Heart to Heart: Fr. Jim Willig - Gospel Teachings

Pentecost. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles to enliven them and send them out to proclaim Christ crucified and raised. Pray today to receive that same spirit and spread the Good News, the Gospel of Jesus. from John 20:19-23 ...Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoic...

Fr. Jim reflects on Jesus’ priestly prayer in John’s Gospel, revealing how Jesus prayed with deep intimacy to the Father and great love for His disciples. He reminds us that true prayer is not rote words, but a heartfelt relationship with God and loving concern for those entrusted to our care. John 17:1-11a When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come...

John 14:15-21 Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. In a little whi...

Fr. Jim wants us to notice the importance of the opening line in today's Gospel passage. "Do not let your hearts be troubled." Or put another way Jesus says, "Do not be afraid" that I will be leaving because I will return to you. Excerpt from John 14:1-12 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my F...

A Gospel Study on Doubting Thomas by Fr. Jim Willig that combines stories of doubt with stories of love and hope. from John 20:19-31 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disc...

His friends believe him dead. Jesus challenges their faith and performs one of His greatest miracles in raising Lazarus from the dead. John 11:3-7, 17, 20-27, 33B-45 The sisters of Lazarus sent word to Jesus, saying, "Master, the one you love is ill." When Jesus heard this he said, "This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorifie...

from Matthew 17:-1-9 Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents...

Jesus came to fulfill the Law. Listen as Fr. Jim teaches what that really means. from Matthew 5:17-37 Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have ta...

from Matthew 5:13-16 Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. Read the full scripture passage: bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020826.cfm Heart to Heart Catholic Media Ministry Evangelize Seekers. Inspire B...

from Matthew 5:1-12a When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain, and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.  He began to teach them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, fo...

In this previously unreleased Gospel Teaching by Fr. Jim Willig, Fr. Jim examines the call of the first Apostles by Jesus and invites us to consider our own call to follow the Lord. from Matthew 4:12-23 When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. He left Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali, that what had been said throu...

Even John didn't know that Jesus was the Messiah until the Spirit of God revealed the truth to him. How can we learn from John the Baptist to recognize Christ? John 1:29-34 John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before...

With a dramatic reading by Fr. Michael of those who mocked Jesus' on the cross, Fr. Jim focuses on the thief hanging to Jesus' right side; the thief who recognized his own sinfulness and need for repentance. from Luke 23:35-43 ...Now one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus, saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us." The other, however, rebuking him, said i...

When will Jesus return? The disciples didn't know 2,000 years ago and we don't know today, but the message is the same: Believe in me. Tell others about me. Wait for me, patiently and with perseverance. Listen as Fr. Jim expounds. from Luke 21:5-19 "Before all this happens, however, they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they...

Which life is your priority? This one or the next? from Luke 20:27-38 Jesus said to them, "The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise....

Zaccaeus went out on a limb for Jesus. Would we? from Luke 19:1-10 At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see J...

from Luke 18:9-14 Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. "Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, 'O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity -- greedy, dishonest, adultero...

What does it mean to pray always? Does it mean to pray without ceasing? As Fr. Jim notes, St. Luke is giving us a little hint. The goal isn't to pray without end, but to be consistent and to persevere in prayer, regardless of the outcome. from Luke 18:1-8 ...The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says. Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out...

What are you thankful for? Imagine you wake up tomorrow and all you have left are the things you were thankful for today. Now what are you thankful for? from Luke 17:11-19 As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master!  Hav...

Fr. Jim asks: "If you could ask God for one gift or blessing, what would it be?" The apostles said, "Increase our faith." and Jesus compares their faith to a tiny mustard seed and the power even that tiny bit would bring. Can we even wrap our heads around the enormity of God and the true gift of faith? from Luke 17:5-10 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith.&q...

Lazarus, a poor sick man covered in sores is ignored by the rich man living near him. They both die. Who gets the royal treatment in heaven? Listen to Fr. Jim's gospel teaching to find out. from Luke 16:19-31 Jesus said to the Pharisees: "There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus,...

from Luke 16:1-13 Jesus said to his disciples, "A rich man had a steward who was reported to him for squandering his property. He summoned him and said, 'What is this I hear about you? Prepare a full account of your stewardship, because you can no longer be my steward.' The steward said to himself, 'What shall I do, now that my master is taking the position of steward away from...

Fr. Jim teaches on the living water of Christ based on this passage from the Gospel of John extolling us to recognize God's gift. from John 4:5-42 Jesus came to a town of Samaria called Sychar,  near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. A woman of Samaria came to draw...

from Luke 9:28B-36 Jesus took Peter, John, and James  and went up the mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance  and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah,  who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus  that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep,  but bec...

How often in our lives do we have a powerful spiritual moment only to be faced with a similarly profound challenge or struggle? Listen today as Fr. Jim teaches about the challenge in the desert Jesus faced right after being baptized "and the holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.'&...