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The Discerning Hearts Blog Archives - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

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The Discerning Hearts Blog Archives - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts episodes

  • Day 27: “Do You Want to Be Made Whole?” – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Day 27: “Do You Want to Be Made Whole?”

    Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

    Isaiah 65:17-21
    “Thus says the Lord: I am about to create new heavens and a new earth… Be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating… No longer shall the sound of weeping be heard in it, or the cry of distress.”

    Reflection:

    Coming out of the healing light of Laetare Sunday, we are reminded today that God is not only restoring us—He is recreating us. In Isaiah’s vision, we hear God’s promise of a new heaven and a new earth, of a world where joy replaces weeping and life springs forth in abundance. This is not simply a promise for the end of time, but something God wants to begin in us now.

    Lent is not a pause button on life—it is a preparation for mission. After Christ heals us, He sends us. He opens our eyes not just so we can see, but so we can respond—to live with deeper purpose, clarity, and love. The graces of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are not only meant for our interior transformation, but to flow outward into our relationships, our work, and our service.

    But renewal isn’t always easy. Sometimes, we cling to the old habits, hurts, or fears that Jesus is inviting us to leave behind. We say we want the “new,” but resist the letting go. And yet, Christ comes to us gently and persistently, offering a new beginning, not based on our past failures, but on His enduring love.

    St. Ambrose, a great teacher of the Church, encourages us in this hope:

    “God does not look at what you have been, but at what you will be.”
    (On Repentance, Book II)

    And from the Desert Fathers, Abba Elias reminds:

    “Unless you are made new in your mind every day, you will never see the Kingdom of God.”
    (Apophthegmata Patrum, Elias 3)

    These voices echo God’s call in Isaiah: “Be glad and rejoice forever in what I am creating.” Let us not fear the new thing He is doing—but welcome it. We are being formed into a people of joy, healed not just for ourselves, but to be signs of His kingdom in a hurting world.

    Reflection Questions:
    1. What “old” ways is God inviting me to let go of so that I can receive something new?
    2. How am I being called to bring healing, joy, or renewal to someone else today?
    3. Do I believe that God is making something new in me, even now?
    4. Closing Prayer:

      Lord, You are always creating something new, even when I cannot yet see it. Open my heart to the work You are doing in me. Help me to release what no longer brings life, and to receive the joy You are preparing. Send me, renewed and restored, to share that joy with others. 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 27: “Do You Want to Be Made Whole?” – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

      5 min
    5. A Novena for the Annunciation – Day 1 – Mary, Full of Grace

      Day 1: Mary, Full of Grace

      From the Gospel according to Luke 1:28

      In the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth. He was sent to a young virgin who was betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the family of David: and the virgin’s name was Mary. The Angel came to her and said, Rejoice, Full of Grace! 

      Let us pray:

      Almighty Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we thank You for bestowing upon Your highly favored daughter all the graces to be Your Son’s Mother and to be the Mother of all. We thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to be our redeemer and savior. Thank You for giving us the breath of life and the splendor of Your creations. We thank You, Father, our Lord, and our God, for Your infinite kindness and mercy. How good You are to us, your children. We praise you and worship you, with Your Son, Jesus Christ, and his Mother Mary, our intercessor. To You, we owe everything. We acknowledge humbly that without You, we are nothing. Receive our gratitude and our undying adoration and devotion. We will try to reciprocate Your loving kindness by obeying Your commandments, by loving our neighbors and by earnestly endeavoring to become more like Your Son. We shall continuously affirm Your lordship and celebrate Your goodness and kindness all the days of our life.
      Amen.

      Jesus, for our salvation You willingly humbled Yourself, becoming Man in the womb of the Virgin Mother, grant me through the mystery of Your holy Incarnation the virtue of humility that I may ever please God as Your Mother did, by meekness and lowliness in this world, and be exalted by You in eternity.

      Mary, dear Mother of my Savior, I greet you and I thank you for having received the message of the Archangel Gabriel: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee” (Luke I:28) and for having answered with your consent, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to thy word.” (Luke 1:38) Intercede for me that God the Father, who accepted you as His Daughter and the Mother of His Son because of your humility at the Annunciation, may accept me as His humble child. Amen

       

      The post A Novena for the Annunciation – Day 1 – Mary, Full of Grace appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

      4 min
    6. 4th Monday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast
      4th Monday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

      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 4:43-54

      Jesus left Samaria for Galilee. He himself had declared that there is no respect for a prophet in his own country, but on his arrival the Galileans received him well, having seen all that he had done at Jerusalem during the festival which they too had attended.

