Fathom the Heart

In what has become an annual release, we bring you Father David's Homily on the Woman at the Well, the Gospel Reading for the First Scrutiny, on the Third Sunday of Lent. The Readings for this Sunday are: Reading I: Exodus 17:3-7 Responsorial: Psalm 95:1-2; 6-7; 8-9 Reading II: Romans 5:1-2; 5-8 Gospel: St. John 4:5-42 Readings can be found at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030826.cfm...

This is Father David's Homily from February 22, 2026 in which he discusses Plato's concept of the tripartite soul and how this idea can help us understand ourselves, our story, and point us to something deeper in our relationship with God. The Readings for this First Sunday of Lent are: Reading I: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 Responsorial: Psalm: 51:3-4; 5-6; 12-13; 17 Reading II: Romans 5:12-19 Gospel: S...

Ben sits down with recent FTH guest Deacon Nathan Frankart to unpack the St. Mary's 2026 Parish Mission, talking about the vertical and horizontal components of worship and our call to mission! The 3 nights of the Mission can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/@st.marymedia6612/videos We again discuss A Flourishing Apostolic Church , the recent Apostolic Letter from Bishop Edward Malesic of...

We begin the second season of Fathom the Heart with Transitional Deacon (and soon to be Priest!) Nathan Frankart of the Diocese of Cleveland. We explore his earliest memories of the movement of the Holy Spirit and how the Jesus gently and patiently called to his heart. Bishop Malesic's Apostolic Letter can be found at: https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/files/assets/a-flourishing-apostolic-chu...

Revelation 21:4 states that "he will wife away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." From this side of the veil, however, that eventuality can seem so distant. Pain in this life can seem like a constant companion and we are living so immersed in the "former things...

Fr. David's Poetic 2025 Christmas Homily Readings for the Vigil Mass of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) can be found at https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122525-Vigil.cfm Reading I: Isaiah 62:1-5 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29 Reading II: Acts 13:16-17, 22-25 Gospel: Matthew 1:1-25 Edited by Fr. David Chojnacki Music licensed by Fesliyan Studios, Inc.

We are joined by Jen Ricard, Executive Director of TOB CLE (Theology of the Body - Cleveland) as she shares her story of how deep encounter with the Sacred Heart of Jesus brought her from reluctant Catechist, unsure if she was even at home in the Catholic Church, to passionate evangelist of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as communicated through the rich teaching of Pope St. John Paul II. Edited by Jos...

Rembering that we sometimes release these episodes out of order, be advised that this is the last episode we recorded (months ago) before connecting with Josh Metzger, who has been our editor ever since. As such, the editing and production value are of a lesser quality than they became once he joined the team. We still wanted to share this episode with you, but it has served as a reminder of how v...

When we ask God why and He gives no answer, He is not absent, but present, asking to stretch and deepen our hearts. This is Fr. David's homily from October 19, 2025, the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings for this Sunday are as follows: Reading 1: Exodus 17:8-13 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 121: 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 Reading 2: 2 Timothy 3:14-4:2 Gospel: Luke 18:1-8 Readings can be f...

In this out-of-order publication of a prequel to the recently released story of the hunt, Ben and Fr. David dig into the topic of hunting before Father actually had a chance to get out in the deer woods. Their conversation touches on the realities of mentorship, community and the essential questions of the masculine heart! Edited by Josh Metzger and Ben Kroger Music licensed by Fesliyan Studios, I...

Tomorrow is Opening Day for Ohio Deer Archery Season and we are bringing you the story of Father David's first successful whitetail hunt, during the 2024-25 season. We discuss the joy of meeting the Lord in His creation and testing ourselves against a creature that has all the biological advantages. If you're headed into the woods this fall, happy hunting and prayers for a safe, successful...

