know the answer to. After the disciples answer his question Jesus increases the heat by asking them who they think he is. Peter responds with the perfect answer and Jesus points out that his answer is a reflection of God’s presence in his life. Unfortunately f…

Send us a text In today’s Gospel we have a description of a healing, specifically the healing of a deaf and mute man. Jesus orders the man not to tell anyone but Jesus orders falls on deaf ears, if you don’t mind the irony and the miracle is proclaimed anyway. Jesus must have known that the miracle would be proclaimed, and the people could not keep…

Send us a text Today’s Gospel reading is from a group of teachings where Mark describes Jesus challenging the Scribes and Pharisees about the practice of their faith. The Scribes and Pharisees were not doing anything wrong. They were literally following the law and the traditions of their ancestors. The point that Jesus is making with them is that …

Kurt Fearnley sits down with adventurer James McAloon to explore his incredible journey from a corporate career to life on the edge of the world's most challenging environments. James shares stories of his daring expeditions, from trekking across the frozen tundras to navigating dense jungles, and discusses the pivotal moments that inspired him to …

Send us a text This Gospel is likely one of the most difficult to understand. Understandably, his first listeners are struggling to comprehend this teaching especially because they were taking Jesus literally. Jesus develops the lesson inviting his listeners to think on the level of Spirit. We have an account of a significant loss of disciples here…

Angie Ballard is one of Kurt's oldest friends. She shares her journey from a young athlete discovering the world of wheelchair racing to becoming a world-class competitor and a six-time Paralympian. With numerous medals and world records to her name, Angela talks about the highs and lows of her career, the dedication required to stay at the top, an…