      He went again to Cana in Galilee, where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a court official there whose son was ill at Capernaum and, hearing that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judaea, he went and asked him to come and cure his son as he was at the point of death. Jesus said, ‘So you will not believe unless you see signs and portents!’ ‘Sir,’ answered the official ‘come down before my child dies.’ ‘Go home,’ said Jesus ‘your son will live.’ The man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way; and while he was still on the journey back his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive. He asked them when the boy had begun to recover. ‘The fever left him yesterday’ they said ‘at the seventh hour.’ The father realised that this was exactly the time when Jesus had said, ‘Your son will live’; and he and all his household believed.
      This was the second sign given by Jesus, on his return from Judaea to Galilee.

      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 left Samaria for Galilee. He himself had declared that there is no respect for a prophet in his own country, but on his arrival the Galileans received him well, having seen all that he had done at Jerusalem during the festival which they too had attended.

      He went again to Cana in Galilee, where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a court official there whose son was ill at Capernaum and, hearing that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judaea, he went and asked him to come and cure his son as he was at the point of death. Jesus said, ‘So you will not believe unless you see signs and portents!’ ‘Sir,’ answered the official ‘come down before my child dies.’ ‘Go home,’ said Jesus ‘your son will live.’ The man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way; and while he was still on the journey back his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive. He asked them when the boy had begun to recover. ‘The fever left him yesterday’ they said ‘at the seventh hour.’ The father realised that this was exactly the time when Jesus had said, ‘Your son will live’; and he and all his household believed.
      This was the second sign given by Jesus, on his return from Judaea to Galilee.

      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 left Samaria for Galilee. He himself had declared that there is no respect for a prophet in his own country, but on his arrival the Galileans received him well, having seen all that he had done at Jerusalem during the festival which they too had attended.

      He went again to Cana in Galilee, where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a court official there whose son was ill at Capernaum and, hearing that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judaea, he went and asked him to come and cure his son as he was at the point of death. Jesus said, ‘So you will not believe unless you see signs and portents!’ ‘Sir,’ answered the official ‘come down before my child dies.’ ‘Go home,’ said Jesus ‘your son will live.’ The man believed what Jesus had said and started on his way; and while he was still on the journey back his servants met him with the news that his boy was alive. He asked them when the boy had begun to recover. ‘The fever left him yesterday’ they said ‘at the seventh hour.’ The father realised that this was exactly the time when Jesus had said, ‘Your son will live’; and he and all his household believed.
      This was the second sign given by Jesus, on his return from Judaea to Galilee.

      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

      Excerpt from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.

      The post 4th Monday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

      12 min
    7. BW26 – The Eleventh Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

      The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor
      Episode 26 – The Eleventh Degree of Humility

      In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on the Eleventh Degree of Humility from Chapter 7 of the Holy Rule. St. Benedict continues his teaching on speech, moving beyond the question of whether a person speaks too much to the deeper question of how he speaks when he does. Humility begins to shape tone, measure, and restraint so that speech becomes calm, simple, and free from display.

      St. Benedict understands that words may be accurate yet still harmful if delivered with harshness, vanity, or a desire to dominate the moment. The Eleventh Degree purifies not only speech itself but the manner of it. Gentle and measured speech allows truth to be received. Words that are few and sensible reflect a heart that has learned to listen, think, and speak with purpose.

      This wisdom has clear application in daily life. In family life, friendships, workplaces, and parish communities, tone often determines whether words build peace or stir resistance. St. Benedict invites listeners to form a way of speaking that is steady, thoughtful, and charitable. Looking to Christ, whose words carried clarity and authority without display, the Eleventh Degree of Humility shows how speech guided by humility can become a quiet instrument of truth and peace.

      Citations

      Benedict of Nursia, The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 7 § 58 (RB 1980)

      “The eleventh degree of humility is that when a monk speaks,

      he does so gently and without laughter,
      humbly and with seriousness,
      speaking few and sensible words.”

