Heart to Heart, A Catholic Media Ministry
“Go into all the world and proclaim the
Good News to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Who do you know that has all the answers? Some of us think we know everything and try to convince everyone else of this false truth. Likewise, some of us think that we can do everything on our own without help or guidance. In today’s homily, Fr. Michael reminds us that we do not know everything…
Today’s homily is a story we should all know well. The Pharisee stands in the Temple, exulting himself before God while the tax collector acknowledges his own sinfulness. With a twist on his poetic tendencies, Fr. Michael uses a rap to re-tell the classic Gospel story with a slightly modern twist. The moral, however, stays…
James, John and their mother walk into a bar with Jesus… No, it didn’t happen quite like that, but their mom did make quite a request of Jesus. She tried to elevate her sons to Jesus’ level without knowing the true sacrifice it would take. We are all equal in the eyes of God, but…
Is your heart on fire for God this Lent? This ever? In this week’s Gospel and Homily, Jesus reminds his disciples that they must be better than the Scribes and Pharisees turning the commandment not to kill on it’s head saying that even being angry is too much and liable for judgment. Likewise, Fr. Michael…
After the resurrection, Thomas doubted that Jesus was alive and asked for a sign. He was able to touch the wound in Jesus’ side and to feel the holes where the nails were driven through his wrists. Most of us will not experience Christ’s sacrifice like Thomas did. Instead we must rely on other signs;…
Has your Lenten journey begun? Do you have a destination in mind for your heart as we remember Jesus’ passion and prepare for his ultimate sacrifice? Are you trying to go it Alone? Prayer—Fasting—Almsgiving these are the disciplines that Fr. Michael reminds us to embrace this Lent; but we cannot do it alone. Our journey…
Sound and Light—two Gospel themes, two homily themes, and two themes for today’s video. Intrigued? Read on. In the earliest Biblical times there was no Bible to read from. Stories were passed down from generation to generation through a strong oral tradition. Fr. Michael’s homily posts are oral tradition for the digital age; however, for…
Do you have the courage of the shepherd David to stand and face a modern day Goliath in the name of your faith in Christ? In the reading from 1 Samuel featured in today’s homily by Fr. Michael, David defeats Goliath in battle, despite his small size and relative youth. Saul didn’t believe in David,…
Are you Levi the tax collector or Peter the fisherman? In today’s Gospel reading and homily, we hear the story of Jesus calling Levi, later named Matthew, and dining with other tax collectors to the dismay of the Pharisees and of Peter. In the 2013 issue of America Magazine, Pope Francis reminds us that piety…
“Samuel, Samuel!” “John, John!” “Mary, Mary!” “Moses, Moses!” “Peter, Peter!” “Martha, Martha!” God calls, but do we always listen and respond? In today’s homily we hear the story of God calling to Samuel in the night. It took two times before Samuel got the message that it was God calling and not Eli. On the…
In 1 John 4:11-18 we are reminded to remain in God [through love] so that God will remain in us. Beyond that simple—yet so profound!—truth, we learn that because “There is no fear in love…perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect…
Matthew 2:1-18 juxtaposes the joy of the adoration of the baby Jesus by the Magi with the horror of the slaughter of the innocents by a jealous King Herod. This same juxtaposition continues in our world today when we celebrate Emmanuel, God with us, and yet in many parts of the world unjust pain and…
As we enter into the Christmas season, Fr. Michael reminds us to remember the joy of the Gospel: the birth of our Saviour, Jesus; the coming of God as man through the humility of Mary who accepted God’s request from the Angel Gabriel and the hubris of Zachariah who did not and was struck dumb…
The compassion Jesus had for all humanity is on display in today’s Gospel passage from St. Matthew. Not only did he heal all those brought to him, but he also ensured a full meal for all those present to witness his miraculous healing powers. Fr. Michael invites us to sit at Jesus feet this Advent…
“Come to me all you who labor and I will give you rest” Matt 11:28 In this homily, given by Fr. Michael on the Feast of Saint Juan Diego, and posted on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, we hear the story of Juan Diego, an Aztec peasant who converted to Christianity and who…
In this Gospel passage from St. Luke, Jesus thanks God for hiding the truth from learned men, while at the same time revealing that truth to children and the child-like. Fr. Michael takes us into our childhood, reminding us of the simplicity, wonder and awe that children see the world with. His homily concludes with…
In this Gospel passage from St. Luke, ten lepers are healed of their disease, but only one returns to thank Jesus; a sign that he was healed both physically and spiritually. The challenge to us hearing the story is that in all circumstances, we are to give thanks; whether cured or not; whether fed or…
Jesus walks on water to the disciples in the middle of a storm. Peter tries to follow suit but fails and begins to sink. What happens when we fail and start to sink? Do we look to Jesus and ask for help as Peter did or do we stubbornly refuse to trust in the Lord? Fr.…
In this passage from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus proclaims that love is the fulfilment of the law. Love God first and then love your neighbor as yourself. Fr. Michael notes that the first principle for St. Ignatius is that we are created for God. God wants us to become saints; to live eternally with…
On the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles of Jesus, Fr. Michael weaves a compelling story fabric of prayer, history, current events and God’s desires for us, to demonstrate how we should follow Jesus into the way of sacrificial prayer that He used in times of important decision making and deep distress. How can…