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Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Luke 16:10

Faithfulness in the little things prepares us for faithfulness in greater things. Jesus reminds us that holiness is not found only in grand gestures but in the small, often unseen acts of love and obedience. The spiritual life is built in the hidden moments of daily perseverance—choosing to trust, to serve, to remain steadfast in prayer even when we feel nothing.

Lent is a time when we are invited to examine our small, daily choices. Are we faithful in the way we speak to others? Do we show patience in moments of frustration? Do we bring our hearts to prayer, even when it feels dry? Holiness is not about feeling spiritual—it is about remaining faithful.

The Desert Fathers understood this well. Abba Dorotheus taught:

Similarly, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, known for her “Little Way,” reminds us:

Faithfulness in small things teaches us to trust God even when we do not see immediate fruit. Just as a seed must be planted and watered before it grows, our small acts of perseverance prepare our souls for deeper transformation.

As we reflect today, let us ask: Where is God calling me to greater faithfulness in the small things? How can I embrace perseverance in prayer and trust, even when I do not see results right away?

Lord, You call us to be faithful in the little things, trusting that You are at work even when we do not see it. Teach us to persevere, to pray with faith, and to love in the small moments of daily life. May our hidden acts of love bear fruit in Your time. 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 21: “Faithfulness in the Little Things” – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

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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. Matthew 18:21-35

Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.

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:

Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.

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:

Peter went up to Jesus and said, ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy-seven times.

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 3rd Tuesday 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 the Fifth Degree of Humility in Chapter 7 of the Holy Rule. St. Benedict turns from endurance and restraint to truthful speech, showing that humility also appears in the willingness to bring what is hidden into the light. Silence alone is not enough. A person may say very little and still conceal much. Humility begins when the heart stops protecting what is false and becomes willing to speak plainly about what is wrong.

St. Benedict’s teaching is not an invitation to overshare or to expose oneself carelessly. It is a call to honest speech in the right place, with the right person, where truth needs to be told. For the monk, this means confession to the abbot. For the rest of us, it may mean confession after serious sin, telling the truth in a marriage, admitting a fault in family life or work, or bringing a recurring temptation into the light with a confessor or trusted spiritual guide. Hidden sin does not heal by being ignored. It must be named truthfully so that it can be judged rightly, forgiven, and surrendered to God’s mercy.

This degree of humility reveals how deeply St. Benedict understands the human heart. We often want to soften the truth, delay it, or manage how we appear. But concealment weakens the heart. It makes us more guarded, more divided, and less free before God. This episode invites listeners to consider where honesty is needed, and how truthful confession becomes not humiliation but healing, not self-exposure for its own sake but the beginning of freedom.

Benedict of Nursia, The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 7 § 44-46 (RB 1980)

“The fifth degree of humility is that one does not conceal

“Quintus humilitatis gradus est, si omnes cogitationes malas cordi suo advenientes, vel mala secreta facta, abbati suo humili confessione non abscondat.”

“I acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’; then thou didst forgive the guilt of my sin.”

Is there something I have been hiding, minimizing, or delaying in order to protect how I appear?

Do I understand the difference between honest confession and unhealthy oversharing?

Where in my life do I most resist speaking the truth plainly and without excuse?

How has concealment weakened my peace, freedom, or clarity before God?

What truth may need to be spoken in the right place today so that grace can begin to heal what has been hidden?

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 BW20 – The Fifth Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher describes how temptation often appears during times of anxiety or discouragement in the spiritual life. Through the story of John, who anxiously waits for medical test results, he illustrates how worry can disturb prayer and open the door to subtle suggestions that lead toward distractions or unhealthy habits. Even though John remains faithful to prayer and resists these impulses, agitation and discouraging thoughts still arise. These interior voices begin to question his spiritual life and suggest something must be wrong with him because prayer does not bring immediate peace. Such thoughts are presented as deceptive suggestions that accompany spiritual desolation—moments when discouragement, anxiety, or loss of hope affect one’s relationship with God. Recognizing these experiences as ordinary aspects of spiritual life helps a person refuse the discouraging lies and remember that desolation will pass.

A second example involves Julie, who returns from a retreat inspired to deepen her prayer life and form spiritual friendships. After a difficult conversation with her husband, discouragement gradually disrupts her prayer and leads her to doubt the authenticity of the grace she experienced on retreat. Interior accusations accumulate, suggesting she is incapable of deeper holiness and destined to remain spiritually mediocre. Such thoughts aim to undermine confidence and distort reality. By sharing these struggles with trusted companions and identifying the false accusations, a person can recover clarity and continue growing. God may permit these trials because resisting them strengthens faith, deepens humility, and forms spiritual resilience. When these discouraging voices are recognized as lies, freedom returns and the path of spiritual growth continues.

“John experiences a form of spiritual desolation that Ignatius describes as “disquiet from various agitations and temptations.” If John can identify his experience as the tactic of the enemy that it is — spiritual desolation — peace will begin to return, and he will be strengthened to resist it. If John is further aware that there is no shame in undergoing such spiritual desolation, that all do from time to time, he will be additionally encouraged in his struggle.

