Podcasts about Paula Gooder

‘Hope shows up when we are fighting for justice. Hope shows up when we show up making clear that the way things are is not the way they are destined to be, that the way things are is not God's promise for us.' Join Kelly Brown-Douglas and Paula Gooder, as they reflect together on vocation and preaching, on racial justice and, most importantly, on hope. Kelly Brown-Douglas is an African-American priest in the Episcopal Church in the USA. She is a leading voice in womanist theology and racial justice, and is a brilliant preacher and communicator. Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral.

On 9th April 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was killed in Flossenbürg concentration camp. A German Lutheran pastor and theologian, he was imprisoned for his opposition to the Nazis during the 1930s and 40s. 80 years on, Bonhoeffer's writings, especially his reflections on the Sermon on the Mount and what this means for discipleship, remain as inspirational as ever. Join Andreas Loewe and Paula Gooder as they discuss Bonhoeffer's enduring legacy and impact. The Very Revd Dr Andreas Loewe is Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. His book, written with Dr Katherine Firth, 'Journey with Bonhoeffer: Six Steps on the Path of Discipleship' is available in the UK at https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/9780647532928 Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, London.

The question of suffering has always been something with which people have wrestled. In his 2025 Lent book, Healing Wounds, Erik Varden attempts to offer new reflections on this most challenging of themes. Reflecting on the cross, on Jesus' own suffering as well as on our own sufferings, he draws out the ways in which Jesus' suffering on the cross can turn into sources of healing for ourselves and for others. In this online conversation, Erik Varden and Paula Gooder draw on these and other themes. Erik Varden is Bishop of Trondheim in Norway and a Cistercian monk.

Join us for Episode #4171 of Day1, featuring Dr. Paula Gooder, Canon Chancellor of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. In her sermon, “From Glory into Glory: Living a Transfigured Life,” she explores 2 Corinthians 3:12-18 and Exodus 34:29-35, reflecting on how we are continually transformed by God's glory. As we celebrate Transfiguration Sunday, Dr. Gooder's message invites us to embrace the radiance of Christ in our daily lives.

19 FEB 25

05 FEB 25

22 JAN 25

It's the GodPod Christmas special! Today, Graham, Micheal and Jane, are joined by Dr Paula Gooder. Together they speak about the stories of women in the New Testament, including the ones that make up the nativity.Dr Paula Gooder is a New Testament scholar and Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral in London. She is also the author of numerous best-selling books – including Phoebe, Lydia, and her latest offering, ‘Women of the Nativity: an Advent and Christmas Journey in Nine Stories' – within which she fuses her extensive biblical knowledge with her masterful story-telling skills.For Paula's books: Paula Gooder books and biography | WaterstonesFor more from Seen and Unseen: Seen & Unseen | Seen & Unseen (seenandunseen.com)For more about St Mellitus: Home Page | St Mellitus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Rachel Hughes and Amy Hughes sit down with Dr Paula Gooder to explore the character of Lydia. Dr Paula Gooder is a writer and lecturer in Biblical Studies and her research areas focus on the writings of Paul the Apostle. She brings so much depth of understanding to this wide ranging conversation about following the call of God, what it looks like to wield power and the role of women in the first century and now.

At the launch of our recent Gen Z and the City report, we spoke to Canon Dr Paula Gooder, Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, to find out what she thinks the most important issues we can be talking about today are. The Gen Z and the City report explores intergenerational differences in the workplace, with a focus on bridging divides and overcoming misunderstandings. The report is available to read for free on the resources page of the Cumberland Lodge website.

Marilynne Robinson's new book 'Reading Genesis' is a profound meditation on the first book of the Bible. In it she explores both its greatness as literature and its rich articulation of themes that resonate through the whole of scripture and human history – the problem of evil, God's relationship to humanity, the nature of creation. In this conversation with Paula Gooder, they explore why she turned to writing about Genesis, what it tells us about the nature and the love of God and the freedom of humanity, why it matters so much as a foundational text, and what she is working on next.

Can a church still be an open, welcoming place if you don't belong to the same faith? And how do Londoners today feel about experiencing places of worship as part of the public realm? In religious spaces, we are used to encountering memorials to notable, wealthy individuals, but not necessarily to ordinary people. In this episode, we discover the memorial to the victims of COVID-19 in the heart of St Paul's Cathedral, one of London's most iconic buildings. Bringing together discussions around secular and sacred spaces, we find out from Londoners if a COVID-19 monument in a religious space can work to include everyone, and hear about one cathedral's hopes to do exactly that. ---------- Presenter: Aindrea Emelife, Curator of Modern and Contemporary at MOWAA (Museum of West African Art). Contributors: Debbie Weekes-Barnard, Deputy Mayor, Communities and Social Justice; Dr Paula Gooder, Canon Chancellor at St Paul's Cathedral; Jasvir Singh, Founder of South Asian Heritage Month, family barrister, and activist; Mark Sapaen, St Barnabas Church, Walthamstow. Produced by Sylvie Carlos. Sound design by Weyland Mckenzie-Witter. Hosted on Spotify. The views and opinions expressed in this podcast series are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the Mayor of London.

