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Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible)

John 10:31–42

The Jews fetched stones to stone Him, so Jesus said to them, “I have done many good works for you to see, works from My Father; for which of these are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “We are not stoning You for doing a good work, but for blasphemy: You are only a man and You claim to be God.”

Jesus answered: “Is it not written in your Law: I said, you are gods? So the Law uses the word ‘gods’ of those to whom the word of God was addressed, and scripture cannot be rejected. Yet you say to someone the Father has consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because He says, ‘I am the Son of God.’ If I am not doing My Father’s work, there is no need to believe Me; but if I am doing it, then even if you refuse to believe in Me, at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for sure that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father.”

They tried to arrest Him then, but He eluded them. He went back again to the far side of the Jordan, to the district where John had once been baptizing, and He stayed there. Many people who came to Him said, “John gave no signs, but all he said about this man was true,” and many of them believed in Him.

As we near the end of Lent, the tension in the Gospel rises. Jesus is no longer met with curiosity but with hostility. His words are not misunderstood—they are rejected. Still, He does not retreat in fear. He rests in the truth of who He is and remains faithful to the will of the Father.

This moment invites us to consider the cost of fidelity. When we strive to follow Christ in a world that may not understand or accept us, we too may experience opposition, confusion, or silence. But these are not signs of failure. Often, they are moments of deep purification—invitations to trust more completely in the Father, just as Jesus does.

What sustained Jesus was not popularity or ease. It was union. “The Father is in Me and I am in the Father.” This is the heart of our journey, too. Lent is not about performance. It is about deeper intimacy with the God who has consecrated and sent us into the world with a mission of love. And sometimes, faithfulness means walking forward even when we do not see the fruit.

But that doesn’t make the road easy. Many of us wrestle with fears or pressure—from relationships, from work, or from the weight of our own expectations. In those moments, we need companions. The Church encourages us to seek wise counsel: a spiritual friend, a confessor, a priest or religious who can help us remember who we are and who we belong to. We are not alone.

The Desert Father Evagrius Ponticus wrote:

“When the mind is stripped, and empty of thoughts, then it can enter into the depths where Christ dwells.”

It is in stillness that we begin to recognize the voice of the Father and rest in His care. Let us not fear the places of quiet where we feel unseen or unrecognized. It may be there that Christ draws us into His own hidden life of love.

St. Teresa of Calcutta, who knew well the silence of God, reminds us:

“God has not called me to be successful. He has called me to be faithful.”

Today, let us walk with Jesus in trust. Even when misunderstood or rejected, we are in the Father’s hands. That is where our peace lies.

Lord Jesus, You were not afraid to speak truth, even when it brought rejection. You stayed faithful because You knew the love of the Father. Teach me to trust in that same love. Help me not to be discouraged by the misunderstandings or struggles I face. Let me rest in Your presence and draw strength from the knowledge that I am never alone.

Amen.

This reflection is written by Kris McGregor of Discerning Hearts®. The Scripture passage is taken from the Jerusalem Bible (1966 edition), used with permission. No unauthorized use or reproduction is permitted without prior written consent.

The post Day 38: In the Father’s Hands – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel of John 10:31-42

The Jews fetched stones to stone him, so Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?’ The Jews answered him, ‘We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for blasphemy: you are only a man and you claim to be God.’ Jesus answered:

What word made this passage come alive for you?

What did you sense the Lord saying to you?

Once more give the Lord an opportunity to speak to you:

The Jews fetched stones to stone him, so Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?’ The Jews answered him, ‘We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for blasphemy: you are only a man and you claim to be God.’ Jesus answered:

What did your heart feel as you listened?

What did you sense the Lord saying to you?

Once more, through Him, with Him and in Him listen to the Word:

The Jews fetched stones to stone him, so Jesus said to them, ‘I have done many good works for you to see, works from my Father; for which of these are you stoning me?’ The Jews answered him, ‘We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for blasphemy: you are only a man and you claim to be God.’ Jesus answered:

What touched your heart in this time of prayer?

What did your heart feel as you prayed?

What do you hope to carry with you from this time with the Lord?

