Heart to Heart, A Catholic Media Ministry
“Go into all the world and proclaim the
Good News to all creation.” Mark 16:15
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.…
If you follow Fr. Jim’s weekly Gospel Studies (see below for this week’s Gospel Study), you’ll recall this reading from a few weeks ago. Preaching on the same passage, Fr. Michael brings an updated perspective to an age old problem. We can’t help everyone who comes to us in need, so how do we make…
Are Guardian Angels really watching out for us? The stories Fr. Michael shares are difficult to believe without considering divine intervention… Matthew 18:1-5, 10 The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to…
Telling the story of his pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, Fr. Michael took to heart the advice Jesus gave his disciples, to travel with little and trust in God’s providence on the journey. Can we live a life of true trust in the Lord? Luke 9:1-6 Jesus summoned…
Reflecting on the Sermon on the Plain, or the Beatitudes from Luke’s Gospel, Fr. Michael teaches us to know our frail human tendencies and to ask God to remove those traits and take us closer to Him. Luke 6:20-26 Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the…
To learn more about Fr. Michael’s next pilgrimage, download this flyer: [download id=”7998″] History and Fr. Michael remind us that all things of this world will eventually fall and decay. How then does God seal His perpetual covenant with us? Luke 4:38-44 After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law…
In Matthew 23:27 Jesus says, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.”; but he could just as easily have been speaking to each of us. Fr. Michael reminds that we must acknowledge the hypocrisy in our own lives and that even great saints were sometimes hypocrites. Bonus podcast recording of Fr. Michael’s latest “Healing…
Priest, publisher, radio personality, missionary and martyr, click the arrow below to find out which Saint of the 21st Century St. Pope John Paul II canonized and considered one of the greatest in that 100 year time. Matthew 18:15-20 Jesus said to his disciples: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his…
We don’t know the day or the hour when the Lord will come but we are challenged to always be ready and prepared. To better prepare ourselves, Fr. Michael offers three ways God uses to break into our lives. Luke 12:32-48 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for…
Quick Announcement Join Fr. Michael on his next pilgrimage: The Way of St. James: The Camino de Santiago via the Portuguese Way – April 25-May 9, 2020. More details and registration information in the coming weeks! Matthew 15:21-28 At that time Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite…
Matthew 13:44-46 Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When…
John 20:1-2, 11-18 On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene 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…
Matthew 16:13-19 When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon…
Gospel and Homily Transcript Matthew 10:1-7 Jesus summoned his Twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and every illness. The names of the Twelve Apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John;…