10 JULY 24

In this episode, we are joined by special guest Dr. Paula Gooder to explore the story of Phoebe, the first deaconess mentioned in the book of Romans. Together, we discover her pivotal role in the early church, uncover her profound legacy, and learn from her leadership.

08 MAY 24

01 MAY 24

Selina Stone and Paula Gooder explore the practice of tarrying - waiting on God – which is at the heart of Selina Stone's Lent book Tarry Awhile: Wisdom from Black Spirituality for People of Faith, the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent book for 2024. They talk about favourite Bible stories about tarrying including Gethsemane, Jacob and the Angel, and Hagar in the desert, as well as the importance of bodies in our spiritual lives, being honest about disappointment, and about how to keep a good Lent.

Anderson Jeremiah and Paula Gooder talk about Jesus in the Bible, in history, and in our lives. They explore his suffering, death and resurrection, how much stories and images of him matter, and how we can live as disciples of Jesus today.

The Bible is full of angels, from the cherubim in Ezekiel's visions, to the strangers appearing to Abraham, to the messengers that bring the good news of Jesus's birth to Mary and the shepherds in the Christmas stories. Paula Gooder explores what angels are and what they do in the Old and New Testaments. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral and a distinguished Biblical Scholar, writer and speaker. The author of many books, in 'Heaven' she explored what the Bible says about angels.

Bishop Arun Arora and Canon Paula Gooder share their passion for Advent, explore why Advent is the season for a ‘spiritual MOT', and also reflect on some of the inspiring stories of faith, from Stormzy to Santa, in his new Advent book 'Stick With Love'. They talk about the difficult questions to be faced about unanswered prayer, finding hope instead of despair in a deeply troubled world, and why stories are essential in the life of faith. The Rt Revd Arun Arora is the Bishop of Kirkstall in the Diocese of Leeds, having previously served as Vicar of St Nics, Durham, and before that as Director of Communications of the Archbishops' Council of the Church of England. His new book 'Stick with Love; Rejoicing in Every Tongue, Every Tribe, Every Nation' is The Archbishop of York's Advent for Book 2023. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, a distinguished New Testament scholar and the author of numerous popular and academic books including her Advent books 'The Meaning is in the Waiting' and 'Journey to the Manger'.

Artificial intelligence is in the news. Eve Poole and Paula Gooder talk about what AI really is and whether we should be frightened by it, hopeful, excited or all three. They explore the role that philosophers and theologians need to have in developing AI, and why it draws us into the big questions about existence: What does it means to be human? What is a soul? What really matters about human life? Dr Eve Poole is an expert in leadership, and was Third Church Estates Commissioner from 2018-2021. Awarded an OBE in 2023 for services to education and gender equality, her latest book is 'Robots Souls: Programming in Humanity'. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, a distinguished New Testament scholar and the author of numerous popular and academic books.

What does it mean to bring our imaginations to reading the Bible? Professor Judy Fentress-Williams says the Bible is there to guide us, challenge us, confuse us, inspire us, and that bringing our honest questions to the text can lead us into deeper truths and a deeper relationship with God. Biblical scholars Judy Fentress-Williams and Paula Gooder talk about the beautiful, inspiring and difficult parts of the Bible, why we should read it like poetry, and what Biblical authority really means. Dr Judy Fentress-Williams is Professor of Old Testament at Virginia Theological Seminary. Her latest book is 'Holy Imagination: A Literary and Theological Introduction to the Whole Bible'. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, a distinguished New Testament scholar and the author of numerous popular and academic books.

From February 2015: New Testament scholar, author and speaker Paula Gooder joins Justin to tackle a range of questions sent in by listeners. The Old Covenant, eyewitness testimony, how the Gospels were written and much more is covered. For Paula Gooder: http://www.gooder.me.uk/ • Subscribe to the Unbelievable? podcast: https://pod.link/267142101 • More shows, free eBook & newsletter: https://premierunbelievable.com • For live events: http://www.unbelievable.live • For online learning: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/training • Support us in the USA: http://www.premierinsight.org/unbelievableshow • Support us in the rest of the world: https://www.premierunbelievable.com/donate

What did it feel like to be a Christian in the earliest churches? How does telling stories help us understand the role of women in Paul's ministry? How does imagination help us see Paul and his good news in a different light? How might close attention to people's backstories help us to forgive them and indeed ourselves? In this episode, we talk to Canon Dr. Paula Gooder. Paula is a New Testament scholar and Canon Chancellor at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. Among her many published works are two books based on New Testament characters, Phoebe and Lydia.

