Heart to Heart: Fr. Jim Willig - Gospel Teachings

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Heart to Heart: Fr. Jim Willig - Gospel Teachings episodes

October 27 Blessed Attitudes | Matthew 5:1-12 by Fr. Jim Willig
Matthew 5:1-12
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me.
Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
A gospel teaching by Fr. Jim Willig for Solemnity of All Saints, November 01, 2026 — Matthew 5:1-12.

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29 min
October 20 The Heart of it All | Matthew 22:34-40 by Fr. Jim Willig
In this Gospel Study Fr. Jim explores the two commandments that Jesus says are the greatest: Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as your self.
Throughout this important Gospel Study Fr. Jim challenges our notion and commitment to loving as God does. Further, he asks us: Are we ready to decide each day to do what is loving?
from Matthew 22:34-40
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees,
they gathered together, and one of them,
a scholar of the law tested him by asking,
"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" ...
Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/102923.cfm
A gospel teaching by Fr. Jim Willig for Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 25, 2026 — Matthew 22:34-40.

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29 min
October 13 Give to God What is God's | Matthew 22:15-21 by Fr. Jim Willig
Once again Jesus is put to the test, but again he turns the test around on His interlocutors and exposes their hypocrisy and true selves.
Listen and learn as Fr. Jim provides the historical context for this test and the deeper meaning behind Jesus' command to "Give to God What is God's"
If you would like to read the transcript of this Gospel Study you may do so here: https://www.heartoheart.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Give-to-God-What-is-Gods-transcription.pdf
Matthew 22:15-21
The Pharisees went off
and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech.
They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying,
"Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man
and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
And you are not concerned with anyone's opinion,
for you do not regard a person's status.
Tell us, then, what is your opinion:
Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?"
Knowing their malice, Jesus said,
"Why are you testing me, you hypocrites?
Show me the coin that pays the census tax."
Then they handed him the Roman coin.
He said to them, "Whose image is this and whose inscription?"
They replied, "Caesar's."
At that he said to them,
"Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar
and to God what belongs to God."
A gospel teaching by Fr. Jim Willig for Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 18, 2026 — Matthew 22:15-21.

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29 min
October 06 Come to the Feast | Matthew 22:1-14 by Fr. Jim Willig
"Many are invited, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14
In this Gospel parable, some who are invited to the feast reject the king's invitation and some who accept are deemed unworthy, but among them are a few who make the cut. Which group do you fall in?
Listen to Fr. Jim's teaching and learn how to be among the chosen at God's Heavenly feast.
A gospel teaching by Fr. Jim Willig for Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 11, 2026 — Matthew 22:1-14.

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26 min
September 29 Respect Life | Matthew 21:33-43 by Fr. Jim Willig
In the Gospel from Matthew 21:33-43, Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants who kill all of the servants and the son of the vineyard owner, hoping to steal his inheritance. In his Gospel Study, Fr. Jim reminds us of the need to respect life as life; as the gift from God it truly is.
Matthew 21,33-43
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
"Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,
'They will respect my son.'
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
'This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?"
They answered him,
"He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times."
Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit."
A gospel teaching by Fr. Jim Willig for Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 04, 2026 — Matthew 21:33-43.

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26 min
September 22 Faith is Easier | Matthew 21:28-32 by Fr. Jim Willig
In this Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of two sons. One who disobeys his father, but then repents and one who says he will obey but doesn’t.
Fr. Jim teaches us that faith is an active verb. Jesus is essentially asking, “Do you mean what you say? If so, change your life. Follow me.”
The teaching concludes with the song Give Myself to Mercy by Michael Poirier: www.prayerbreaks.org.
Matthew 21:28-32
Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of the people:
“What is your opinion?
A man had two sons.
He came to the first and said,
‘Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.’
He said in reply, ‘I will not,’
but afterwards changed his mind and went.
The man came to the other son and gave the same order.
He said in reply, ‘Yes, sir, ‘but did not go.
Which of the two did his father’s will?”
They answered, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Amen, I say to you,
tax collectors and prostitutes
are entering the kingdom of God before you.
When John came to you in the way of righteousness,
you did not believe him;
but tax collectors and prostitutes did.
Yet even when you saw that,
you did not later change your minds and believe him.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
A gospel teaching by Fr. Jim Willig for Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 27, 2026 — Matthew 21:28-32.

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29 min
September 15 When Life Isn't Fair | Matthew 20:1-16 by Fr. Jim Willig
This Gospel Study is from Matthew 20:1-16. Jesus tells the parable of the landowner who hires workers for his vineyard throughout the day, but when the time comes to pay them an argument ensues.
Those hired in the morning resented being paid the same as those hired later in the day. The landowner reminds them that they agreed to work for the wage he paid them and he can pay the others what he wishes.
Matthew 20:1-16a
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
“The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner
who went out at dawn to hire laborers for his vineyard.
After agreeing with them for the usual daily wage,
he sent them into his vineyard.
Going out about nine o’clock,
the landowner saw others standing idle in the marketplace,
and he said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard,
and I will give you what is just.’
So they went off.
And he went out again around noon,
and around three o’clock, and did likewise.
Going out about five o’clock,
the landowner found others standing around, and said to them,
‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’
They answered, ‘Because no one has hired us.’
He said to them, ‘You too go into my vineyard.’
When it was evening the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman,
‘Summon the laborers and give them their pay,
beginning with the last and ending with the first.’
When those who had started about five o’clock came,
each received the usual daily wage.
So when the first came, they thought that they would receive more,
but each of them also got the usual wage.
And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying,
‘These last ones worked only one hour,
and you have made them equal to us,
who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’
He said to one of them in reply,
‘My friend, I am not cheating you.
Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?
Take what is yours and go.
What if I wish to give this last one the same as you?
Or am I not free to do as I wish with my own money?
Are you envious because I am generous?’
Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Lectionary for Mass: For Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America (vol. I–IV, Second Typical Edition.; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1998–2002).
A gospel teaching by Fr. Jim Willig for Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 20, 2026 — Matthew 20:1-16.

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27 min
September 08 We're in the Business | Matthew 18:21-35 by Fr. Jim Willig
This Gospel Study is from Matthew 18: 21 – 35. It addresses the time Peter asked Jesus, “How many times are we called to forgive another?” Jesus surprised Peter and the disciples when he said to forgive 70 times 7 times.
Jesus uses the parable of the master who forgave the full debt of one of his servants after showing compassion to his plea. Then this same servant held a friend in contempt for a much smaller debt owed to him. When the master learned of this, he became angry and turned the debtor over to the ones whom he tortured until his entire debt was paid.
A gospel teaching by Fr. Jim Willig for Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 13, 2026 — Matthew 18:21-35.

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29 min
May 21 John 20:19-23 | Pentecost Gospel Study by Fr. Jim Willig
Pentecost. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles to enliven them and send them out to proclaim Christ crucified and raised. Pray today to receive that same spirit and spread the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus.

from John 20:19-23
...Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Read the full scripture: bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/pentecost-sunday-mass-during-day

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29 min
May 13 Ascension - Jesus' Prayer for Us | John 17:1-11a by Fr. Jim Willig
Fr. Jim reflects on Jesus’ priestly prayer in John’s Gospel, revealing how Jesus prayed with deep intimacy to the Father and great love for His disciples. He reminds us that true prayer is not rote words, but a heartfelt relationship with God and loving concern for those entrusted to our care.
John 17:1-11a
When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him.

Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.

I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the glory that I had with you before the world began.

I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word.

Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have believed that you sent me.

I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them.

And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you."

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28 min