Heart to Heart: Fr. Jim Willig - Gospel Teachings

Fr. Jim reflects on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ with dramatic Gospel reading by Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ.

Read the full Gospel: https://www.heartoheart.org/fr-jim/gospel-studies/cycle-c/gospel-study-jesus-passion-luke-2214-2356/

Gospel Study: Fr. Jim Willig
Gospel Narration: Fr. J Michael Sparough, SJ
Narration: Lili Fuller 
Narration Producers: Lili Fuller and Joe Sofranko
Primary Music: Michael Kramer
Additional Music: Gettin Through It by Brent Wood licensed to Nathaniel Stubblefield via Soundstripe
Producer: Nathaniel Stubblefield

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Jesus looks into our hearts and into our souls. He heals that which we might not even know is hurt.

John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
“Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” — which means Sent —.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.

His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
“Isn’t this the one who used to sit and beg?”
Some said, “It is, “
but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”
He said, “I am.”

They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”
So some of the Pharisees said,
“This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath.”
But others said,
“How can a sinful man do such signs?”
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
“What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?”
He said, “He is a prophet.”

They answered and said to him,
“You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?”
Then they threw him out.

When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”
He answered and said,
“Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”
Jesus said to him,
“You have seen him, and
the one speaking with you is he.”
He said,
“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.

Gospel Study: Fr. Jim Willig
Gospel Narration: Fr. J Michael Sparough, SJ
Narration: Lili Fuller 
Narration Producers: Lili Fuller and Joe Sofranko
Primary Music: Michael Kramer
Producer: Nathaniel Stubblefield

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Fr. Jim teaches on the living water of Christ based on this passage from the Gospel of John. Further, he extolls us to recognize God's gift.

John 4:5-15, 19B-26, 39A, 40-42
Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, 
near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.
Jacob's well was there.
Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well.
It was about noon.

A woman of Samaria came to draw water.
Jesus said to her,
"Give me a drink."
His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.
The Samaritan woman said to him, 
"How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?"
—For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.—
Jesus answered and said to her,
"If you knew the gift of God
and who is saying to you, 'Give me a drink, '
you would have asked him 
and he would have given you living water."
The woman said to him, 
"Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; 
where then can you get this living water?
Are you greater than our father Jacob, 
who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself 
with his children and his flocks?"
Jesus answered and said to her, 
"Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; 
but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; 
the water I shall give will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
The woman said to him,
"Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty 

or have to keep coming here to draw water.

"I can see that you are a prophet.
Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; 
but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem."
Jesus said to her,
"Believe me, woman, the hour is coming
when you will worship the Father 
neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.
You people worship what you do not understand; 
we worship what we understand, 
because salvation is from the Jews.
But the hour is coming, and is now here, 
when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; 
and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.
God is Spirit, and those who worship him 
must worship in Spirit and truth."
The woman said to him,
"I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; 
when he comes, he will tell us everything."
Jesus said to her,
"I am he, the one who is speaking with you."

Many of the Samaritans of that town began to believe in him.
When the Samaritans came to him,
they invited him to stay with them; 
and he stayed there two days.
Many more began to believe in him because of his word, 
and they said to the woman, 
"We no longer believe because of your word;
for we have heard for ourselves, 
and we know that this is truly the savior of the world."

Gospel Study: Fr. Jim Willig
Gospel Narration: Fr. J Michael Sparough, SJ
Narration: Lili Fuller 
Narration Producers: Lili Fuller and Joe Sofranko
Primary Music: Michael Kramer
Producer: Nathaniel Stubblefield

Heart to Heart Catholic Media Ministry
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How would you react to a beatific vision of our Lord? Imagine Peter, James and John overwhelmed with the change of their friend and teacher who became the glory of God in their midst.

Luke 9:28b-36
Jesus took Peter, John, and James
and went up the mountain to pray.
While he was praying his face changed in appearance
and his clothing became dazzling white.
And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,
who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus
that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem.
Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,
but becoming fully awake,
they saw his glory and the two men standing with him.
As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus,
“Master, it is good that we are here;
let us make three tents,
one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”
But he did not know what he was saying.
While he was still speaking,
a cloud came and cast a shadow over them,
and they became frightened when they entered the cloud.
Then from the cloud came a voice that said,
“This is my chosen Son; listen to him.”
After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone.
They fell silent and did not at that time
tell anyone what they had seen.

Gospel Study: Fr. Jim Willig
Gospel Narration: Fr. J Michael Sparough, SJ
Primary Music: Michael Kramer
Producer: Nathaniel Stubblefield

Heart to Heart Catholic Media Ministry
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Luke 4:1-13
Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan
and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days,
to be tempted by the devil.
He ate nothing during those days,
and when they were over he was hungry.
The devil said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
command this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered him,
“It is written, One does not live on bread alone.”
Then he took him up and showed him
all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant.
The devil said to him,
“I shall give to you all this power and glory;
for it has been handed over to me,
and I may give it to whomever I wish.
All this will be yours, if you worship me.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It is written
            You shall worship the Lord, your God,
                        and him alone shall you serve.”
Then he led him to Jerusalem,
made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him,
“If you are the Son of God,
throw yourself down from here, for it is written:
            He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,
and:
            With their hands they will support you,
            lest you dash your foot against a stone.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“It also says,
            You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.”
When the devil had finished every temptation,
he departed from him for a time.

Gospel Study: Fr. Jim Willig
Gospel Narration: Fr. J Michael Sparough, SJ
Narration: Lili Fuller 
Narration Producers: Lili Fuller and Joe Sofranko
Primary Music: Michael Kramer
Producer: Nathaniel Stubblefield

Heart to Heart Catholic Media Ministry
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How can we invest in ourselves and make a spiritual deposit for eternal life? Listen to what Fr. Jim has to say about using our time, talent and treasure for the glory of God.

