The Discerning Hearts Blog Archives - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

“And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Wonder is the interior awakening that happens when the heart recognizes God’s nearness. It is not dramatic, not emotional intensity, and not the pursuit of supernatural experience. Wonder is the soul’s quiet realization that grace is already at work, often before we understand it. It is the moment when something within us becomes alert to God’s presence in a way that humbles, steadies, and draws us into deeper reverence.

True wonder begins with listening. When the heart is attentive, it becomes capable of perceiving what God is doing beneath the surface of ordinary life. Wonder can arise through a greeting or a small kindness, but it just as often awakens in silence, in the beauty of creation, in the stillness of early morning, or in the way something simple suddenly draws the soul upward. A tree covered in frost, the quiet shape of clouds, candlelight in a dark chapel, the peaceful rhythm of breathing — these, too, can become places where grace stirs and the heart senses more than what appears. Wonder is the recognition that God is acting in ways we did not expect, often in hidden, gentle, and expansive movements.

As Advent nears its fulfillment, wonder prepares the soul to meet Christ with reverence. It slows the heart, opens the interior space where God can be received, and teaches us to expect His presence in small and simple ways. Wonder is not about understanding; it is about awareness. It disposes the heart to say, “God is here,” even before we fully grasp how.

“And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

St. Elizabeth offers a lived example of wonder rooted in humility and attentiveness. When Mary arrived at her home, Elizabeth’s response flowed from a heart formed in prayer and interior listening. She heard Mary’s greeting with her ears, but with her heart she perceived the presence Mary carried. Her recognition was immediate and Spirit-filled: “And why is this granted to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

St. Elizabeth did not need explanation or proof. She received the moment with humility and joy because her heart was already attuned to God. Her wonder was not passive; it was a dynamic response to grace. She allowed the Holy Spirit to illuminate what her senses could not yet see and responded with gratitude rather than fear or confusion.

St. Elizabeth teaches us that wonder grows in hearts that are receptive, unhurried, and willing to let God surprise them. She shows that the one who listens deeply will also recognize Christ when He approaches.

Where might God be approaching you quietly today? What ordinary moment could carry His presence? Wonder grows when we slow down enough to notice the movements of grace hidden in our day. Ask for the grace to recognize Christ in the small, the simple, and the unexpected.

Ask yourself:

Let the Lord awaken in you the same interior attentiveness that filled Elizabeth with joy.

Choose one ordinary encounter today, a greeting, a conversation, or a moment of quiet, and ask:

Lord Jesus, give me the listening heart of Elizabeth. Awaken in me a spirit of wonder that recognizes Your hidden approach. Open my ears to hear Your voice, my heart to perceive Your presence, and my soul to rejoice when You draw near. Fill me with humility and gratitude, and teach me to welcome You with the same joy that filled Elizabeth’s home.

Citations for Day 23

Luke 1.41 RSV

© Discerning Hearts. All rights reserved.

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In this final Sunday of Advent reflection, Msgr. John Esseff and Kris McGregor turn to the mystery of the Incarnation through the Gospel of Matthew and the prophecies of Isaiah. The episode traces God’s faithful promise to send a Savior, moving from the darkness that followed the fall of Adam and Eve through the long hope of Israel and into the quiet obedience of Joseph and the fiat of Mary.

Msgr. Esseff reflects on Mary as the faithful woman prepared from all ages to receive the Word made flesh. Through her obedience, God enters human history in a new and intimate way. The Incarnation is presented not only as an event in the past, but as a living reality that continues through those united to Christ. Drawing from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, Msgr. Esseff speaks about incorporation into Christ through baptism and the call to live as Christ in the world today.

The reflection moves from Scripture into daily life. Listeners are invited to examine how Christ desires to radiate through relationships, family life, parish communities, work, and moments of suffering. Msgr. Esseff speaks tenderly to those who are ill, grieving, anxious, or isolated, affirming that suffering united to Christ carries deep meaning and hope.

The episode closes with a call to joy, patience, and interior awareness. Christ has come. Christ dwells within. Christmas becomes not only a celebration of Bethlehem, but a rediscovery of identity and mission as Christ’s presence in the world.

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 around the world.  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 Pope St. 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 and sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders around the world.  

The post The 4th Sunday of Advent – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Dr. Anthony Lilles, focusing on Pope Benedict XVI’s writings,  discusses how illness, physically or emotionally, during Advent can be a unique spiritual opportunity. He emphasizes that suffering and difficulty can be a form of divine visitation, offering a chance for personal growth and deeper connection with God.

Dr. Lilles encourages listeners to view every life event, including hardships, as an expression of God’s love. He suggests maintaining an ‘inner diary’ of daily positives as a way to acknowledge God’s presence in all situations. The discussion also covers practical spiritual practices for the Advent season, especially for those facing physical or emotional challenges. Dr. Lilles highlights the importance of ‘offering up’ one’s suffering, transforming it into a meaningful spiritual journey.

This podcast offers a compassionate perspective on finding spiritual richness and hope in the midst of illness, aligning with the reflective nature of Advent.

The post Finding Joy and Hope in Challenging Times – Advent Reflections with Dr. Anthony Lilles – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

O Morning Star,

splendour of light eternal and sun of righteousness:

Come and enlighten those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your everyday life.

“Seeking Truth” is an in-depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net

The post O Oriens – The O Antiphons Reflections with Sharon Doran – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

O Radiant Dawn,[1] Splendor of Eternal Light,[2] Sun of Justice;[3] Come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.[4]

The Lord here is invoked as the Light of the World[5] coming as the real sol invictus at the end of time calling us out of darkness into his own wonderful light.  The gloom of mid-winter can be seen as the hopelessness of ancient paganism or our own contemporary angst from which we desperately need deliverance.