A special compilation Easter episode sharing nuggets from previous episodes on the theme of resurrection: Bishop Jan McFarlane on her breast cancer experience. Dr Claire Foster-Gilbert on her incurable cancer and repeated resurrections. Dr Paula Gooder helps us find hope in the resurrection. Bishop Adrian Newman reflects on the significance of the stone being rolled away from the tomb. Very Reverend Martin Fair shares his passion and the need for radical resurrection today. All episodes of the GoHealth Podcast along with most of their transcripts can be found here. Find out more and join the GoHealth Community here. Photo credit: Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash

When his disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, the Lord's Prayer was his answer. Paula Gooder says that what Jesus gave the disciples was not just a single prayer but a set of guidelines for prayer itself. He was teaching them – and is teaching us – how to live a life of prayer formed by faith, hope and love, aligned with God's desire for our own flourishing and a world full of justice. (A note on the talk from Dr Gooder: 'After the talk I realised that I had forgotten to say something I meant to say – and so am adding it here. When I was talking about the three requests, (may your name be hallowed, may your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven), I meant to say that these three only appear in Matthew's Gospel. In Luke there is simply 'may your name be hallowed' and 'may your kingdom come'. Matthew's version is much longer here. In a way Matthew is giving us a clearer picture of what Jesus had in mind.') Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral and a leading Biblical scholar and the author of numerous academic and popular theology books.

Br Guy Consolmagno says that science is an important way to get to know God. In this conversation with Paula Gooder about Br Guy's role as director of the Vatican Observatory, they explore what meteorites tell us about God; why science and faith are more compatible than people imagine and the importance of story-telling to both science and religion. Thinking of the season of Epiphany, they also touch on the Magi and what star they might have seen at the time of Jesus' birth. Br Guy Consolmagno is the director of the Vatican Observatory (www.vaticanobservatory.org) and president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation. His latest book is 'My Theology: Finding God in the Universe'. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, and a leading Biblical scholar and writer.

Lucy Winkett and Paula Gooder explore the pleasures, difficulties, and meanings of Christmas in good times and in bad. From Mary to the song of the Angels, to favourite carols and how hard it can be when the world seems to be celebrating without you, they explore the great and beautiful truth at the heart of it all: that God is with us. The Revd Lucy Winkett is Rector of St James's Piccadilly, and a writer, musician and broadcaster who is a regular contributor to Radio 4's Thought for the Day. Her latest book is 'Reading the Bible with Your Feet'. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral and a leading Biblical Scholar and writer. Her latest book is 'Lydia: A Story', following on from her best-selling 'Phoebe'. We are very grateful to Benefact Trust for their generous support of this programme.

Paula Gooder examines the memorials and artwork in St Paul's Cathedral in the light of the contested history debate

Paul of Tarsus is perhaps the most famous convert in Christianity. His dramatic encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus changed his life completely, turning him from a fierce persecutor of the new cult of Christianity to its passionate leader. A powerful personality and a visionary theologian, his letters are the foundational documents of the new church. At the heart of Paul's theology is the belief that there is nothing and no one who is outside God's loving redemption. Often we encounter Paul through memories of different preachers' and scholars' interpretations of him, but Paula Gooder will introduce him as the person he really was, including how formative his background as a Pharisee was to his thinking. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral and a leading Biblical and Pauline scholar. Her numerous books include Body (about Paul's theology of the goodness of the body), and Phoebe: A Story which explores the context of Paul's letter to the Romans, his theological masterpiece.

The psalms contain some of the most beautiful lines in Scripture, lines that inspire and comfort us when we need them most. They draw us into a life of prayer and praise and have been the prayerbook of the church, and often its hymnbook too, for 2,000 years. Jesus himself knew them and prayed them. And they are profoundly honest about what human life is really like, from the heights to the depths. They take us on a rollercoaster of emotions, from joy to anguish, praise to fury, torment to a place of deep peace. They teach us that we can bring everything - our real lives, our doubts, joys, and even our very darkest feelings - into the presence of God. In this film, Biblical scholar Paula Gooder introduces some of her favourite psalms and their themes of joy, lament, comfort and reconciliation, and reflect on how they can draw us closer to God. The film includes live music, with members of the St Paul's Cathedral Consort performing settings of psalms from across the centuries. Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral. She is the author of many academic and popular books on theology, faith and the Bible including 'Journalling the Psalms: A guide for prayer and reflection' (Hodder 2022). St Paul's Cathedral Choir is led by Andrew Carwood MBE and is one of the leading choirs of the world. The reader is Adjoa Andoh, who plays lead roles in 'Bridgerton', 'Doctor Who' and 'Casualty', as well at the National Theatre and with the Royal Shakespeare Company. She is a Licenced Lay Minister in the Church of England.

