Heart to Heart, A Catholic Media Ministry
“Go into all the world and proclaim the
Good News to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Luke 2:1-14 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea,…
Joseph’s mind was made up but then an angel came to him in a dream and the course of his life and ours changed forever. Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child…
Matthew 1:18-24 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.…
Fr. Michael reminds us that Jesus wants to share our burdens but only if we humbly seek his help and hitch our yoke to him. Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn…
Matthew 11:2-11 When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind…
Advent is a time of preparation and purgation. We must purge those things from our lives that are distractions and impediments to our relationship with Christ. As this first week of Advent concludes, Fr. Michael offers some real world examples to help prepare our hearts to receive the love of Jesus. Matthew 15:29-37 At that…
Matthew 3:1-12 John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said: A voice of one crying out in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.…
The parable of the talents is not new to us. A nobleman gives 10 coins to his servants and then expects them to invest them in his absence. When he returns he holds them accountable…How are we accountable to God? What return are we making for God’s investment in us? Bonus homily details: Given last…
Matthew 24:37-44 Jesus said to his disciples: “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not…
We usually think of fire as destructive, and indeed Fr. Michael begins his homily with a story of fiery destruction. But God’s fiery love is something else; it doesn’t consume but transforms and nourishes, if we choose to accept it. But if we reject God, then that same fiery love will consume and torment us.…
If you haven’t ordered your copy of Ornaments of Grace 2019, there is still time to get it before Advent begins. Order now. Luke 23:35-43 The rulers sneered at Jesus and said, “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” Even the soldiers jeered at him.…
Given this past week at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House during a day retreat on caring for our planet, Fr. Michael calls us to a new level of conversion and environmental awareness. Luke 17:1-6 Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It…
Luke 21:5-19 While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, “All that you see here– the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Then they asked him, “Teacher, when will this…
We could have titled this week’s homily many ways. There are several important spiritual themes, so pay attention! Curious about the answer to Fr. Michael’s favorite name for Jesus? Watch and listen 🙂 PS Ornaments of Grace 2019 booklets will ship after the middle of November for arrival by the start of Advent. PPS If…
Luke 20:27-38 Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the…
Entering Heaven through the narrow gate will require us to lean out our spiritual selves. Fr. Michael reminds us that the fire of God’s love can burn off that spiritual fat allowing us to draw ever closer to God’s loving embrace. Luke 13:22-30 Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making…
Luke 19:1-10 At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in…
We cannot stand before God with anything impure in our hearts so to get to heaven we must eventually be purged of all impurities. What are those things we hold on to that are holding us back from God? Listen as Fr. Michael offers some real world examples and tools to let go. Luke 12:39-48…
Luke 18:9-14 Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I…
Do you ever get mad at someone and all of your pent up frustration comes pouring out? We can’t really know if it was like that for Jesus but in this passage he calls out the Pharisees for focusing too much on minor, seemingly trivial things while neglecting areas of faith that truly matter. Fr.…