Fr. Jim teaches that when we know who Jesus is we know who God is, but more than that, we must ask who Jesus is so that we know who we must be. Mark 8:27-35 Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi. Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.” And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said to him in reply, “You are the Christ.” Then he warne...
Sep 08, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 29
In this Gospel where Jesus heals the deaf and mute man, Fr. Jim reminds us that our hearing problems may actually be listening problems. Listen to Fr. Jim's inspiring message for more insight. from Mark 7:31-37 ...And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “ E...
Sep 01, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Surround yourself with wisdom. In this Gospel parable, Jesus tells the story of the 5 wise bridesmaids and 5 foolish ones. The wise, who were prepared, got into the feast, while the foolish ones did not because they were not ready when the bridegroom arrived. Fr. Jim challenges us to live as the wise bridesmaids did by living for the Lord and anticipating our Heavenly feast. from Matthew 25:1-13 Jesus told his disciples this parable: "The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their...
Aug 25, 2021•24 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Fr. Jim preaches on the Beatitudes from Matthew's gospel. Matthew 5:1-12 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him. He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Blessed are the mercifu...
Aug 18, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 8
In this Gospel Study Fr. Jim explores the two commandments that Jesus says are the greatest: Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as your self. Throughout this important Gospel Study Fr. Jim challenges our notion and commitment to loving as God does. Further, he asks us: Are we ready to decide each day to do what is loving? from Matthew 22:34-40 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a s...
Aug 11, 2021•29 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Once again Jesus is put to the test, but again he turns the test around on His interlocutors and exposes their hypocrisy and true selves. Listen and learn as Fr. Jim provides the historical context for this test and the deeper meaning behind Jesus' command to "Give to God What is God's" Matthew 22:15-21 The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you ...
Aug 04, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 6
In this Gospel parable, some who are invited to the feast reject the king's invitation and some who accept are deemed unworthy, but among them are a few who make the cut. Which group do you fall in? Listen to Fr. Jim's teaching and learn how to be among the chosen at God's Heavenly feast. Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in parables, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. He dispatched ...
Jul 28, 2021•25 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In the Gospel from Matthew 21:33-43, Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants who kill all of the servants and the son of the vineyard owner, hoping to steal his inheritance. In his Gospel Study, Fr. Jim reminds us of the need to respect life as life; as the gift from God it truly is. Matthew 21:33-43 Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a to...
Jul 21, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 4
In this Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of two sons. One who disobeys his father, but then repents and one who says he will obey but doesn’t. Fr. Jim teaches us that faith is an active verb. Jesus is essentially asking, “Do you mean what you say? If so, change your life. Follow me.” The teaching concludes with the song Give Myself to Mercy by Michael Poirier: www.prayerbreaks.org . Matthew 21:28-32 Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people: “What is your opinion? A man had two son...
Jul 15, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 3
With over 4,000 views on YouTube, this is one of Fr. Jim's most popular gospel studies. From Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus tells the parable of the landowner who hires workers for his vineyard throughout the day, but when the time comes to pay them an argument ensues. Those hired in the morning resented being paid the same as those hired later in the day. The landowner reminds them that they agreed to work for the wage he paid them and he can pay the others what he wishes. Matthew 20:1-16a Jesus told h...
Jul 07, 2021•26 min•Season 1Ep. 2
This Gospel Study addresses the time Peter asked Jesus, “How many times are we called to forgive another?” Jesus surprised Peter and the disciples when he said to forgive 70 times 7 times. Jesus uses the parable of the master who forgave the full debt of one of his servants after showing compassion to his plea. Then this same servant held a friend in contempt for a much smaller debt owed to him. When the master learned of this, he became angry and turned the debtor over to the ones whom he tortu...
Jun 30, 2021•28 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Pentecost. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles to enliven them and send them out to proclaim Christ crucified and raised. Pray today to receive that same spirit and spread the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus. from John 20:19-23 ...Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, ...
May 20, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 27
John 17:1-11a When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the gl...
May 12, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. Read the Gospel and Transcript: https://www.heartoheart.org/Transcript/2696/ John 15:9-17 Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandme...
May 05, 2021•25 min•Season 2Ep. 25
John 14:15-21 Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me, because I live and you will live. On that d...
Apr 28, 2021•25 min•Season 2Ep. 24
If Jesus came back today and told the same parable, what profession do you think he would choose? Listen to hear Fr. Jim's thoughts on the question. Read the transcript: https://www.heartoheart.org/Transcript/2672/ John 10:11-18 Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them. This is because he wo...
Apr 21, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 23
In this Gospel of deja vu all over again, Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" John 21:1-19 (excerpt) At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We also will come with you." So they went out and got into the boat, but that night ...
Apr 14, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Fr. Jim teaches that Jesus calls his disciples (and therefore us) to love each other as he has loved them. That is to say, not to like each other or tolerate each other but to truly Love each other. John 13:31-33A, 34-35 When Judas had left them, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and God will glorify him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. I give you a new c...
Apr 07, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Fr. Jim reflects on the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ with dramatic Gospel reading by Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ. John 20:1-9 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out an...
Mar 31, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Fr. Jim reflects on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ with dramatic Gospel reading by Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ. Read the full Gospel: https://www.heartoheart.org/fr-jim/gospel-studies/cycle-c/gospel-study-jesus-passion-luke-2214-2356/ Fr. Jim's Gospel Studies followed the Catholic Lectionary 3-year cycle. A Vision to Guide Us is the second Gospel Study for Lent in Year B. We are calling this "Season 2" since the season has to be a number and we are starting this Gospel Teachings podcast in Ye...
Mar 24, 2021•29 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Fervent prayer can often lead to unexpected results and a vision of Jesus that we weren't looking for. Are you ready for what the Lord might grant? Read the transcript: https://www.heartoheart.org/Transcript/2529/ John 12:20-23 Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come ...
Mar 17, 2021•31 min•Season 2Ep. 18
His friends believe him dead. Jesus challenges their faith and performs one of His greatest miracles in raising Lazarus from the dead. John 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33B-45 The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus, saying, "Master, the one you love is ill." When Jesus heard this he said, "This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it." Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for...
Mar 10, 2021•28 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Where does change need to begin? Out there in the world or in here, in your heart and mine? Fr. Jim shares a lesson in personal humility as he unpacks the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. The full transcript is available here . John 2:13-25 Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with...
Mar 03, 2021•25 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Most of us know the story of the Transfiguration. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to a mountain top and gives them a glimpse of His glory. You can read the full Gospel below. Fr. Jim takes this well known passage and asks us to find our own mission and our own vision to embrace the glory of God in simple and humble ways. Mark 9:2-10 Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling whit...
Feb 24, 2021•25 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Is Lent a time to give up dessert or a time to enter the desert along with Jesus? Fr. Jim suggests the latter. Listen for his profound insight into the healing struggle of this Lenten time. The full transcript is available here . Mark 1:12-15 The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This ...
Feb 17, 2021•27 min•Season 2Ep. 14