Biblical scholar Paula Gooder says that stories and storytelling make all the difference to our understanding of the New Testament. In this conversation with Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley she talks about her new book Lydia, her second narrative exploration of a woman in the early church, which opens up life as a Christian in first-century Philippi and Paul's letter to the new church there. They explore why she chose to write about Lydia, the honour and shame culture in the first century and how much it resonates today, the centrality of forgiveness, how engaging our emotions deepens our understanding of Paul's message, why they both think Paul has a positive view of women in leadership, and why he writes so much about joy. Dr Paula Gooder is a leading New Testament scholar specialising in Paul's letters and theology, and Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral. Her latest book is 'Lydia: A Story', following her bestselling 'Phoebe: A Story'. Dr Helen-Ann Hartley is the Bishop of Ripon. She previously taught New Testament at Ripon College Cuddesdon, and at St John's College in Auckland New Zealand, following her doctorate in Paul's letters.

Le immagini  che Gesù usa nelle parabole sono tratte sempre dal quotidiano di chi ascolta... ma spingono sempre chi ascolta a pensare oltre quelle immagini della quotidianità, per divenire esempi di vita. --- Predicatrice: Jean Guest CLICCA SUL TITOLO PER ASCOLTARE IL MESSAGGIO Tempo di lettura: 10 minuti Tempo di ascolto audio/visione video: 36 minuti Uno dei miei romanzi preferiti  è “Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore” di Italo Calvino. È un capolavoro della narrazione e non posso che consigliarvelo fortemente. Ma attenzione! È anche la lettura più frustrante, perché lo scopo del romanzo è quello di iniziare ogni capitolo con un primo verso ben noto, sulla falsariga di "Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore bussasse alla tua porta", catturare l'attenzione con metafore familiari, tessere una trama intrigante, presentare personaggi affascinanti, inserire un colpo di scena o una svolta inaspettata nel racconto e poi terminare senza concludere la storia, passando direttamente a quella successiva. Accidenti! Cosa succede dopo? La genialità del romanzo sta nel fatto che si pensa di sapere cosa si sta leggendo, ma non si riesce ad anticipare mai il colpo di scena che sta per arrivare.  Sapete - È un po' come quando leggiamo le parabole. Sono così familiari, spesso sono le prime storie della Bibbia che raccontiamo ai nostri figli, e pensiamo di conoscerle così bene da dimenticare che potrebbe esserci un colpo di scena. Ma cos'è una parabola? La definizione che userò è quella più ampia - cioè, una parabola è un insegnamento che utilizza un'immagine per trasmettere una verità spirituale.  Anche se mi piace molto questa definizione del filosofo Kierkegaard.  Una comunicazione indiretta che “inganna” l'uditore  portandolo alla verità - Soren Kierkegaard Non lasciatevi ingannare dalla parola “inganna”, non significa ingannare o imbrogliare, ma piuttosto è una storia così ordinaria nella sua normalità che vi coglie di sorpresa - è di nuovo il colpo di scena della storia. La definizione ampia che useremo comprende anche quegli insegnamenti di Gesù di una sola riga, come "Io sono il pane della vita", o "Io sono la vite, voi i tralci". Se includiamo queste brevi frasi illustrate, Gesù ha raccontato circa 60 parabole - che noi conosciamo! “Tutte queste cose disse Gesù in parabole alla folla e senza parabole non diceva loro nulla.” (Matteo 13:34) È chiaro che le parabole sono importanti negli insegnamenti di Gesù, ma non sono un'esclusiva sua, si trovano in tutti gli scritti e gli insegnamenti del mondo antico e di tutte le culture, ed è un modo particolarmente rabbinico di insegnare la Torah.  Ma ciò che colpisce è la frequenza con cui Gesù insegnava in parabole e la varietà delle immagini che utilizzava; egli sfrutta un modo di insegnare riconoscibile e cattura l'attenzione dei suoi ascoltatori con immagini tratte dalla loro vita quotidiana.  Le immagini che utilizza possono essere suddivise in quattro categorie Come vivevano i suoi ascoltatori: l'agricoltura, gli oggetti domestici di tutti i giorni.Come funziona la società: matrimoni, banchetti, relazioni, giudici. Il denaro: averlo o non averloAltro Le immagini sono fondamentali, le parabole sono visive, non concettuali. Quando ascoltiamo la parabola del seminatore abbiamo un'immagine in testa, per questo le frasi che iniziano con  "Io sono" possono essere considerate parabole;  "Io sono il buon pastore", possiamo capire cosa intende. C'è anche una varietà nel tipo di narrazione che utilizza. Si va dalle lunghe e complesse parabole allegoriche come la parabola del Seminatore, dove l'allegoria è la chiave per comprenderla, ai ricchi racconti narrativi come la parabola del Figliol Prodigo e la parabola del Buon Samaritano, alle brevi istantanee illustrative come il lievito nel pane.  