Into the Heart of Mercy

In this episode I share some reflections on peace of heart and the God of peace who also calls us into battle. I reflect on how the peace that comes from a deep communion with God will at times ask us to sacrifice other forms of peace. I also share my conviction that we are called to become peacemakers and to fight for peace and unity in the Church.

In this episode, Emily and Michael talk about the discernment process that led to Michael leaving hospice chaplaincy and taking a new job as a pastoral minister at a parish. They share about some of the obstacles in discernment and reflect on important steps for discerning God's will.

In this episode, Emily shares her reactions to a Facebook post in a Catholic group where someone suffering from anxiety asks for a book recommendation and receives a large number of responses. She shares some of the responses and discusses them, reflecting on how they may or may not be helpful. She then discusses the tendency towards spiritual bypassing and over-spiritualizing which can actually cause harm to someone suffering anxiety. She shares examples of anxiety in her own life and ways she has experienced anxiety. She ends by sharing two podcasts quotes that remind us that God is with us even in suffering and anxiety.

The saints deeply desire to befriend us and have a real relationship with us, they show us that God can bring about a beautiful work in the midst of difficulties in life, and they remind us that we are all called to holiness. In this episode, we discuss why we need the saints, sharing stories of some lesser known saints like Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, Servant of God Marcel Van, and soon to be Saint Bartolo Longo. 

In this episode we conclude Pope Francis' encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos, on the human and divine love of Jesus, by looking at how devotion to the heart of Jesus entails a spirituality of consolation, reparation, and mission. We also discuss these themes in light of the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk and his desire to be remembered for courage for his faith.

In this special episode we share about our adoption journey and God's goodness and mercy in the process which led us to adopt our son, Francis. We cover topics like sterility, carrying the cross, comparison with others, and how we can see God's providence and love in our journey to becoming the parents of our sweet little boy.

In this episode, we continue reading through Pope Francis' last encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos, on the human and divine love of Jesus Christ. In this episode, we discuss excerpts from chapter three, focusing on what it means to cultivate a relationship with Christ through friendship, adoration, dialogue, affection, and trust.

In this episode, we share excerpts from chapter 2 of Pope Francis' encyclical letter, Dilexit Nos, on the human and divine love of Jesus Christ. We discuss paragraphs 32-42 on encountering the heart of Christ through His words and actions and HIs gaze of love. Listeners are encouraged to allow Jesus to rest His gaze upon them and to examine how Jesus treats people in the Gospels and apply it to their own lives, through imaginative prayer. 

In this episode we discuss paragraphs 20-30, concluding Chapter 1 of Pope Francis' encyclical, Dilexit Nos, and our reflection on the human heart. During this episode we look at the role of poetry and memory in helping us get in touch with our hearts. We talk about the heart as the dwelling place of love and how we are made to love and be loved. Finally we discuss peace, reconciliation, and love of enemies.

In this episode we read and discuss Dilexit Nos, #14-15, 17-19, exploring how the heart is a powerful source and principle of unity within oneself and within society. We explore the relationship between openness to others and openness to God, some challenges to forming healthy relationships, and how knowing our story in the light of God's story can help us heal.