The enemy brings this spiritual desolation into a nonspiritual vulnerability in John: a place of worry — his understandable concern about the growth on his face and his anxiety as he awaits the results of the second biopsy. John deals well with this: he speaks with his wife, and he is faithful to prayer. Texts of the Bible help him. But even as he turns to the Lord, the enemy brings spiritual desolation, “disquiet from various agitations and temptations.” This need not surprise John or us! Ignatius helps us understand this experience and points the way to freedom.”

Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy ; Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy. Struggles in the Spiritual Life: Their Nature and Their Remedies (p. 45). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.

“Julie’s experience permits an important observation. If the enemy ordinarily brings spiritual desolation into areas of nonspiritual vulnerability (tiredness, discouragement, depression, and the like), then whatever you do to reduce or eliminate that nonspiritual vulnerability will greatly ease your spiritual life. If, for example, Julie and Bob communicate and resolve their tension, Julie will find herself much less susceptible to the “lack of confidence” described here. The same is true for all of us when we experience nonspiritual vulnerabilities. Julie also writes, “I’m up, then so quickly down. You and the others seem so much more stable and so faithful. I must be different.” A further lie of desolation is this: “It’s just you. Other people don’t go through this. You’re up, then down. Other people are steady. It’s only you.” Again, emphatically no!

When Julie knows the others better, and they share on a deeper level, she will find that all undergo these ups (times of spiritual energy, of feeling God’s closeness — that is, of spiritual consolation) and downs (times without spiritual energy, of not feeling God’s closeness — that is, of spiritual desolation). If you experience times of spiritual consolation and times of spiritual desolation, then you share the experience of every man or woman who has ever loved the Lord. What matters is — by now you can tell me! — to be aware, understand, and take action. Take action: that is, to accept God’s gift of spiritual consolation and to reject the enemy’s discouraging lies in spiritual desolation.”

Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy ; Gallagher O.M.V, Fr. Timothy. Struggles in the Spiritual Life: Their Nature and Their Remedies (pp. 52-53). Sophia Institute Press. Kindle Edition.

“Here is a powerful, life-changing book that will help you understand and conquer the struggles you face in your spiritual life. It’s a book for those who love the Lord and desire holiness yet often feel adrift or stagnant in their search for spiritual growth.

All of us encounter valleys on our journey with the Lord — those periods of spiritual desolation that are a painful yet unavoidable feature of our prayer life. Spiritual desolation is as complex as we are, so understanding what is happening and responding to it properly are critical to reaching the heights of holiness.

With warmth and understanding, Fr. Gallagher carefully identifies in this book the various forms of spiritual and nonspiritual desolation and supplies the remedy for each. You’ll learn how to discern whether your struggles derive from medical or psychological conditions or whether those struggles are spiritual and permitted by the Lord for reasons of growth. In each case, you’ll be given the remedy for the struggle. You’ll also learn the forms of spiritual dryness and of the Dark Night — and how to respond to them.

In chapter after chapter, Fr. Gallagher presents a particular struggle as experienced by fictional characters and then provides the advice he gives to those who come to him for spiritual direction about that struggle. You’ll gain confidence as you journey through desolation, and you’ll learn to reject the enemy’s ploys to infect you with a sense of hopelessness.“

The post SISL8 – I’m Troubled and I’m Tempted; I’m Going to Fail – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

In this episode, Deacon James Keating and Kris McGregor discuss Lent as a time of vulnerability to God’s mercy, emphasizing bringing sin into Christ’s light for liberation. They contrast morality’s true freedom with sin’s chains and highlight Christ’s presence in our struggles.

Deacon Keating gives us of a message of hope, reassuring listeners that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace and mercy.

“The ancient image of Lent as a time of withdrawal is relevant to the formation of conscience if we perceive that our consciences have been inordinately attached to anemic sources of influence.  Christians are called to transform the world of culture, work, and politics according to the truths learned through Christ in the Church.  It is a powerful and dignified calling.  Lent affords us a good opportunity to repent of those habits, attitudes, or behaviors that reflect a preoccupation with the secular.  Thus devoid of the religious, we are then called to eagerly respond to our faith and imbue the secular with religious and ethical meaning.  To do less than this is to render our baptisms impotent and meaningless.”

Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

The post CTD3 – Waiting in the Desert – Crossing the Desert: Lent and Conversion with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Matthew 18:21-22

Forgiveness is at the heart of the Gospel, yet it is one of the most challenging commands to live out. When Peter asks Jesus about the limits of forgiveness, Jesus responds with a number that signifies boundlessness: “Seventy-seven times.” In other words, forgiveness is not something we can measure or ration; it must flow freely, just as God’s forgiveness flows freely to us.

This kind of forgiveness is only possible when we recognize how deeply we have been forgiven by God. It is through God’s mercy that our hearts are softened and made capable of forgiving others. Forgiveness does not mean excusing sin or forgetting the hurt; rather, it is a decision to let go of resentment and to entrust justice to God.