Our Father, who art in heaven,

  hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

 Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

 and forgive us our trespasses,

 as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

 but deliver us from evil.

Amen

The post 5th Friday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor turns to St. Gertrude the Great, a Benedictine nun formed in the remarkable monastery of Helfta. Her love for Christ is tender, reverent, and deeply rooted in the life of prayer. Gertrude did not grow in isolation. She was shaped within a community ordered by the Holy Rule, the Divine Office, sacred study, and faithful monastic life. In that setting, her desire was educated, her attention was trained, and her love for Christ was given language.

Gertrude helps us see that intimacy with the Lord does not come from spiritual excitement or passing emotion. It grows through daily fidelity. The rhythm of prayer, Scripture, liturgy, and return slowly forms a heart capable of friendship with Christ. Her prayer is simple and deeply revealing: she asks Jesus to remain with her so that her heart may remain with Him. She knows how easily the heart becomes divided and scattered. She also knows that closeness to Christ is not something the soul can secure by its own effort.

This episode shows how naturally Gertrude’s teaching fits within the Benedictine way. The Holy Rule does not stand in the way of intimacy with Christ. It makes room for it. Trust begins to grow where love has already begun. The more the soul knows Christ’s tenderness and faithfulness, the less it fears Him and the more willing it becomes to remain near Him. This episode invites listeners to see friendship with Christ not as a fantasy, but as the true life of the soul, formed by grace, prayer, and the repeated turning of the heart back to Him.

St. Gertrude the Great, Spiritual Exercises, Seventh Exercise

“O Jesus, you who are immensely dear to me, be with me always, so that my heart may stay with you and that your love may endure with me with no possibility of division.”

“It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”

Copyright © 2026 Kris McGregor. All rights reserved. No portion of this content may be reproduced, distributed, published, or transmitted in any form, including audio, print, or digital media, without prior written permission from Discerning Hearts®.

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Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss how early Christian leaders upheld the dignity of human life in a culture where infanticide and abortion were common and widely accepted. In the ancient pagan world, unwanted infants—especially girls—were often abandoned or killed, and abortion was supported by prominent thinkers. Jewish and Christian communities consistently rejected these practices, a stance clearly reflected in early writings such as the Didache and works by Church Fathers like Justin Martyr and Athenagoras. Across centuries, these sources present a unified teaching that identifies abortion as the taking of human life. Figures like St. Augustine never justified abortion, despite modern claims to the contrary, noting that St. Augustine only debated legal consequences, not its morality.

In the book, it presents the Church Fathers as examples of moral courage who challenged both societal norms and political leaders. Some examples include St. Ambrose holding an emperor accountable as a striking example of this witness. Moral responsibility cannot be separated from public life, since laws inherently reflect judgments about right and wrong, and silence in the face of injustice allows harm to continue. At the same time, true courage comes from God’s grace rather than personal strength. The early Christians are ultimately presented as a model of transformation, showing how truth, love, and faithful witness can gradually renew society and offer lasting hope.

This highly readable introduction to the roots of many Catholic beliefs and practices provides a sense of connection to our brothers and sisters who have gone before us and who helped shape the faith. Mike Aquilina makes it clear that as far as the essentials are concerned, a time-travel trip back to the beginning of the Church would reveal a Church familiar to Catholics today. Just as an acorn grows into a tree and yet remains the same plant, so the Catholic Church is a living organism that has grown from the faith of the earliest Christians into the Body of Christ we know today.

Mike Aquilina is a popular author working in the area of Church history, especially patristics, the study of the early Church Fathers.[1] He is the executive vice-president and trustee of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, a Roman Catholic research center based in Steubenville, Ohio. He is a contributing editor of Angelus (magazine) and general editor of the Reclaiming Catholic History Series from Ave Maria Press. He is the author or editor of more than fifty books, including The Fathers of the Church (2006); The Mass of the Early Christians (2007); Living the Mysteries (2003); and What Catholics Believe(1999). He has hosted eleven television series on the Eternal Word Television Network and is a frequent guest commentator on Catholic radio.