      “Undecimus humilitatis gradus est, si cum loquitur monachus, leniter et sine risu, humiliter et cum gravitate, vel pauca verba et rationabilia loquatur.”

      Proverbs 17:27, RSV–CE

      “He who restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”

      Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
      1. How does my tone affect the way others receive what I say?

      2. Do I sometimes speak accurately but in a spirit that provokes resistance?

      3. Where might fewer and more thoughtful words bring greater peace to my conversations?

      4. Do I allow time for interior calm before speaking, especially in difficult situations?

      5. How does Christ’s example of purposeful and measured speech shape the way I communicate?

        For other episodes in this series, visit
        The Rule Of St. Benedict For Daily Life: Learning To Listen To God With A Discerning Heart
        Pick up a copy of The Rule of St. Benedict here

        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 BW26 – The Eleventh Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

        8 min
      6. St. Joseph Novena – Day 6

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        O glorious Saint Joseph,faithful follower of Jesus Christ,

        to you we raise our hearts and hands
        to implore your powerful intercession
        in obtaining from the benign heart of Jesus
        all the helps and graces necessary
        for our spiritual and temporal welfare,
        particularly for the grace of a happy death
        and the special favor we now request…

        (State your request here.)

        O guardian of the Word Incarnate,

        we feel animated with confidence that your prayers
        in our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God.

        O glorious St. Joseph,

        through the love you bear to Jesus Christ
        and for the glory of His name,
        hear our prayers
        and obtain our petitions.

        Amen.

        DAY SIX

        O glorious Saint Joseph,

        appointed by the Eternal Father
        as the guardian and protector of the life of Jesus Christ,
        the comfort and support of His Holy Mother,
        and the instrument in His great design
        for the redemption of mankind;
        you who had the happiness of living with Jesus and Mary,
        and of dying in their arms,
        be moved with confidence we place in you,
        and procure for us from the Almighty,
        the particular favor which
        we humbly ask through your intercession…

        (State your request here…)

        Amen.

        Saint Joseph, pray for us!

        The post St. Joseph Novena – Day 6 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

        2 min
      7. Day 26: From Darkness to Sight: Mercy that Heals – Discerning Hearts Podcast

        A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast
        Day 26: From Darkness to Sight: Mercy that Heals
        Reader:

        Scripture Reading:

        John 9:1-7, 13-17, 34-38

        As Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him…” 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…

        Reflection:

        As we enter this Fourth Sunday of Lent, often called Laetare Sunday, the Church invites us to rejoice—not because the journey is easy, but because hope is dawning. Lenten  It mirrors our own spiritual journey through Lent: from darkness to light, from blindness to vision, from confusion to deeper faith.

        Jesus sees the man born blind and heals him, not because of sin, but so that the works of God might be revealed. This is an invitation for us to reflect on the wounds, limitations, or struggles in our own lives that God desires to touch—not as punishment, but as places where His mercy can be made visible. The man didn’t ask to be healed. Jesus took the initiative. That is mercy.

        Notice how the man’s healing is not instantaneous. He must go, wash, and return. His physical eyes are opened, but his interior sight continues to grow as he is questioned and rejected. He moves from calling Jesus a man, then a prophet, and finally, he professes, “Lord, I believe.”

        The journey of faith often moves in stages. We may begin in darkness—with limited understanding or perhaps spiritual fatigue—but through prayer, sacrament, and humble trust, our vision clarifies. Jesus comes to us, touches our eyes with His grace, and says, “Go, wash.” That washing happens when we let the truth of His Word confront our blindness, when we turn to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and when we allow grace to transform our view of ourselves and others.

        St. Augustine reflects on this Gospel by comparing the blind man’s healing to baptism:

        “He washed his eyes in the pool of Siloam and came back seeing: so too the sinner, when washed in the water of Christ, begins to see the light of faith.” (Tractates on the Gospel of John, 44.10)

        And the Desert Father Abba Isaiah reminds us:

        “If you want your soul to see clearly, do not look with your eyes at the faults of others, but examine your own heart in the light of the Gospel.” (Apophthegmata Patrum, Isaiah 5)

        These two witnesses—one from the heart of the Western tradition, and one from the wisdom of the desert—both point to the same truth: that sight, healing, and faith come from a deep and personal encounter with Christ. Let us remain open to that encounter.