E proprio come Italo Calvino, Gesù era ben felice di lasciare i suoi ascoltatori e noi in sospeso senza un vero e proprio finale: cosa ne sarà del fratello maggiore nella parabola del Figliol Prodigo? A volte è assolutamente chiaro il significato di una parabola, mentre altre volte ci si gratta la testa dicendo: "Cosa vorrà dire?". Ma non preoccupatevi troppo di questo, i discepoli erano esattamente come noi. “I suoi discepoli gli si avvicinarono, dicendo: «Spiegaci la parabola della zizzania nel campo».” (Matteo 13:36 b)  Le parabole avevano lo scopo di far riflettere chi le ascoltava: cosa intendeva dire? Vediamo quando i discepoli hanno frainteso in modo comico. “E Gesù disse loro: «Guardatevi bene dal lievito dei farisei e dei sadducei». Ed essi ragionavano tra di loro e dicevano: «È perché non abbiamo preso dei pani».  Ma Gesù se ne accorse e disse [loro]: «Gente di poca fede, perché discutete tra di voi del fatto di non aver pane?  Non capite ancora? Non vi ricordate dei cinque pani dei cinquemila uomini e quante ceste ne portaste via?  Né dei sette pani dei quattromila uomini e quanti panieri ne portaste via?  Come mai non capite che non è di pani che io vi parlavo? Ma guardatevi dal lievito dei farisei e dei sadducei».  Allora capirono che non aveva loro detto di guardarsi dal lievito dei pani, ma dall'insegnamento dei farisei e dei sadducei.” (Matteo 16:6:12) Per essere corretti nei confronti dei discepoli, avevano già sentito Gesù dire anche questo: “Disse loro un'altra parabola: «Il regno dei cieli è simile al lievito che una donna prende e nasconde in tre misure di farina, finché la pasta sia tutta lievitata».” (Matteo 13:33) Quindi, a volte l'immagine del lievito era positiva, altre no. Ma il punto di entrambi è il lievito stesso, così piccolo eppure in grado di avere un effetto significativo. L'ascoltatore deve riflettere e capire qual'è lo scopo dell'immagine. Dobbiamo impegnarci ancora di più perché non viviamo nella Palestina del I secolo. Il teologo Kenneth Bailey dice che la parabola che illustra meglio questo aspetto è quella delle due persone che costruiscono la loro casa una sulla roccia, l'altra sulla sabbia. “Perciò chiunque ascolta queste mie parole e le mette in pratica sarà paragonato a un uomo avveduto che ha costruito la sua casa sopra la roccia. La pioggia è caduta, sono venuti i torrenti, i venti hanno soffiato e hanno investito quella casa; ma essa non è caduta, perché era fondata sulla roccia. E chiunque ascolta queste mie parole e non le mette in pratica sarà paragonato a un uomo stolto che ha costruito la sua casa sulla sabbia. La pioggia è caduta, sono venuti i torrenti, i venti hanno soffiato e hanno fatto impeto contro quella casa, ed essa è caduta e la sua rovina è stata grande”. (Matteo 7:24-27)  Nel XXI secolo, con le nostre conoscenze scientifiche, ascoltiamo questa parabola e scartiamo immediatamente la persona stolta che costruisce la sua casa sulla sabbia, perché è palesemente sciocco farlo. Siamo quindi pronti subito a concludere che il senso della storia è: costruisci la tua casa (la vita) sulla roccia (Dio). Ma nell'arido paesaggio del deserto in cui viveva Gesù la terra sabbiosa s'indurisce al sole, diventando dura come la roccia , e non è immediatamente evidente quale sia roccia e quale sabbia,  e l'unico modo per essere certi di essere sulla roccia è scavare molto in profondità e questo richiede un duro lavoro.  Solo quando arrivano le piogge la sabbia torna ad essere sabbia e le fondamenta sprofondano.  Quindi sì, la parabola parla di costruire la propria vita su Dio, ma tu, credente, dovrai lavorare duramente per gettare solide fondamenta, costruendo la tua fede nella conoscenza e nella verità, in modo che, quando arriva la pioggia, tu possa reggere in piedi.  Lo stolto non sembra più così evidentemente stolto, e forse ci assomiglia un po' di più? Come diceva sempre Gesù alla fine di una parabola, chi ha orecchie per udire dovrebbe ascoltare e intendere! Come ascoltatori del XXI secolo, dobbiamo anche controllare la nostra comprensione rispetto alla saggezza percepita e alle interpretazioni precedenti. So che continuo a sollevare la questione del patriarcato con voi, ma per buoni motivi. Guardate il capitolo 15 di Luca.  Luca capitolo 15 “La parabola della pecora smarrita”“La parabola della dramma perduta”“La parabola del figlio prodigo” Gesù racconta intenzionalmente una serie di tre parabole che trattano della condizione umana di essere perduti e di come Dio ci ritrova - tutte e tre sono bellissime immagini di redenzione.  Vi garantisco che a tutti noi è stato detto che la parabola della pecora riguarda Dio come buon pastore e la parabola del figlio prodigo riguarda Dio come padre amorevole, ma la parabola della moneta perduta? Dio come donna diligente che restaura le ricchezze della famiglia e dà una festa? No, è solo una donna. Perché? Per quale motivo Gesù avrebbe insegnato queste parabole in successione, ma solo due di esse dovrebbero indicare il carattere e la natura di Dio? Non ha senso.  