Heart to Heart, A Catholic Media Ministry
“Go into all the world and proclaim the
Good News to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Mercy demands love and Love demands mercy. Watch today’s homily for the challenge from Fr. Michael to live a life of love and mercy. Luke 7:31-35 Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and…
Today’s new and final Practices for Pandemic meditation takes us back to the first meditation Fr. Michael recorded in 1987. In the introduction he talks about the application of this relaxation meditation recorded over three decades ago to our current time of pandemic and the need to relax to deepen our prayer. Click the thumbnail…
Preaching on the Beatitudes from the Gospel of Luke, Fr. Michael uses the feast of St. Peter Claver, SJ, a Jesuit who worked in the Spanish missions in Colombia during the slave trade, to challenge us to confront racial injustices and generational trauma in our world. Luke 6:20-26 Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus…
“Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is great in heaven…” Matthew 5:12 An elderly woman who had been given only months to live met with her priest to make plans for her funeral. With dignity and grace, she calmly and happily discussed her favorite hymns and the scriptures she would like in the service,…
In this homily mixed with personal stories and gospel lessons, Fr. Michael teaches us how to confront and work out our problems using the exact methods that Jesus taught His disciples.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 No matter our scientific background, most of us watched with wide-eyed horror at the spread of Covid 19 through our communities, our country, our entire world beginning in the late winter…
Sharing a guided meditation from the virtual retreat of the same name at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House, Fr. Michael explores what it means to be a chosen one of God. Click the thumbnail below to listen. You can also listen to today’s meditation via our Bandcamp album. With the Bandcamp version, you can subscribe and…
Mary, Jesus’ mother, John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, and Mary Magdalene stood as faithful witnesses to Jesus at the foot of the cross. Where do you stand?
“…Jesus replied… ‘Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak are not spoken of myself; it is the Father who lives in me accomplishing his works.’” John 14:9-11 It had been a long flight already when…
Jesus asks the disciples, “…Who do you say that I am?” and Peter answers, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Even though Peter answered this question 2,000 years ago and the faith has been passed down for centuries, we must each answer this question if we are to make faith in…
“We do not fix our gaze on what is seen but on what is unseen. What is seen is transitory; what is unseen lasts forever.” 2 Corinthians 4:18 The new pastor was visiting his homebound parishioners one day. Arriving at one elderly man’s house, he was escorted into the bedroom by the man’s daughter. Seeing…
Stress. Fear. Uncertainty. The disciples faced these emotions in today’s Gospel story when Jesus challenged them to feed 5,000 with only 5 loaves and 2 fish. We face these same emotions; especially in this time of pandemic. Fr. Michael challenges us like Jesus challenged the disciples: We must truly trust our faith and focus on…
“For just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return…
In this follow on to last week’s Practices for Pandemic meditation, Fr. Michael reminds us that forgiveness isn’t always easy; especially for deep wounds. Forgiving another also does not necessarily mean we are reconciled with him or her, yet the grace and healing it affords is still worth seeking. Click the thumbnail below to listen.…
The groanings of pain and suffering seem to follow us through life but Fr. Michael reminds us that this isn’t God’s plan for us. God’s plan for us is glory through the freely given gift of grace that God gives to all people of faith. Matthew 13:1-9 On that day, Jesus went out of the…
“Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians…
In this newest Practices for Pandemic meditation, Fr. Michael guides us to seek God’s forgiveness by meditating on the torture and torment that Jesus endured for our sake. Click the thumbnail below to listen. You can also listen to today’s meditation via our Bandcamp album. With the Bandcamp version, you can subscribe and download the…
When we offer our own service to Lord, whose benefit is it for? Fr. Michael explores the story of Martha who prepared a feast for Jesus only to watch him sit with her sister Mary while she slaved away in the kitchen asking, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by…
“But now thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, who formed you, O Israel: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 Edward Michael Grylls might be better known by his professional name, Bear Grylls, a survivalist, speaker, author, and host of the…
As we all continue to live through this time of pandemic and adjustments to life, Fr. Michael offers a new meditation on prioritizing the things that matter which he created for a virtual retreat given a few weeks ago hosted by Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House. Click the thumbnail below to listen. In today’s meditation, Fr.…