        Today, let us ask: Where am I still blind? What areas of my life need to be touched by Christ’s healing mercy? And do I trust that He is leading me from confusion into clarity, from isolation into communion, from fear into faith?

        Reflection Questions:
        1. What areas of spiritual blindness still linger in my heart?
        2. How have I experienced the mercy of Jesus slowly opening my eyes to truth?
        3. What are the steps Jesus is inviting me to take today toward greater clarity and trust?
        4. Closing Prayer:

          Lord Jesus, You are the Light of the World. Thank You for seeing us even in our blindness, for touching us with Your mercy, and for leading us into deeper faith. Wash our hearts and open our eyes, that we may see clearly the path You are calling us to walk. Help us to trust You even when the way is unclear, and to rejoice in the vision that only Your grace can give.

          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 26: From Darkness to Sight: Mercy that Heals – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

          7 min
        5. 4th Sunday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast


          4th Sunday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

          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 St. John 9:1-41

          As Jesus went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?’ ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned,’ Jesus answered ‘he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

          ‘As long as the day lasts
          I must carry out the work of the one who sent me;
          the night will soon be here when no one can work.
          As long as I am in the world
          I am the light of the world.’

          Having said this, he spat on the ground, made a paste with the spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man, and said to him, ‘Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (a name that means ‘sent’). So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.

          His neighbours and people who earlier had seen him begging said, ‘Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some said, ‘Yes, it is the same one.’ Others said, ‘No, he only looks like him.’ The man himself said, ‘I am the man.’ So they said to him, ‘Then how do your eyes come to be open?’ ‘The man called Jesus’ he answered ‘made a paste, daubed my eyes with it and said to me, “Go and wash at Siloam”; so I went, and when I washed I could see.’ They asked, ‘Where is he?’ ‘I don’t know’ he answered.

          They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. It had been a sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and opened the man’s eyes, so when the Pharisees asked him how he had come to see, he said, ‘He put a paste on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see.’ Then some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man cannot be from God: he does not keep the sabbath.’ Others said, ‘How could a sinner produce signs like this?’ And there was disagreement among them. So they spoke to the blind man again, ‘What have you to say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?’ ‘He is a prophet’ replied the man. However, the Jews would not believe that the man had been blind and had gained his sight, without first sending for his parents and asking them, ‘Is this man really your son who you say was born blind? If so, how is it that he is now able to see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know he is our son and we know he was born blind, but we do not know how it is that he can see now, or who opened his eyes. He is old enough: let him speak for himself.’ His parents spoke like this out of fear of the Jews, who had already agreed to expel from the synagogue anyone who should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ. This was why his parents said, ‘He is old enough; ask him.’

          So the Jews again sent for the man and said to him, ‘Give glory to God! For our part, we know that this man is a sinner.’ The man answered, ‘I don’t know if he is a sinner; I only know that I was blind and now I can see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He replied, ‘I have told you once and you wouldn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it all again? Do you want to become his disciples too?’ At this they hurled abuse at him: ‘You can be his disciple,’ they said ‘we are disciples of Moses: we know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man replied, ‘Now here is an astonishing thing! He has opened my eyes, and you don’t know where he comes from! We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but God does listen to men who are devout and do his will. Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind; if this man were not from God, he couldn’t do a thing.’ ‘Are you trying to teach us,’ they replied ‘and you a sinner through and through, since you were born!’ And they drove him away.

          Jesus heard they had driven him away, and when he found him he said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied ‘tell me who he is so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said, ‘You are looking at him; he is speaking to you.’ The man said, ‘Lord, I believe’, and worshipped him.

          Jesus said:

          ‘It is for judgement
          that I have come into this world,
          so that those without sight may see
          and those with sight turn blind.’
          Hearing this, some Pharisees who were present said to him, ‘We are not blind, surely?’ Jesus replied:
          ‘Blind? If you were,
          you would not be guilty,
          but since you say, “We see,”
          your guilt remains.’

          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:

          As Jesus went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?’ ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned,’ Jesus answered ‘he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

          ‘As long as the day lasts
          I must carry out the work of the one who sent me;
          the night will soon be here when no one can work.
          As long as I am in the world
          I am the light of the world.’

