Deep in Christ

As the Church reminds us, prayer is not merely a means to get us *into* relationship with God; prayer *is* our relationship with God.  JonMarc Grodi discusses how to better understand prayer as a journey of going deeper in our relationship with the Lord, and how becoming disciplined in prayer can help to grow that relationship over time. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Commu...

Temptations surround us at every turn; being tempted is an unavoidable reality. But how do we resist those temptations so as not to fall into sin? JonMarc Grodi reflects on the nature of temptation and sin, and shares some thoughts from the wisdom of the Church on how to resist temptations when they arise. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwor...

It's one of the most recognizable gestures in any religion; but why do Catholics make the Sign of the Cross, and what is the significance of it? JonMarc Grodi reflects on what it means to invoke God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and how we can be more intentional about the way we participate in this simple but powerful prayer. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: htt...

On this episode of Deep in Christ, JonMarc Grodi discusses the nature of prayer as our relationship with God and some of the potential pitfalls we face in the journey of prayer. What are we doing when we pray? Are we trying to control an outcome, or manipulate supernatural realities? Or is there something deeper that God is calling us to when He invites us to a life of prayer? More episodes: https...

The stories of the saints are powerful. But some of them are also strange; because they are from different times and places and circumstances than us, it can be hard sometimes to know which parts of their stories to apply to our own lives. JonMarc Grodi reflects on how the real power in the stories of the saints comes from their love of Christ, and their desire to grow in virtue and in service of...

In a world saturated with information and data, how do we know what we are supposed to know? In this episode of Deep in Christ, JonMarc Grodi explores the relationship between data and truth, and digs into the question of what it means to be a human being in a culture saturated with information. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://www.community.chnetwork.org S...

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi reflects on the concept of Christian retreats and what place they have in our busy lives. We are commanded by God to set aside our work each week and to make the sabbath day holy, and it is this sabbath day that helps us to understand and continually put the rest of our active lives in proper perspective. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Communi...

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue their discussion on the connection between the life of virtue and Christian Unity. They dig into the virtue of Justice, which is the habit of soul by which we turn to and embrace the fundamental reality of personhood and relationship. More episodes: https://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://www.community.chnetwork.org Supp...

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue their discussion on the virtues and Christian unity. They turn to the first of the four Cardinal Virtues — Prudence — and discuss the fundamental conversion towards truth that is the prerequisite for accepting the truth of the Gospel. By practicing Prudence and Humility, Christians make themselves open to grace and to the unity for which C...

JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue their series on Christian unity by looking at some of the root causes of our divisions. When Jesus prayed for unity among his followers, he was clearly seeing the divisions that would arise among them. JonMarc and Kenny look at how the Catholic Church thinks about these divisions, and how sin, doctrinal conflicts, and generations of separation can make the...

On this episode of Deep in Christ, JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard kick off a series on unity amongst Christians. They discuss Christ’s prayer for the unity of his followers and how the Church has understood and characterized this unity. They look ahead to the trajectory of this discussion which will be individual conversion to Christ and growth in virtue as the building block of the unity for wh...

If we're constantly overindulging ourselves, how can we understand what it means to feast? In this episode, JonMarc Grodi looks at the concepts of feasting and fasting in the life of faith, why the Church calls us to deny ourselves in a special way during the season of Lent, and how our fasting is not meant to merely be an exercise in self-denial, but rather be intimately connected with the larger...

In this episode, JonMarc Grodi reflects on the Christian practice of the Examination of Conscience and how it is an opportunity both to recognize and repent of our sins, but also to better understand our patterns of thoughts, actions and reactions so that we can avoid sin in the future. He also reflects on how the act of the Examination should itself be a practice of virtues to combat our vices —...

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi discusses the role of “memory” in our walk with Christ. He looks at how the practice of an examination of conscience, as well as reflection on the good things the Lord has done, helps us draw near to the Lord through our life experiences, both positive and negative. More episodes: http://www.deepinchrist.com Our Online Community: https://community.chnetwork.org Suppo...

What is the purpose of Deep in Christ? At the Coming Home Network, we're often known as an apostolate that walks alongside people as they explore what it might mean for them to enter the Catholic Church. But it should never end there! JonMarc Grodi discusses how unpacking the Cardinal and Theological Virtues are part of a lifelong Christian journey, and how he hopes to explore those themes over th...

In this special Holy Week episode, JonMarc Grodi is joined by fellow CHNetwork staff members Ken Hensley and Matt Swaim to discuss their experiences of Lent, Palm Sunday, and the Triduum as converts to the Catholic Faith. Ken and Matt share how they each observed the time leading to Easter in their Protestant traditions, and what they've come to appreciate most about the way the Catholic Church in...

JonMarc Grodi continues to discuss the Catholic perspective on the mystery of suffering with CHNetwork team member Denise Bossert. Denise looks at how our woundedness and sinfulness impacts our suffering, and how God wants His best for us, even when we don't understand what that means, or how to receive it. Because Christ has taken on our sin and our suffering, we can enter into that mystery with...

JonMarc Grodi continues to discuss the Catholic perspective on the mystery of suffering with CHNetwork team member Denise Bossert. Denise reflects on some of the ways she began to understand suffering, not just as an isolated experience within her own personal journey of faith, but as a way to better enter into what it means to be a member of the Body of Christ. This reflection helped to make sens...

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi introduces a special guest and new member of the CHNetwork team: Denise Bossert. A former pastor’s kid and pastor’s wife, Denise shares how difficult experiences of suffering, especially that of her father, caused her to question her theology and ultimately look to the Catholic Church for a deeper understanding of the mystery of redemptive suffering. For more episode...

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi shares some brief thoughts on Lent and the traditional penitential practice of fasting. Following Christ’s exhortations in Mathew chapter 6, we must fast in the right spirit (unlike the “hypocrites”) in order to receive the treasure of greater intimacy with our Heavenly Father. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com .

JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard conclude their discussion of the cruciform shape of discipleship, focusing finally on the mystery of suffering. All suffering is the result of original and actual sin, but we have two fundamental ways to respond to the suffering of life. Will we flee the cross or follow Christ? For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com .

JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue their discussion of cross-shaped discipleship with an exploration of the cross that is temptation. They reflect on the sources of temptation (the world, flesh, and the devil) and the shapes those temptations take — fears and desires — as a consequence of original sin, and how Christ Himself experienced temptation and conquered it. For more episodes, visit...

JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue the discussion of cross-shaped discipleship, this time widening the scope to include the array of human relationships we live in. They discuss the call of the Christian to not only defer vengeance to God, but to go outside of themselves to forgive, reconcile, and do good to their “enemies” in imitation of Christ. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.com .

JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue to explore the concept of “Cruciform Discipleship,” this time digging further into family life and parenting. They look specifically at the role of the Holy Family — Mary, Joseph, and Jesus — in reversing the fall of our first parents. The Holy Family models for us what it means to follow Jesus as parents, and what it means to help our children to be prepa...

JonMarc Grodi and Kenny Burchard continue their discussion of the cruciform shape of discipleship, this time focusing on marriage and how husbands and wives are called to image the relationship between Christ and His Church. Like our savior, spouses are called to enter each others’ suffering and brokenness with love, and help to bring healing and redemption. For more episodes, visit deepinchrist.c...