Le diverse interpretazioni ci aprono nuove idee. L'interpretazione tradizionale del seme di senape è che il seme è così piccolo eppure cresce fino a diventare un albero così grande da offrire riparo agli uccelli: il punto della parabola è che il Regno di Dio inizia in piccolo, ma cresce fino a diventare qualcosa di significativo.  Ma uno scrittore contemporaneo all'epoca di Gesù parla del seme di senape in questo modo: “Estremamente benefico per la salute. Cresce soprattutto allo stato selvatico, anche se viene migliorata quando trapiantato; ma d'altra parte, una volta seminato è difficile liberarsene, perché il seme, una volta caduto, germoglia subito". (Plinio il Vecchio) Cresce come un'erbaccia che, per quanto ci si sforzi, non si riesce a eliminare, e diventa un albero così grande che gli uccelli vi si posano: è la rovina dell'agricoltore!  Quindi, forse, come dice la teologa Paula Gooder: "È possibile che, anziché presentare l'immagine di un idillio pastorale, questa parabola suggerisca qualcosa di sovversivo e molto meno gradito: il Regno dei cieli è come un'erbaccia perniciosa che, una volta piantata, non può essere sradicata. Cresce e cresce fino a diventare così grande che coloro che sono meno desiderati nei nostri campi ordinati e ben pianificati trovano una casa e vi riposano." (Paula Gooder) La seconda interpretazione è più dirompente della prima, pone più domande a noi come Chiesa. Entrambe sono possibili, entrambe sono plausibili.  Chi ha orecchie per udire dovrebbe ascoltare e intendere! E va bene che si discuta sul significato delle parabole. Viviamo in tempi, culture e contesti diversi, ma esse avranno al centro una verità spirituale che è pertinente per noi oggi. E a volte la nostra mancanza di comprensione potrebbe indicare qualcos'altro. Torniamo a Marco 4 e alla parabola del seminatore. “«Ascoltate: il seminatore uscì a seminare. Mentre seminava, una parte del seme cadde lungo la strada; e gli uccelli [del cielo] vennero e lo mangiarono. Un'altra cadde in un suolo roccioso dove non aveva molta terra; e subito spuntò, perché non aveva terreno profondo; ma quando il sole si levò, fu bruciata e, non avendo radice, inaridì. Un'altra cadde fra le spine; le spine crebbero e la soffocarono, ed essa non fece frutto. Altre parti caddero nella buona terra; portarono frutto, che venne su e crebbe, e giunsero a dare il trenta, il sessanta e il cento per uno». Poi disse: «Chi ha orecchi per udire oda». Quando egli fu solo, quelli che gli stavano intorno con i dodici lo interrogarono sulle parabole. Egli disse loro: «A voi è dato [di conoscere] il mistero del regno di Dio; ma a quelli che sono di fuori tutto viene esposto in parabole…” (Marco 4:3-11) Ci sono “intenditori” che comprendono il mistero del regno di Dio e persone estranee o “di fuori” che non lo comprendono.  Per i quattro capitoli successivi i discepoli sono gli “intenditori” e poi, nel capitolo 8, diventano di nuovo “di fuori”, estranei quando non capiscono cosa Gesù intenda con il lievito dei farisei. Egli ripete loro esattamente la stessa cosa: “ Ma egli, accortosene, disse loro: «Perché state a discutere del non aver pane? Non riflettete e non capite ancora? Avete [ancora] il cuore indurito?  Avete occhi e non vedete, avete orecchi e non udite? E non vi ricordate?” (Marco 8:17-18) E dobbiamo ricordare che molti "estranei" hanno riconosciuto e capito chi era Gesù e che cosa era: la donna al pozzo, la donna con l'emorragia, l'uomo posseduto. Fondamentale per comprendere il regno di Dio è  un incontro con Gesù e il modo in cui gli rispondiamo.  Le parabole non sono state usate da Gesù per nascondere la verità del regno di Dio, ma per vedere chi dei suoi ascoltatori era pronto ad affrontarle e a trovarlo. Volevano, vogliamo diventare degli "intenditori"?  Oppure erano, siamo, come il giovane che dopo aver ascoltato la parabola del Buon Samaritano era contento di andarsene deluso perché è troppo difficile da mettere in pratica?  Le Scritture, e in particolare le parabole, hanno lo scopo di farci cambiare, cambiare il nostro modo di pensare, cambiare il nostro modo di agire. Ho un detto preferito riguardo alle Scritture: "Sconvolge chi si sente a proprio agio e conforta chi è sconvolto". Non dovremmo essere come il giovane, ma come questo: “Il regno dei cieli è anche simile a un mercante che va in cerca di belle perle; e, trovata una perla di gran valore, se n'è andato, ha venduto tutto quello che aveva e l'ha comprata.” (Matteo 13:45-46) Amen.GUARDA LE DIAPOSITIVE DEL MESSAGGIOGUARDA IL MESSAGGIO IN BASSA RISOLUZIONE SU FACEBOOKGUARDA IL MESSAGGIO IN BASSA RISOLUZIONE SU INSTAGRAM---GUARDA IL VIDEO DEL MESSAGGIO IN HD  (Visita il nostro sito per ascoltare la registrazione audio, vedere il video del messaggio, per scaricare gli appunti e per vedere le diapositive del messaggio)