[1] Zech. 6:12

[2] Heb. 1:3

[3] Mal. 4:2

[4] Luke 1:78

[5] John 8:12

The O Antiphon reflections are from Musings: Liturgical and Charismatic authored by Fr. Giles Dimock, O.P. and published by Discerning Hearts®

You can find the book here

The post O Oriens – The O Antiphon Reflections from Fr. Giles Dimock, O.P. – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Day 21:  Trusting with Christ’s Heart

However difficult or however insignificant our life may seem to be, it is precious to God as Christ is precious to God. On each one in whom Christ lives, the whole of the infinite love of God is concentrated at every moment.

If this were realized there could be no one who could not fulfill the first condition of rest, which is trust.

If it were not for Christ in us, we should not be able to trust; we are too weak; we could not believe in God’s goodness if we had only ourselves to believe with, neither could we love one another if we had only ourselves to love with. We can trust God with Christ’s trust in the Father; that is the trust which is our rest.

Commentary:  Caryll Houselander reassures us that each of our lives, no matter how small or difficult they may seem, holds immense value to God because Christ lives within us. God’s infinite love and attention are concentrated on each person in whom Christ dwells. This divine presence grants us the ability to trust in ways that surpass our own limited capacities. Left to our own strength, faith and love may feel impossible, but with Christ alive in us, we can trust with His own unwavering confidence in the Father. For Catholics, this reflects the strength of union with Christ, especially in moments of prayer and sacramental grace, where we are drawn into the mystery of divine trust and rest.

Personal Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you struggle to trust. How might seeing yourself as a dwelling place of Christ help you lean on His strength rather than your own? Today, ask Christ to fill you with His trust in the Father.

Caryll Houselander The Passion of the Infant Christ, Sheed & Ward, 1949

Image © Trinity Icons / Joseph M. Malham

The post Day 21: Trusting with Christ’s Heart – From the writings of Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

O Lord, infant Jesus, give us Your peace! You are the Prince of Peace and the ultimate fulfillment of your incarnation brings us to you in heaven where peace will come to perfection. We pray for peace this Christmas.

Divine Infant,

Show us also Your goodness and almighty power.

Jesus, most powerful Child,

Divine Child, great omnipotent God,

The post A Christmas Novena – Day 6 – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

“His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear Him.”

Mercy is the tenderness of God meeting the truth of who we are. It is not simply forgiveness, though it includes that. Mercy is God’s way of loving human weakness without hesitation. It is His readiness to stoop down, lift up, heal, restore, and draw us close.

Mercy flows from God’s heart because mercy is who God is. It is the love that sees our poverty and does not turn away. It is the compassion that enters our wounds with patience. It is the kindness that meets us where we are and leads us gently to where we are meant to be.

Mercy is also relational. It is the movement of God’s heart toward us and the movement of our heart toward others. A listening heart receives mercy and then becomes merciful. The more deeply we allow Christ to meet us in our weakness, the more naturally we become vessels of His mercy in the world.

Mercy does not excuse sin. It transforms the sinner. It returns dignity, restores hope, and rekindles love.

Advent invites the heart to welcome Christ as the face of the Father’s mercy, the One who comes not to condemn but to save, lift, heal, and renew.

“The greater the misery of a soul, the greater its right to My mercy.”

Faustina was entrusted with a profound revelation of Christ’s merciful heart.

She understood mercy not as an abstract idea but as a living encounter with the God who longs for us. For Faustina, mercy is the place where God’s love meets our human limits.

She teaches that we do not have to be worthy of mercy. We only have to open our hearts to receive it.

Christ does not recoil from our sin or weakness. He draws nearer.

Faustina reminds us that the one who has tasted mercy must become merciful. The heart that knows mercy becomes capable of patience, forgiveness, and compassion.

Today invites you to let Christ meet you exactly where you are. Not where you think you should be. Not where you pretend to be. Where you truly are.

Mercy is God bending toward your need with love. Let Him come close. Open the places of failure, discouragement, or regret. Let Him touch the wounds that still ache.

Mercy does not shame the heart. Mercy restores it.

And as you receive this mercy, ask the Lord: Who needs mercy from me today? Where can I reflect the patience, gentleness, or forgiveness that God has shown to me? A heart that receives mercy becomes a heart that gives mercy.

Choose one person today who stirs irritation, frustration, or judgment in you.

Offer them a silent act of mercy:

Let it be your offering to the One who has been merciful to you.

Jesus, full of mercy,

Citations for Day 22

Luke 1.50 RSV

© Discerning Hearts. All rights reserved.

The post Day 22 – Mercy – An Advent Journey for the Discerning Heart – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel;

you open and no one can shut;

you shut and no one can open:

Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house,

those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your everyday life.

“Seeking Truth” is an in-depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net

The post O Clavis David – The O Antiphons Reflections with Sharon Doran – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel, controlling at your will the gate of heaven,[1] Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,[2] and lead your captive people into freedom

The Lord Jesus is invoked here as the Key of David,[3] the one who can open the gate into the kingdom because he is the gate.[4]  He knocks at the door of our hearts[5] leading us out of the darkness of sin into the true freedom of the children of God, which is freedom from sin and the resulting joy and delight.

[1] Is. 22:22

[2] Luke 1:79

[3] Rev. 3:7

[4] cf. John 10:7

[5] Rev. 3:19

The O Antiphon reflections are from Musings: Liturgical and Charismatic authored by Fr. Giles Dimock, O.P. and published by Discerning Hearts®

You can find the book here

The post O Clavis David – The O Antiphon Reflections from Fr. Giles Dimock, O.P. – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.