          Having said this, he spat on the ground, made a paste with the spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man, and said to him, ‘Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (a name that means ‘sent’). So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.

          His neighbours and people who earlier had seen him begging said, ‘Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some said, ‘Yes, it is the same one.’ Others said, ‘No, he only looks like him.’ The man himself said, ‘I am the man.’ So they said to him, ‘Then how do your eyes come to be open?’ ‘The man called Jesus’ he answered ‘made a paste, daubed my eyes with it and said to me, “Go and wash at Siloam”; so I went, and when I washed I could see.’ They asked, ‘Where is he?’ ‘I don’t know’ he answered.

          They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. It had been a sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and opened the man’s eyes, so when the Pharisees asked him how he had come to see, he said, ‘He put a paste on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see.’ Then some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man cannot be from God: he does not keep the sabbath.’ Others said, ‘How could a sinner produce signs like this?’ And there was disagreement among them. So they spoke to the blind man again, ‘What have you to say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?’ ‘He is a prophet’ replied the man. However, the Jews would not believe that the man had been blind and had gained his sight, without first sending for his parents and asking them, ‘Is this man really your son who you say was born blind? If so, how is it that he is now able to see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know he is our son and we know he was born blind, but we do not know how it is that he can see now, or who opened his eyes. He is old enough: let him speak for himself.’ His parents spoke like this out of fear of the Jews, who had already agreed to expel from the synagogue anyone who should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ. This was why his parents said, ‘He is old enough; ask him.’

          So the Jews again sent for the man and said to him, ‘Give glory to God! For our part, we know that this man is a sinner.’ The man answered, ‘I don’t know if he is a sinner; I only know that I was blind and now I can see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He replied, ‘I have told you once and you wouldn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it all again? Do you want to become his disciples too?’ At this they hurled abuse at him: ‘You can be his disciple,’ they said ‘we are disciples of Moses: we know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man replied, ‘Now here is an astonishing thing! He has opened my eyes, and you don’t know where he comes from! We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but God does listen to men who are devout and do his will. Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind; if this man were not from God, he couldn’t do a thing.’ ‘Are you trying to teach us,’ they replied ‘and you a sinner through and through, since you were born!’ And they drove him away.

          Jesus heard they had driven him away, and when he found him he said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied ‘tell me who he is so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said, ‘You are looking at him; he is speaking to you.’ The man said, ‘Lord, I believe’, and worshipped him.

          Jesus said:

          ‘It is for judgement
          that I have come into this world,
          so that those without sight may see
          and those with sight turn blind.’
          Hearing this, some Pharisees who were present said to him, ‘We are not blind, surely?’ Jesus replied:
          ‘Blind? If you were,
          you would not be guilty,
          but since you say, “We see,”
          your guilt remains.’

          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:

          As Jesus went along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, for him to have been born blind?’ ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned,’ Jesus answered ‘he was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him.

          ‘As long as the day lasts
          I must carry out the work of the one who sent me;
          the night will soon be here when no one can work.
          As long as I am in the world
          I am the light of the world.’

          Having said this, he spat on the ground, made a paste with the spittle, put this over the eyes of the blind man, and said to him, ‘Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam’ (a name that means ‘sent’). So the blind man went off and washed himself, and came away with his sight restored.

          His neighbours and people who earlier had seen him begging said, ‘Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some said, ‘Yes, it is the same one.’ Others said, ‘No, he only looks like him.’ The man himself said, ‘I am the man.’ So they said to him, ‘Then how do your eyes come to be open?’ ‘The man called Jesus’ he answered ‘made a paste, daubed my eyes with it and said to me, “Go and wash at Siloam”; so I went, and when I washed I could see.’ They asked, ‘Where is he?’ ‘I don’t know’ he answered.