Physicist Tom McLeish and Biblical scholar Paula Gooder talk about the relationship between science and faith, and how much each has to learn from each other. They explore the nature of truth, the role science plays in the Kingdom of God, how the art of asking good questions is at the heart of both science and faith, and draw insights from the Creation stories in the Old Testament, the Book of Job and St Paul's life and letters. Professor Tom McLeish FRS is Professor of Natural Philosophy in the Department of Physics at the University of York, and a Licenced Lay Minister in the Church of England. Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral, and a leading Biblical scholar and writer.

Welcome to New Hope's Cutting Room Floor Podcast where we get a chance to talk about what didn't make it into the sermon this week, and what our speaker would've liked more time to engage with.  We'll also go over some questions you might have had, and generally just have a good time talking about what was on our speaker's mind. Episode 3: Can We Take The Bible Seriously? with John Rosensteel and special guest Dr. Nijay Gupta (Part 2) Resources Peter Williams, Can We Trust the Gospels? Richard Burridge, Four Gospels, One Jesus Michael F. Bird, Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew About the Bible Dennis Edwards, What is the Bible and How Do We Understand It? Paula Gooder, The Bible: A Beginner's Guide VIDEO: Can We Trust What the Bible Tells Us about Jesus? https://www.publicchristianity.org/youth-resource/can-trust-bible-tells-us-jesus/

Welcome to New Hope's Cutting Room Floor Podcast where we get a chance to talk about what didn't make it into the sermon this week, and what our speaker would've liked more time to engage with.  We'll also go over some questions you might have had, and generally just have a good time talking about what was on our speaker's mind. Episode 3: Can We Take The Bible Seriously? with John Rosensteel and special guest Dr. Nijay Gupta (Part 1) Resources Peter Williams, Can We Trust the Gospels? Richard Burridge, Four Gospels, One Jesus Michael F. Bird, Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew About the Bible Dennis Edwards, What is the Bible and How Do We Understand It? Paula Gooder, The Bible: A Beginner's Guide VIDEO: Can We Trust What the Bible Tells Us about Jesus? https://www.publicchristianity.org/youth-resource/can-trust-bible-tells-us-jesus/

Welcome to New Hope! We're glad to have you join us this morning. In this sermons series, 10 Questions: Exploring Barriers to Faith, we will explore some of the questions that keep many people from ever considering the way of Jesus. When we engage with these questions we also equip people who are questioning their faith with new perspective for the journey ahead. And wrestling with these questions will enable followers of Jesus “to give a reason for the hope that is in us.” (1 Peter 3:15)   This week we are exploring the question "Can We Take the Bible Seriously?" with Dr. Nijay Gupta.   Resources Peter Williams, Can We Trust the Gospels? Richard Burridge, Four Gospels, One Jesus Michael F. Bird, Seven Things I Wish Christians Knew About the Bible Dennis Edwards, What is the Bible and How Do We Understand It? Paula Gooder, The Bible: A Beginner's Guide VIDEO: Can We Trust What the Bible Tells Us about Jesus? https://www.publicchristianity.org/youth-resource/can-trust-bible-tells-us-jesus/  

Bishop Lusa Nsenga-Ngoy and Dr Paula Gooder in conversation the resurrection and all things hopeful, including the movements for social and racial justice and contemplative prayer.