The Desert Fathers taught the importance of forgiveness as a path to spiritual freedom. Abba Joseph said:

“If you want to find rest here and hereafter, in every trial say, ‘Who am I?’ and do not judge others.” (Apophthegmata Patrum, Alphabetical Collection, Joseph 3)

Similarly, St. John Chrysostom, one of the greatest preachers of the early Church, reminds us:

“Nothing causes us to resemble God more than our willingness to forgive.”

Forgiveness transforms not only the person who forgives but also the community. It opens the door to healing and reconciliation. As we reflect today, let us ask: How can we embrace Jesus’ call to forgive without limits? Who in our lives are we being called to forgive?

Lord, You teach us to forgive not just seven times, but seventy-seven times. Help us to let go of resentment and to entrust justice to You. Fill our hearts with Your mercy, so that we may forgive those who have hurt us and seek reconciliation with those we have wronged. May our lives reflect Your boundless love and mercy.

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 20: “Persevering in Prayer and Trusting in God’s Mercy” – 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 Luke 4:24-30

Jesus came to Nazara and spoke to the people in the synagogue: ‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.

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 came to Nazara and spoke to the people in the synagogue: ‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.

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 came to Nazara and spoke to the people in the synagogue: ‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country.

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 3rd Monday 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 the Fourth Degree of Humility from Chapter 7 of the Holy Rule. St. Benedict now turns to perseverance when obedience becomes difficult. Humility is tested not when circumstances are favorable but when strain, misunderstanding or even unjust treatment appear.

The Benedictine way does not romanticize suffering. Instead it forms a heart capable of remaining steady and faithful without retaliation, collapse or withdrawal. St. Benedict teaches that difficulties and contradictions are often the very places where humility takes root. By bearing hardship patiently and quietly, the heart learns to remain with God rather than being ruled by resentment or the need for vindication. Looking to Christ, who endured contradiction and injustice without abandoning fidelity to the Father, this episode explores how perseverance in ordinary trials forms a deeper freedom and charity.

Benedict of Nursia, The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 7 § 36-38 (RB 1980)

“The fourth degree of humility is that if, in this obedience, one meets with difficulties and injustices,

“Quartus humilitatis gradus est, si in ipsa oboedientia dura et aspera, vel etiam iniuste sibi imposita, aequo animo amplectatur, et in sustinendo non deficiat, neque recedat.”

“More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.”

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 BW19 – The Fourth Degree of Humility – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts 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 St. John 4:5-42

Jesus came to the Samaritan town called Sychar, near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well is there and Jesus, tired by the journey, sat straight down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman 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, ‘What? You are a Jew and you ask me, a Samaritan, for a drink?’ – Jews, in fact, do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus replied:

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 came to the Samaritan town called Sychar, near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well is there and Jesus, tired by the journey, sat straight down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman 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, ‘What? You are a Jew and you ask me, a Samaritan, for a drink?’ – Jews, in fact, do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus replied:

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 came to the Samaritan town called Sychar, near the land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well is there and Jesus, tired by the journey, sat straight down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. When a Samaritan woman 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, ‘What? You are a Jew and you ask me, a Samaritan, for a drink?’ – Jews, in fact, do not associate with Samaritans. Jesus replied:

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 3rd Sunday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

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Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

John 4:13-14

Reflection:

The Samaritan woman came to the well for ordinary water, but she left with something far greater—an encounter with Christ that changed her forever. This Gospel reminds us that all of us thirst—not just physically, but spiritually. We thirst for meaning, for love, for peace, and for healing. Jesus meets us in that thirst and invites us deeper, offering living water—the gift of His presence that alone can satisfy the soul.

Lent is a time of spiritual renewal, a season where we recognize the wells we have drawn from that do not satisfy. It is easy to look for fulfillment in the world, in busyness, distractions, or fleeting pleasures, only to find ourselves empty again. But Christ calls us to something more: to drink deeply from the well of prayer, silence, and communion with Him.

The Desert Fathers saw thirst for God as the heart of prayer. Abba Longinus said:

“Give your heart to prayer, and your soul will be filled with living water.” (Apophthegmata Patrum, Longinus 3)

Just as the Samaritan woman had to let go of her past and receive Christ’s invitation, so too are we called to let go of distractions and make space for God in prayer. Lent is not only about sacrifice but about making room for the One who alone can satisfy our hearts.

The more we drink of this living water—through prayer, contemplation, and surrender—the more we become transformed. St. Augustine recognized this longing when he wrote:

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” (Confessions, 1.1)

Like the Samaritan woman, Christ does not force us to drink—He invites. He waits patiently, offering us something far greater than what we came seeking. Will we let go of lesser things to receive Him fully?

As we reflect today, let us ask: What are the empty wells we keep returning to? Where is Christ calling us to deeper prayer and renewal? How can we allow His living water to transform us?

Reflection Questions:

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are the source of living water. Help me to turn away from the things that do not satisfy and seek You with my whole heart. Teach me to sit with You in silence, to drink deeply from Your presence, and to be transformed by Your love. Renew my spirit this Lent and draw me closer to You, the wellspring of life.

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 19: “Thirsting for God: The Call to Prayer and Renewal” – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.