The post ROF10 – Defending Human Life – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible)

John 8:51–59 

Jesus said to the Jews: “I tell you solemnly, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.” The Jews said, “Now we know that You are possessed. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, and yet You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he will never know the taste of death.’ Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets are dead too. Who are You claiming to be?”

Jesus answered: “If I were to seek My own glory that would be no glory at all; My glory is conferred by the Father, by the One of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ although you do not know Him. But I know Him, and if I were to say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I should be a liar, as you are. But I do know Him, and I keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see My Day; he saw it and was glad.”

The Jews then said, “You are not fifty yet, and You have seen Abraham!” Jesus replied: “I tell you solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I Am.” At this they picked up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and left the Temple.

This Gospel reaches a dramatic and profound turning point: Jesus reveals not only His mission, but His identity. “Before Abraham ever was, I Am.” It is a name that echoes the voice of God from the burning bush—a claim that leaves no room for ambiguity. Jesus is not merely a prophet or a teacher. He is the Eternal One. The Word made flesh.

But what does this mean for us, especially in these final days of Lent?

It means that in Christ, we are not following a distant ideal—we are being invited into communion with the Living God. Lent is not just about moral effort. It is about relationship. To keep His word, as Jesus says, is to remain in that relationship—faithful, trusting, open.

And yet, we know how hard that can be. There are days we feel distant. Times when questions cloud our faith. Moments when silence feels louder than the presence of God. Like those in today’s Gospel, we can be tempted to react with skepticism or resistance—especially when Jesus asks for deeper surrender.

But Lent teaches us to stay in the conversation. To ask—not with cynicism, but with longing—“Who are You claiming to be?” And to listen for His answer. Jesus does not force belief; He reveals, patiently and truthfully, again and again.

St. Teresa of Calcutta once said:

“When you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you. When you look at the Sacred Host, you understand how much Jesus loves you now.”
(Jesus, the Word to Be Spoken: Prayers and Meditations by Mother Teresa, edited by Brother Angelo Devananda, 1996)

And from Evagrius Ponticus, one of the great voices of early Christian wisdom:

“If you are a theologian, you will pray truly; and if you pray truly, you are a theologian.”
(Chapters on Prayer, 61)

To stay close to Jesus, we need prayer—not just as obligation, but as encounter. We need silence to listen. Scripture to anchor us. And people who can walk with us when the path feels unclear. God has not left us alone. And Jesus, the Great I Am, does not abandon His own.

Jesus, You are the Eternal Word, the Living God who calls me to communion. Help me to keep Your word not only with my lips but with my life. Teach me to stay with You in prayer, even when I do not understand. Open my heart to the mystery of who You are, and let that truth lead me into deeper love, deeper freedom, and deeper faith.

Amen.

This reflection is written by Kris McGregor of Discerning Hearts®. The Scripture passage is taken from the Jerusalem Bible (1966 edition), used with permission. No unauthorized use or reproduction is permitted without prior written consent.

The post Day 37: Before Abraham Was, I Am – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel of John 8:51-59

Jesus said to the Jews:

What word made this passage come alive for you?

What did you sense the Lord saying to you?

Once more give the Lord an opportunity to speak to you:

Jesus said to the Jews:

What did your heart feel as you listened?

What did you sense the Lord saying to you?

Once more, through Him, with Him and in Him listen to the Word:

Jesus said to the Jews:

What touched your heart in this time of prayer?

What did your heart feel as you prayed?

What do you hope to carry with you from this time with the Lord?

Our Father, who art in heaven,

  hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

 Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

 and forgive us our trespasses,

 as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

 but deliver us from evil.

Amen

The post 5th Thursday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on St. Hildegard of Bingen’s vision of healing as the restoration of harmony. For Hildegard, healing is not only the easing of pain or the correction of one part of life. It is the return of right order, where soul, body, and daily life begin to come back into balance under God’s wisdom.

This vision fits naturally within the Benedictine way. The Holy Rule shapes time through prayer, work, and rest so that life is not left scattered or divided. Hildegard helps us see that this ordering is not merely practical. It serves wholeness. When prayer returns to its rightful place, when work is received faithfully, and when the body and soul are no longer treated as enemies, life begins to grow steadier and more peaceful.