          They brought the man who had been blind to the Pharisees. It had been a sabbath day when Jesus made the paste and opened the man’s eyes, so when the Pharisees asked him how he had come to see, he said, ‘He put a paste on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see.’ Then some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man cannot be from God: he does not keep the sabbath.’ Others said, ‘How could a sinner produce signs like this?’ And there was disagreement among them. So they spoke to the blind man again, ‘What have you to say about him yourself, now that he has opened your eyes?’ ‘He is a prophet’ replied the man. However, the Jews would not believe that the man had been blind and had gained his sight, without first sending for his parents and asking them, ‘Is this man really your son who you say was born blind? If so, how is it that he is now able to see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know he is our son and we know he was born blind, but we do not know how it is that he can see now, or who opened his eyes. He is old enough: let him speak for himself.’ His parents spoke like this out of fear of the Jews, who had already agreed to expel from the synagogue anyone who should acknowledge Jesus as the Christ. This was why his parents said, ‘He is old enough; ask him.’

          So the Jews again sent for the man and said to him, ‘Give glory to God! For our part, we know that this man is a sinner.’ The man answered, ‘I don’t know if he is a sinner; I only know that I was blind and now I can see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He replied, ‘I have told you once and you wouldn’t listen. Why do you want to hear it all again? Do you want to become his disciples too?’ At this they hurled abuse at him: ‘You can be his disciple,’ they said ‘we are disciples of Moses: we know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man replied, ‘Now here is an astonishing thing! He has opened my eyes, and you don’t know where he comes from! We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but God does listen to men who are devout and do his will. Ever since the world began it is unheard of for anyone to open the eyes of a man who was born blind; if this man were not from God, he couldn’t do a thing.’ ‘Are you trying to teach us,’ they replied ‘and you a sinner through and through, since you were born!’ And they drove him away.

          Jesus heard they had driven him away, and when he found him he said to him, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ ‘Sir,’ the man replied ‘tell me who he is so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said, ‘You are looking at him; he is speaking to you.’ The man said, ‘Lord, I believe’, and worshipped him.

          Jesus said:

          ‘It is for judgement
          that I have come into this world,
          so that those without sight may see
          and those with sight turn blind.’
          Hearing this, some Pharisees who were present said to him, ‘We are not blind, surely?’ Jesus replied:
          ‘Blind? If you were,
          you would not be guilty,
          but since you say, “We see,”
          your guilt remains.’

          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

          Excerpt from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.

          The post 4th Sunday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

          22 min
        6. BW25 – The Tenth Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

          The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor
          Episode 25 – The Tenth Degree of Humility

          In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on the Tenth Degree of Humility from Chapter 7 of the Holy Rule. St. Benedict turns to the way a person conducts himself outwardly. By this stage in the ladder of humility, obedience, endurance, restraint and silence have already begun shaping the interior life. Now humility begins to appear in a person’s manner, in the steadiness with which he carries himself through ordinary life.

          St. Benedict warns against behavior that becomes excessive, restless or foolish. His concern is not laughter itself but the loss of moderation that can disturb peace and distract the heart. When joking, noise or outward excitement take over, the soul easily becomes scattered. The Benedictine way encourages a joy that remains rooted and balanced rather than impulsive or disruptive.

          This teaching speaks directly to daily life. In family life, friendships, workplaces and parish communities, outward behavior can either steady the atmosphere or unsettle it. The Tenth Degree of Humility invites listeners to cultivate moderation, warmth and self-command so that joy remains genuine and grounded. Looking to Christ as the model of ordered freedom, this degree reminds us that humility forms a presence that is calm, attentive and quietly joyful.

          Citations

          Benedict of Nursia, The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 7 § 57 (RB 1980)

          “The tenth degree of humility is that one is not easily moved

          and quick to laughter,
          for it is written:
          ‘A fool raises his voice in laughter.’”

          “Decimus humilitatis gradus est, si non sit facilis ac promptus in risu, quia scriptum est: Stultus in risu exaltat vocem suam.”

          Ecclesiastes 7:6, RSV–CE

          “For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool; this also is vanity.”

          Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
          1. Do I notice moments when humor or joking begins to lose its balance or measure?
          2. How does my outward behavior affect the peace of those around me?
          3. Do I sometimes use humor or constant activity to avoid silence or discomfort?
          4. What does steady and grounded joy look like in my daily life?
          5. How can Christ’s example help shape a more balanced and attentive presence?
          6. For other episodes in this series, visit
            The Rule Of St. Benedict For Daily Life: Learning To Listen To God With A Discerning Heart
            Pick up a copy of The Rule of St. Benedict here

            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 BW25 – The Tenth Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

            8 min
          7. St. Joseph Novena – Day 5

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            O glorious Saint Joseph,faithful follower of Jesus Christ,

            to you we raise our hearts and hands
            to implore your powerful intercession
            in obtaining from the benign heart of Jesus
            all the helps and graces necessary
            for our spiritual and temporal welfare,
            particularly for the grace of a happy death
            and the special favor we now request…

            (State your request here.)