Luke 16:1-13
Jesus said to his disciples,
"A rich man had a steward
who was reported to him for squandering his property. 
He summoned him and said,
'What is this I hear about you? 
Prepare a full account of your stewardship,
because you can no longer be my steward.'
The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do,
now that my master is taking the position of steward away from me? 
I am not strong enough to dig and I am ashamed to beg... 

Read the full scripture here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091822.cfm

Gospel Study: Fr. Jim Willig
Gospel Narration: Fr. J Michael Sparough, SJ
Narration: Lili Fuller 
Narration Producers: Lili Fuller and Joe Sofranko
Primary Music: Michael Kramer
Producer: Nathaniel Stubblefield

Heart to Heart Catholic Media Ministry
Evangelize Seekers. Inspire Believers. Foster Disciples.
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Jesus tells us that we need to stop living by "an eye for an eye" and instead start loving our enemies. As Fr. Jim reminds us, this is much easier said than done, even in our "enlightened" age [emphasis mine].

Matthew 5:38-48
Jesus said to his disciples:
“You have heard that it was said,
An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil.
When someone strikes you on your right cheek,
turn the other one as well.
If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic,
hand over your cloak as well.
Should anyone press you into service for one mile,
go for two miles.
Give to the one who asks of you,
and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

“You have heard that it was said,
You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.
But I say to you, love your enemies
and pray for those who persecute you,
that you may be children of your heavenly Father,
for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good,
and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.
For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have?
Do not the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet your brothers only,
what is unusual about that?
Do not the pagans do the same?
So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Gospel Study: Fr. Jim Willig
Gospel Narration: Fr. J Michael Sparough, SJ
Narration: Lili Fuller 
Narration Producers: Lili Fuller and Joe Sofranko
Primary Music: Michael Kramer
Producer: Nathaniel Stubblefield

Heart to Heart Catholic Media Ministry
Evangelize Seekers. Inspire Believers. Foster Disciples.
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Fr. Jim reminds us that we are like Peter and seeking fulfillment from the world and our pastimes but that our only fulfillment will come from the Lord, who fills us in His own time.

Luke 5:1-11
While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God,
he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret.
He saw two boats there alongside the lake;
the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets.
Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon,
he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore.
Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat.
After he had finished speaking, he said to Simon,
“Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
Simon said in reply,
“Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing,
but at your command I will lower the nets.”
When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish
and their nets were tearing.
They signaled to their partners in the other boat
to come to help them. 
They came and filled both boats
so that the boats were in danger of sinking.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said,
“Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”
For astonishment at the catch of fish they had made seized him
and all those with him,
and likewise James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
who were partners of Simon.
Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid;
from now on you will be catching men.”
When they brought their boats to the shore,
they left everything and followed him.

Gospel Study: Fr. Jim Willig
Gospel Narration: Fr. J Michael Sparough, SJ
Narration: Lili Fuller 
Narration Producers: Lili Fuller and Joe Sofranko
Primary Music: Michael Kramer
Producer: Nathaniel Stubblefield

Heart to Heart Catholic Media Ministry
Evangelize Seekers. Inspire Believers. Foster Disciples.
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Fr. Jim tells us that listening is the greatest way of loving. He could not have predicted the current crisis in the world, but he does give us a recipe for working through the day to day conflicts that arise in our lives.

Luke 4:21-30
Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying:
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”
And all spoke highly of him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. 
They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”
He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb,
‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say,
‘Do here in your native place
the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”
And he said, “Amen, I say to you,
no prophet is accepted in his own native place.
Indeed, I tell you,
there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah
when the sky was closed for three and a half years
and a severe famine spread over the entire land.
It was to none of these that Elijah was sent,
but only to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon.
Again, there were many lepers in Israel
during the time of Elisha the prophet;
yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
When the people in the synagogue heard this,
they were all filled with fury.
They rose up, drove him out of the town,
and led him to the brow of the hill
on which their town had been built,
to hurl him down headlong.
But Jesus passed through the midst of them and went away.

Gospel Study: Fr. Jim Willig
Gospel Narration: Fr. J Michael Sparough, SJ
Narration: Lili Fuller 
Narration Producers: Lili Fuller and Joe Sofranko
Primary Music: Michael Kramer
Producer: Nathaniel Stubblefield

Heart to Heart Catholic Media Ministry
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Fr. Jim calls us on us to reflect on any scripture passage and seek out the work that God is calling each of us to do. Jesus revealed His mission statement to his friends and family. What mission is God calling us to?

Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events
that have been fulfilled among us,
just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning
and ministers of the word have handed them down to us,
I too have decided,
after investigating everything accurately anew,
to write it down in an orderly sequence for you,
most excellent Theophilus,
so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings
you have received.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,
and news of him spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,
and went according to his custom
into the synagogue on the sabbath day.
He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
            The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
                        because he has anointed me
                        to bring glad tidings to the poor.
            He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
                        and recovery of sight to the blind,
                        to let the oppressed go free,
                        and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.
Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,
and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.
He said to them,
“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

The Gospel of the Lord

Gospel Study: Fr. Jim Willig
Gospel Narration: Fr. J Michael Sparough, SJ
Narration: Lili Fuller 
Narration Producers: Lili Fuller and Joe Sofranko
Primary Music: Michael Kramer
Producer: Nathaniel Stubblefield

Heart to Heart Catholic Media Ministry
Evangelize Seekers. Inspire Believers. Foster Disciples.
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