Father David's homily on September 14, 2025, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Readings: Reading 1: Numbers 21:4b-9 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 78:1bc-2, 34-35, 36-37, 38 Reading 2: Philippians 2:6-11 Gospel: John 3:13-17 Readings can be found at https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/091425.cfm Editing by Ben Kroger Music licensed by Fesliyan Studios, Inc

In chapter 5 of the Gospel according to St. John, Jesus asks a man who has been ill for 38 years "Do you want to be healed?" Jesus continues to ask us if we want to be healed, and it's a serious question. We are often attached to our wounds and comfortable in our indignation at those who inflicted them, but Jesus offers another path. In this episode, Fr. David and Ben begin to unpack the healing i...

Fathom the Heart welcomes dear friend and FOCUS missionary Sydney Ebin on to share her story of falling crazy in love with Jesus, and encountering the reality that He is crazy in love with us! If you want to support Sydney in her mission, please reach out to her at Sydney.ebin@focus.org. Editing by Josh Metzger and Ben Kroger Music Licensed by Fesliyan Studios, Inc.

Fr. David's homily from the 21st Sunday in Ordinary time on how we enter into trials and suffering. The Readings for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time are: Reading I: Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 16-17, 20-21 Reading II: Ephesians: 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32 John: 6:60-69 Readings can be found at: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082221.cfm Edited by: Fr. David...

Again, please note: sometimes we release these episodes in a different order from that in which we record them. This episode makes reference to several slightly dated elements. We here dig even further into the invitation to let Holy Spirit shape our interactions, beginning with prayer and moving through listening and discernment. We hope to continue to learn and grow as we explore the true meanin...

Please note: sometimes we release these episodes in a different order from that in which we record them. This episode makes reference to several slightly dated elements, not the least of which being that when we recorded it Francis was still Pope. While we intercede for the repose of his soul and welcome the Pontificate of Leo XIV with great joy, we also hope to continue to learn and grow as we ex...

As promised and with great joy, we present Father James Parisi telling the story of his Ordination to Christ's own Priesthood on May 17, 2025! Ben and Father David invite Father James to reflect on the liturgical experience, the reality of sacrifice and ontological change, and the invitation of Jesus to become a good shepherd in the Good Shepherd. Link to Father David's Holy Thursday Homil...

Father James Parisi is back to share the rest of his Vocation story! After leaving us with a cliffhanger about a possible military element to the next chapter of his discernment process, Father James takes on a journey into his very heart, sharing the origin of a motto that shaped the balance of his time in the Seminary and will continue to shape his Priestly ministry.

Before he was Ordained in May of 2025, Father James Parisi was Fathom the Heart's first guest, during his year of Transitional Diaconate. This episode was released out of sequence with its recording date so that we could capture the rest of his story and bring to you in order, released over the next several weeks. In this episode Father James shares the story of his decision to enter Diocesan Semi...

Some of this will sound familiar if you listened to our Habemus Papam episode! Father David reflects on the excitement of hearing that we have a new Pope, but also the hope that we have for continued healing and reconciliation in the Body of Christ as we grow in openness to the movement of the Holy Spirit and surrender even in times of uncertainty. Readings for this Sunday were: Reading I: Acts 12...

Fathom the Heart is joined by our dear friend Mikayla Metzger, who is a convert to Catholicism and Campus Minister in Wooster, Ohio. She shares from her heart, her experience and her extensive study of the beauty and brokenness present in the intersection of masculinity and femininity. Father David mentions the Second Reading in the Office from Mary Magdalene's Feast Day, which is reproduced here:...

Habemus Papam! We have a Pope! Ben and Father David greet the election of Pope Leo XIV with great joy and gratitude. This episode is not meant to be any kind of reporting on our new Papa, rather it is a reflection on his election, the uneasiness of the interregnum period, our longing to be fathered and the choice to hope even when we face uncertainty. We have a Pope! Pray with us for Pope Leo XIV!...

This is the recording of just the Divine Mercy Chaplet as extracted from episode 15. Please come back to it anytime to pray it with us!

10 years ago Ben's Dad passed away on Divine Mercy Sunday of 2015. Ben reminisces here about the profound consolation of praying the Chaplet with family members as they entered the final hours of his Dad's earthly life, and the expression of Christ's unfathomable Mercy as it was spoken over and into places of deep wounding. Edited by Benjamin Kroger Music licensed by Fesliyan Studios Inc.