            O guardian of the Word Incarnate,

            we feel animated with confidence that your prayers
            in our behalf will be graciously heard before the throne of God.

            O glorious St. Joseph,

            through the love you bear to Jesus Christ
            and for the glory of His name,
            hear our prayers
            and obtain our petitions.

            Amen.

            DAY FIVE

            O holy St. Joseph,

            what a lesson your life is for us,
            ever so eager to appear
            so anxious to display before the eyes of men
            the graces that we owe entirely to the liberality of God.
            In addition to the special favor for which we plead in this novena…

            (State your request here…)

            grant that we may attribute to God the glory of all things,

            that we may love the humble and hidden life,
            that we may not desire any other position
            than the one given us by Providence
            and that we may always be a docile instrument in the hands of God.

            Amen.

            Saint Joseph, pray for us!

            The post St. Joseph Novena – Day 5 appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

            2 min
          8. Day 25: “The Greatest Commandment” – Discerning Hearts Podcast

            A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast
            Day 25: “The Greatest Commandment”
            Reader:

            Scripture Reading:

            Mark 12:28–34
            One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

            Reflection:

            Today we return again to the foundation of our faith: love of God and love of neighbor. These aren’t vague concepts or lofty aspirations—they are a way of life, lived out daily in real choices. In a world where division, indifference, and isolation often tempt us to retreat inward, Jesus calls us to open our hearts—to love God with everything we are, and to love our neighbor with compassion, intention, and generosity.

            Prayer is essential in helping us discern what this love looks like in real time. Contemplative silence, the Examen, and Scripture reflection are the places where we listen. The sacraments, particularly Reconciliation and the Eucharist, give us the grace to act. But it is in action—in stepping into the messiness of human need—that we live the commandments most fully.

            Love takes many forms. It may mean checking in on a lonely neighbor, advocating for someone who has no voice, offering forgiveness in a fractured relationship, or being generous with your time for someone in need. Sometimes it’s choosing to be present to your children or spouse when distractions beckon. Other times, it may be supporting those on the margins: the unhoused, the refugee, the isolated. These everyday actions, when rooted in love, become sacred.

            Servants of God Catherine Doherty and Dorothy Day, as well as St. Teresa of Calcutta, lived this so powerfully. Each in their own way entered the suffering of others and made a home for them, whether in the streets, in a Catholic Worker house, or in a soup line. Their lives teach us that holiness is not removed from the world’s pain—it goes straight into it, with mercy and justice in hand.

            St. Bernard of Clairvaux reminds us:

            “True justice is not only in giving what is due, but in giving what is loving. For mercy, when rightly ordered, is justice perfected.”

            (On the Song of Songs, Sermon 11)

            And the Desert Father Abba Theodore of Pherme offers this challenge:

            “If you are truly a brother, be like a column: others will lean on you.”

            (Apophthegmata Patrum, Theodore 1)

            Love is not always easy. It stretches us. But it is in this stretching that we are made more like Christ. Lent calls us to return to God with our whole heart and to let that returning bear visible fruit in how we care for others—especially those most in need.

            And in the words of the Church’s liturgy, may our Lenten renewal send us forth with the strength to “go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life,” or as we are sometimes reminded, to “go and announce the Gospel of the Lord.” This is not the end of our prayer—it is where our prayer becomes action.

            Reflection Questions:
            1. In what ways are you being called to return to God with your whole heart?
            2. How do justice and mercy play out in your daily relationships?
            3. Where can your love grow deeper—toward God, toward others, or even toward yourself?
            4. Closing Prayer:

              Lord, You have commanded us to love You with all that we are, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Help us return to You with sincerity and strength. Cleanse our hearts of anything that divides us from You or from one another. Teach us to live in love that is both just and merciful, and to find joy in serving You in the least of our brothers and sisters.  

              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 25: “The Greatest Commandment” – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

              7 min

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