This Sunday's gospel reading is the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, as it is sometimes called.

The Beatitudes are more than being happy, but rather the charter (along with the Ten Commandments) of the Christian life. 

In this episode, I tell the story of a saint who has been called the Man of the Beatitudes, St Pier Giorgio Frassati.

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The calling of the first four apostles is not just a nice story, though it is. It is Jesus beginning His church, calling the first of twelve for whom He desired the role of leadership in His church; twelve just like the twelve tribes of Israel because the Church is the new Israel. This role of apostle continues today in every bishop around the world because this was Christ's intention. He did not start something and then let it get by on its own. Rather, the divine plan was there from the very beginning.

The image is by Caravaggio depicting the call of Peter and Andrew.

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The title of today's podcast may lead you to believe that it will be a long one. Not necessarily! Though volumes have been written on prayer, on faith and on the nature of God, I take a simpler approach, seeking to find what does the sacred liturgy lead us to understand and appreciate on this Sunday. I hope you find it helpful.

The image is of St John the Baptist by Annibale Caracci, held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

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The Baptism of the Lord reveals Christ to the nations as the Beloved of the Father, the One on whom the Holy Spirit rests, and the Saviour who is in solidarity with fallen human nature, and with sinners. This is a wondrous feast, not just an event.

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The Epiphany of the Lord is the story of our life of faith. It was also an historical event whereby the divine entered into time, space and history. Can we be like the Magi who looked for, saw and adored the Son of God? Can we do this more than once in our life?

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In the sacred liturgy and in our beliefs, we do not pass over the obvious reality that Jesus was born into a family. Rather, we spend this Sunday within the Octave of Christmas giving our attention to this perfect and holy family. We do this not to wonder at the ideal but draw from it inspiration and grace; for us and for our families. 

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The birth of Christ is always seen, because of Holy Scripture and Holy Tradition, as light entering a world in the grip of darkness. Even the circumstances of His show us this. There is really too much to say about the Nativity of the Saviour. Perhaps that is why the Church brings us to celebrate it each year so that we deepen our understanding of and appreciation for God coming to meet us.

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This podcast attempts to offer a way in which we as Catholics can pray when 15 people were killed last Sunday on Bondi Beach. Echoing the words of Archbishop Fisher of Sydney, a great evil has visited our nation. Our faith does not explain why it happened apart from recognising that evil exists and will be active until Christ comes again. However, the holy scripture of today's Mass offers how we can pray and even what we can pray for.

Eternal rest give to all those who were killed, O Lord, and let perpetual life shine upon them. Amen.

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The Collect of this Sunday's Mass places together "solemn worship" and "glad rejoicing". What is this kind of joy that is compatible with solemn worship?

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Two important aspects of this podcast: an idea that is theological and important to understand our salvation, and another which is a timely message for our day.

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