This podcast, starting on Palm Sunday 2022 and written and read by Paula Gooder, features nine stories about nine different, but interlinked, women, originally written as Holy Week, Easter and Ascension Day reflections for Southwark Cathedral in 2021. Holy Week is a time when Christians across the world travel together as companions on the way in reflection and in prayer, focused on Jesus, the one whose suffering and death, whose resurrection and new life draws us together and makes us one. It is together, as God's people, that we accompany Jesus in this last week of his life, and as we do so we join countless others who have trod this way before us. One of the powerful features of Holy Week and Easter is that our remembrance of the events in the last week of Jesus' life joins us with those who were there with him and invites us to imagine what it might have been like to have seen the events for ourselves.

The dramatic and mysterious events of Holy Week and Easter are at the heart of Christian faith. Andrew Nunn says that Holy Week is like a pebble thrown into a pond and its effects are felt in Jesus' resurrection, the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost, and all the way into the present day and our own lives. Andrew Nunn and Paula Gooder explore what happens at the Last Supper, on the Cross, and at Easter and Pentecost, including some of what it means to them personally, and how we can keep the season in a way that means we come to know Jesus better. The Very Revd Andrew Nunn is Dean of Southwark Cathedral. His new book is 'The Hour is Come: The Passion in real time' (2021). Dr Paula Gooder is Canon Chancellor of St Paul's Cathedral. Her latest books are 'Women of Holy Week: An Easter Journey in Nine Stories' and 'Journalling the Psalms: A Guide for Reflection and Prayer' (both 2022).

We try Barley Bread! And talk about women and ministry! And reference Paula Gooder's Phoebe and Frederick Buechner's Son of Laughter. 

“Joseph of Arimathea slips into this story and then swiftly out again. No sooner has he been mentioned than he disappears. His appearance may be brief, but his contribution is incalculable.” Paula Gooder reflects on the Fourteenth Station: Jesus laid in the tomb, and leads today's prayers and readings. Today's reading is Mark 15.46

“What connection is there between Jesus and Mary? She was his mother and he loved her so much that, even from the cross, he ensured she was cared for and looked after.” Paula Gooder reflects on the Twelfth Station: Jesus on the cross; his mother and his friend, with readings and prayers from Philip North. Today's reading is John 19.26, 27

“He is waiting for me. Knowing that I must find this thing within myself. Not just penitence, but love. Not merely acquittal, but hope. ‘Remember me', I say to him, ‘in that kingdom of yours.” Stephen Cottrell reflects on the Eleventh Station: Jesus promises the kingdom to the penitent thief, with readings and prayers from Paula Gooder. Today's reading is Luke 23.39–43

“Compassion swirls through the narrative. The women wept for what would happen to Jesus, but Jesus, even as the horror of his death loomed near, revealed that they were in even greater need of compassion than he was.” Paula Gooder reflects on the Ninth Station: Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem, with readings and prayers from Philip North. Today's reading is Luke 23.27-31.

“Why Simon? Why was it him who was forced to undertake this demeaning, disgusting job of helping a condemned man to his place of death? There were numerous other people in the crowd. Why pick on Simon?” Philip North reflects on the Eighth Station: Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus to carry the cross, with readings and prayers from Paula Gooder. Today's reading is Luke 23.27-31.

“The backdrop of someone as notorious for their cruelty as Pilate, throws the crowd's baying for blood into sharp relief. Even Pilate could look reasonable in contrast to their pack-like instinct to destroy him.” Paula Gooder reflects on The Fifth Station: Jesus judged by Pilate and leads today's prayers and reading. Today's reading is Mark 15.14, 15.

"Why a kiss? It seems a very odd way to betray someone. Couldn't Judas simply have pointed at Jesus?" Philip North reflects on the second Station, Jesus betrayed by Judas and arrested, with readings and prayers from Paula Gooder. Today's reading is Mark 14.43–46.

"It is tempting to imagine that life was easy for Jesus: that so sure was he about who he was and who he was called to be that he faced suffering and death with calm and equanimity." Paula Gooder reflects on the first Station of the Cross, Jesus in agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, with readings and prayers from Stephen Cottrell. Today's reading is Mark 14.32-36.

Join Philip North, Paula Gooder and Stephen Cottrell as they pray and reflect upon the 15 Biblical stations of the cross. The Stations of the Cross have formed part of Christian devotion for many centuries because they offer a particularly vivid way of following in the steps of Jesus on the way to the Cross. In the earliest days of Christian pilgrimage, visitors to Jerusalem would walk the path from Pilate's house to Calvary. In the late fourteenth century, the Franciscan protectors of the holy places in Jerusalem put up images at which people would pause, reflect and pray. Eventually, those pilgrims brought the practice of walking a path of images from Christ's passion back to their home countries, and many churches have images of the traditional Stations of the Cross on their walls. If you can, do also try to look at the powerful images of the biblical stations by Nicholas Markell. These are featured in the book Walking the Way of the Cross and the posters that go with it, and they can also be found online.