This episode also draws out how deeply this matters in ordinary life. Fragmentation wears people down. Prayer gets pushed aside, work becomes anxious, rest loses its peace, and even the body begins to carry the strain of a divided life. Hildegard calls us back to a wiser order. In Christ, our humanity is not bypassed but healed and restored. This episode invites listeners to consider how grace works not around life as it is lived, but within it, gathering what is scattered and teaching the whole person to live in greater harmony with God.

St. Hildegard of Bingen, Scivias: Book One, Vision Two, section 33

“In this, humility and charity are brighter than the other virtues, since humility and charity are like a soul and body that possess stronger powers than the other powers of soul and bodily members. How? Humility is like the soul and charity like the body, and they cannot be separated from each other but work together, just as soul and body cannot be disjoined but work together as long as a person lives in the body.”

“May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Copyright © 2026 Kris McGregor. All rights reserved. No portion of this content may be reproduced, distributed, published, or transmitted in any form, including audio, print, or digital media, without prior written permission from Discerning Hearts®.

The post BW36 – Living In Harmony – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Kris McGregor speaks with Sally Read about Annunciation: A Call to Faith in a Broken World, a book Sally wrote as a letter to her daughter and as a reflection on faith, motherhood, and conversion. Sally describes the Annunciation as a pattern for every life: God calls, the soul answers, and trust must continue even when prayer feels dry or difficult. She presents Mary not as weak or passive, but as courageous, powerful, and deeply faithful, and shares how her own view of Mary changed after moving from atheism to Catholicism.

The book explores how to pass faith on to children in a world marked by anxiety, despair, and distraction. Sally recounts her daughter’s honest questions about Mass, Communion, and belief, and explains that faith is less about dramatic feelings than about opening oneself to God. Kris and Sally connect Scripture, suffering, grief, identity, and contemplation, showing how prayer and the Eucharist can transform ordinary pain and confusion into grace. By the end, the Annunciation becomes a living invitation in daily life, with each moment offering another chance to say yes to God.

Sensing the precarious nature of faith in an overwhelmingly secular world, Read, through meditation and anecdote, began writing down the compelling reasons for holding onto both God and Church. Taking the Annunciation as her template (that most fundamental yes to God), she explores common experiences of the spiritual life: His presence and invitation (And he came to her); the fears we have to let go of (Do not be afraid); the realization of our identity in God (Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord) and what our vocation might be (Let it be to me according to your word); and when God feels very distant from us (And the angel departed from her).

Drawing on Scripture, lives of the saints, and the lives of people she has known personally and professionally as a nurse, Read shows how God is with us always―through suffering, spiritual dryness and depression, as well as in joyful and mystical ways. This book was inspired by a mother’s loving response to a daughter―but what has resulted is something that will speak to any believer engaged in the bliss and bewilderment of a relationship with God.

Sally Read is the author of Night’s Bright Darkness: A Modern Conversion Story (Ignatius Press, 2016) and three books of poetry published by Bloodaxe Books. She is poet in residence with the Hermitage of the Three Holy Hierarchs, and she lives with her family near Rome.

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Msgr. John Esseff reflects on the Feast of the Annunciation, which falls in the heart of Lent. He shares how personal and significant this date is to him, as it marks the wedding anniversary of his parents. Their story, including seeking a dispensation to marry during Lent and defying an arranged marriage, mirrors the boldness and surrender exemplified by Mary’s own “yes” to God; drawing a connection between Mary’s total openness to God’s will and the Lenten call to deeper prayer, sacrifice, and discernment. Mary’s response to the angel, her understanding of Scripture, and her unwavering virginity reflect a soul in perfect union with God’s purpose.

Msgr. Esseff explores the moment of the Annunciation as a profound revelation—not only of Mary’s divine motherhood but also of the Trinity. The Father sends the Son, conceived by the Holy Spirit, marking the incarnation of God’s Word in the womb of one who had already received that Word in her heart. Her fiat—”Let it be done to me according to your word”—becomes the model of perfect prayer and surrender. He invites us to ponder God’s will in their daily lives as Mary did, suggesting that prayer is not about asking but about receiving and responding.

