Heart to Heart: Fr. Jim Willig - Gospel Teachings

Come. Abandon. Learn. Love: CALL This is the acronym Fr. Jim uses to imagine the call that Jesus used for his disciples; the same call He uses for us today.

from Mark 1:14-20
After John had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the gospel."

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. ...

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/012124.cfm

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Fr. Jim asks: Who do you seek? Who do you follow?

John the Baptist sees Jesus and proclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God." At this, Andrew leaves his company and joins Jesus. He then recruits his brother Simon to join them. Jesus became their Rabbi, their teacher.

from John 1:35-42
John was standing with two of his disciples,
and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God."
The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
"What are you looking for?"
They said to him, "Rabbi" — which translated means Teacher —,
"where are you staying?"
He said to them, "Come, and you will see."
So they went and saw where Jesus was staying,
and they stayed with him that day.

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/011424.cfm 

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Fr. Jim asks: Will we be the wise men and women taking up the journey to Jesus? Like the Magi, will we take a different path than the world would have us go?

Matthew 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea,
in the days of King Herod,
behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,
“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?
We saw his star at its rising
and have come to do him homage.”
When King Herod heard this,
he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him.
Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people,
He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea,
for thus it has been written through the prophet:
And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
since from you shall come a ruler,
who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Then Herod called the magi secretly 
and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance.
He sent them to Bethlehem and said, 
“Go and search diligently for the child.
When you have found him, bring me word, 
that I too may go and do him homage.” ...

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/010724.cfm

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The story of this Gospel Study is the Annunciation to Mary by the Angel Gabriel. Fr. Jim reminds us that Mary's role as Mother of Jesus is truly a gift from God because of her deep and profound submission to His will.

from Luke 1:26-38
The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,
to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,
of the house of David,
and the virgin’s name was Mary.
And coming to her, he said,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at what was said
and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
Then the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God. ...

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122423.cfm

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In this hectic holiday season Fr. Jim reminds us to think of these as Holy Days, not holidays. John the Baptist came to witness to Jesus. As modern disciples of Christ it is our calling to also witness to Him in our daily lives, especially during this Holy Days.

from John 1:6-8; 19-28
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.

And this is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests
and Levites to him
to ask him, “Who are you?”
He admitted and did not deny it,
but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” ...

Read the full scripture passage: 
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121723.cfm

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In this Gospel Study Fr. Jim explores the challenges presented by John the Baptizer. John challenges the people of his time, just as he does us today.

We are challenged to confess our sin and seek forgiveness so that we can participate on the cause of right and help fight against evil and the powers of darkness.

from Mark 1:1-8
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.”
John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People of the whole Judean countryside
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.

Read the full Gospel passage: bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/121023.cfm

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In this Gospel Study for the first weekend of Advent, Fr. Jim introduces the Gospel of Mark and provides some keen insight into who Mark was. History lessons aside, the poignancy of Fr. Jim's message comes at the very end where he challenges us to lead ourselves, and others, to Christ this Advent season.

from Mark 13:33-37
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Be watchful! Be alert!
You do not know when the time will come.
It is like a man traveling abroad.
He leaves home and places his servants in charge,
each with his own work,
and orders the gatekeeper to be on the watch.
Watch, therefore;
you do not know when the lord of the house is coming ...

Read the full gospel passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/120323.cfm

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Jesus will sit in judgment. He will separate the sheep from the goats; the righteous from the condemned. Fr. Jim challenges us to enter into a deep prayer relationship with God and ask Him directly what we can do for the least of His people. 

from Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus said to his disciples:
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory,
and all the angels with him,
he will sit upon his glorious throne,
and all the nations will be assembled before him.
And he will separate them one from another,
as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.
He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
Then the king will say to those on his right,
'Come, you who are blessed by my Father.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Read the full Gospel passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/112623.cfm

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5, 2, or 1? How many talents has the Lord given each of us? Regardless of our age, or wealth, or experience, God asks us each to use what He has given us to the fullest. Fr. Jim reminds us of what Billy Graham said, "You never retire from the Lord's work." Listen to Fr. Jim's inspiring words to learn how simple actions can have a lasting impact on the world.

from Matthew 25:14-30
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one--
to each according to his ability. 
Then he went away.
Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them,
and made another five.
Likewise, the one who received two made another two. 
But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground
and buried his master's money. ...

Read the full Gospel here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111923.cfm

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Be prepared and surround yourself with wisdom. In this Gospel parable, Jesus tells the story of the 5 wise bridesmaids and 5 foolish ones. The wise, who were prepared, got into the feast, while the foolish ones did not because they were not ready when the bridegroom arrived.

Fr. Jim challenges us to live as the wise bridesmaids did by living for the Lord and anticipating our Heavenly feast.

from Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus told his disciples this parable:
"The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Five of them were foolish and five were wise.
The foolish ones, when taking their lamps,
brought no oil with them,
but the wise brought flasks of oil with their lamps.
Since the bridegroom was long delayed,
they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
At midnight, there was a cry,
'Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'
Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps.
The foolish ones said to the wise,
'Give us some of your oil,
for our lamps are going out.'
But the wise ones replied,
'No, for there may not be enough for us and you.
Go instead to the merchants and buy some for yourselves.'

Read the full scripture passage: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/111223.cfm

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

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