Heart to Heart, A Catholic Media Ministry
“Go into all the world and proclaim the
Good News to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Today’s homily is short and sweet. Given on the Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, Fr. Michael tells a history of this young Saint who was only 36 when he died. In addition to the important work he did defending the divinity of Jesus, St. Anthony continues to help in our daily lives when we…
Watch and listen as Fr. Michael gives the homily at this year’s Jubilee gathering for the Midwest Province of the Society of Jesus.
Do you believe that Jesus is the Divine Son of God? In the life of the early Church this was affirmed in practice when Christian believers died proclaiming Jesus as Lord. It was also affirmed in doctrine at the Council of Nicea. Listen as Fr. Michael teaches this important lesson on faith. Read the transcript:…
Fr. Michael reminds us that the love God has for us is an individual love, it isn’t generic. Our lives on earth are meant to prepare us for this love so that after our own resurrection we can join the Holy Angels and Saints in eternal love for God and our loved ones. Reading, Gospel…
This is a bonus homily from Fr. Michael (audio only) for the Feast of Corpus Christi, celebrated last Sunday. Additionally, Fr. Jim’s Gospel Study for the same feast is below.
The thought and writings of Ancient Greek philosophers and poets are still studied in our world today but those same Greek thinkers in Athens mostly rejected St. Paul and his Gospel message to them about the Resurrection. Fr. Michael unpacks their reaction and what St. Paul did next. Read the transcript: [download id=”2740″]
With the passing of Pentecost our liturgical season passes from Easter to Ordinary Time. A time for green, and the reminder of new life. Listen as Fr. Michael recounts memories from his trip last year to celebrate Pentecost in Rome with Pope Francis. (Mark 9:38-40) Homily transcript: [download id=”2730″]
In this homily, Fr. Michael unpacks a time of trouble of Jesus and his disciples, the last hours before his arrest and crucifixion. He concludes with a simple, but powerful form of prayer to bring Jesus into our daily lives. Read the transcript: [download id=”2724″]
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, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. Read the Gospel – [download id=”2718”]
In this time of spring, where life is sprouting a new from the deadness of winter, Jesus reminds us that to grow in love we must remain in Him. We must take our nourishment and new life from the power of His love. Read the transcript: [download id=”2713″]
When you pray with others, what do those around you pray for? In this week’s Gospel, we get a glimpse into Jesus’ prayer; a prayer for Christian unity: “Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying: ‘Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one…
Fr. Michael connects the struggle of St. Mark, who walked with Paul until he gave up because it was too hard, and the call from Pope Francis to Rejoice and Be Glad in our lives as Christians. Just as Mark and Paul eventually reconciled, so too must we be humble in our faith. Read the…
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: [download id=”2696”]
Concluding our features on Emmaus, Fr. Michael dramatizes a poem he wrote on this, one of his favorite biblical stories. Thank you to Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House for providing locations for our work and Lisa (Sroka) Taus for her vocal performance on this and the Emmaus Drama featured before last week’s homily and on Easter Sunday.…
In this Gospel, Jesus offers peace to his disciples but at a price. The price of Christ’s peace is obedience; obedience to the will of God. Fr. Jim asks us to look deeply into our lives and to those moments of stress and anguish to see if we are truly and obediently doing the will…
Today’s video homily begins with the dramatization of the Road to Emmaus Gospel sent on Easter Sunday. In his homily, Fr. Michael unpacks this Gospel story, one of his favorites, and revels in Jesus the actor who plays along with the disciples while both knowing their story and the surprise he had in stow for…
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 Gospel and transcript – [download id=”2672″]
“While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands…
Watch as Fr. Michael dramatizes the discovery of the empty tomb and the realization of the Resurrection. Fr. Jim’s commentary follows the dramatization.
This week we have a two for one: A Gospel Study on Doubting Thomas by Fr. Jim Willig that combines stories of doubt with stories of love and hope. I tear up at the end of his commentary every time. Following that, Fr. Michael shares the homily given by Pope Francis on the day that…