The angel Gabriel was sent from God

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton.  Msgr. Esseff served as a retreat director and confessor to St.  Teresa of Calcutta.    He continues to offer direction and retreats for the Sisters of the Missionaries of Charity worldwide.  Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio,  who would become a spiritual father to him.  He has lived in areas around the world,  serving in the Pontifical Missions, a Catholic organization established by St. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world, especially to the poor.  Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and continues to serve as a spiritual director for the Institute.  He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests, sisters, seminarians, and other religious leaders worldwide.  

The post The Annunciation – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible)

John 8:31–42 

To the Jews who believed in Him, Jesus said: “If you make My word your home you will indeed be My disciples, you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free.”

They answered, “We are descended from Abraham and we have never been the slaves of anyone; what do you mean, ‘You will be made free’?”

Jesus replied: “I tell you most solemnly, everyone who commits sin is a slave. Now the slave’s place in the house is not assured, but the son’s place is assured. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are descended from Abraham; but in spite of that you want to kill Me because nothing I say has penetrated into you. What I, for My part, speak of is what I have seen with My Father; but you, you put into action the lessons learnt from your father.”

They repeated, “Our father is Abraham.”

Jesus said to them: “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do as Abraham did. As it is, you want to kill Me when I tell you the truth as I have learnt it from God; that is not what Abraham did. What you are doing is what your father does.”

“We were not born of prostitution,” they went on, “we have one father: God.”

Jesus answered: “If God were your father, you would love Me, since I have come here from God; yes, I have come from Him; not that I came because I chose, no, I was sent, and by Him.”

⸻

Reflection:

At the heart of this Gospel is a promise and a challenge: “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” We live in a world that talks often about freedom—but Jesus speaks of a different kind. This is not merely the freedom to choose—it is the freedom to choose what is good, what is true, what leads to life in God. This is the freedom that comes from being fully His.

Jesus speaks directly to those who believed in Him—and yet still resisted the full implications of His word. “If you make My word your home… you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free.” Truth is not just abstract. It is relational. It is Christ Himself. This kind of freedom is not the absence of struggle but the presence of Christ. It is found in surrendering to the Father’s will, as Jesus did—in letting go of control and abiding in love.

The people in the Gospel claim, “We’ve never been slaves.” But Jesus reveals a deeper slavery: sin. Sin limits our sight. It distorts our desires. It binds our hearts to what cannot save us. To be free in Christ is to be unbound from all that keeps us from love—and to live in the transforming truth of His word.

But often, we hold back. Maybe it’s fear—of what we’ll lose. Maybe it’s anxiety—of surrendering what we’ve clung to. Maybe it’s old wounds that whisper, “You’re not worthy.” These don’t disqualify us. They invite honesty.

This is where the spiritual practice of ARRR prayer can be helpful:

St. Catherine of Siena reminds us that this freedom is not about willpower, but about intimacy with God:

“You have been made by God and re-made in the blood of His Son, and you are being continually made new by the fire of His love.”

The Desert Father Abba Poemen once said:

“Do not give your heart to that which does not satisfy. Let love be your measure in all things.”

Freedom in Christ is not license to do as we please—it is grace to become who we truly are. It’s not about escaping suffering, but allowing God to transform it. So today, let us ask: Are we willing to let the truth dwell in us—to trust Jesus with the parts of our lives still bound by fear or falsehood?

Reflection Questions:

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are the Truth that sets us free. We bring You our fears, our pride, and our false securities. Help us to surrender them to You. Let Your word dwell in us, reshape us, and lead us into the freedom of love. Root us in Your truth, and help us to trust the Father as You do.

Amen.

This reflection is written by Kris McGregor of Discerning Hearts®. The Scripture passage is taken from the Jerusalem Bible (1966 edition), used with permission. No unauthorized use or reproduction is permitted without prior written consent.

The post Day 36: The Truth Will Set You Free – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.