Heart to Heart: Fr. Jim Willig - Gospel Teachings

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...

This Gospel Study addresses the time Peter asked Jesus, “How many times are we called to forgive another?” Jesus surprised Peter and the disciples when he said to forgive 70 times 7 times. Jesus uses the parable of the master who forgave the full debt of one of his servants after showing compassion to his plea. Then this same servant held a friend in contempt for a much smaller debt owed to him. W...

Jesus tells us that we need to stop living by "an eye for an eye" and instead start loving our enemies. As Fr. Jim reminds us, this is much easier said than done, even in our "enlightened" age [emphasis mine]. Matthew 5:38-48 Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who...

from Luke 5:1-11 While the crowd was pressing in on Jesus and listening to the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret. He saw two boats there alongside the lake; the fishermen had disembarked and were washing their nets. Getting into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, he asked him to put out a short distance from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the...

In this Gospel on the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Fr. Jim reminds us that Mary and Joseph went out of their way to bring Jesus to Jerusalem; a journey that was not easy but foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice Jesus would make for us. from Luke 2:22-40 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him...

Fr. Jim explores the baptism story of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke and asks, "Are we ready and willing to totally immerse ourselves in God's love and be of greater service to God and one another?" from Luke 3:15-16, 21-22 The people were filled with expectation, and all were asking in their hearts whether John might be the Christ. John answered them all, saying, “I am baptizing you...

Fr. Jim asks: Will we be the wise men and women taking up the journey to Jesus? Like the Magi, will we take a different path than the world would have us go? from Matthew 2:1-12 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him h...

Fr. Jim Willig reflects on the Visitation of Mary and Elizabeth, highlighting Mary’s faith, obedience, and perseverance during her journey to Elizabeth. Through this reflection, he invites us to recognize the Spirit’s stirring in our own lives and embrace the hope and renewal offered by the Advent season. from Luke 1:39-45 and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,  where she en...

from Luke 3:10-18 The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What should we do?” He said to them in reply, “Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Even tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” He answered them, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” Soldiers also asked him, “And wha...

Fr. Jim teaches that if John the Baptist came today he would not mince words. He would call a sin, a sin and challenge each of us to identify the sin within our lives and urge us to turn away. Click play above to hear Fr. Jim's full Advent message. Luke 3:1-6 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, an...

Our world is increasingly holiday focused, not Holy Day focused. The season of Christmas does not begin for the Church until Christmas Day. Father Jim encourages us to celebrate Advent for what it is, a time of preparation. Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 Jesus said to his disciples: “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of...

Jesus goes before Pilate and says, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If my kingdom did belong to this world, my attendants would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not here." from John 18:33b-37 Pilate said to Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Do you say this on your own or have others told...

In this deeply symbolic gospel addressing the end times, Fr. Jim explains that Mark's message calls for a profound transformation of the entire world as we know it. However, as the gospel reminds us, even Jesus did not know the exact moment of His return. Only the Father holds that knowledge. from Mark 13:24-32 Jesus said to his disciples: "In those days after that tribulation the sun wi...

Today's Gospel Study concludes: "Remember saints are not perfect, they just try harder to do what the Lord asks." As you reflect on the gospel story of the widow who gave all of what she had to the Temple, ask yourself, "How can I try harder to do what the Lord is asking of me?" from Mark 12:38-44 In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds, "Beware of the...

In Fr. Jim's words: "I believe that there is nothing more important for us to hear in our entire life than the Gospel we just heard. Nothing." Listen to the full Gospel Study for the rest of his inspiring message. from Mark 12:28b-34 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O...

"Jesus, son of David, have pity on me...Son of David, have pity on me." This is what Bartimeaus calls out to Jesus. Fr. Jim reminds us that Bartimeaus is one of the most important figures in the Gospel because he recognizes Jesus as the one who saves, even before the disciples do. from Mark 10:46-52 As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind...

James and John ask Jesus to sit at his right and at his left. Little do they know what Jesus will soon go through and who will be on his left and right as he enters his glory. Fr. Jim reminds us that so often we too make long term commitments without knowing the full reality or consequences. from Mark 10:35-45 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we wa...

A rich man comes to Jesus and kneeling before him, asks "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" The rich man asks the right question but doesn't like Jesus' answer. Fr. Jim challenges us: What is God asking us to tithe that is holding us back from Him? from Mark 10:17-30 As Jesus was setting out on a journey, a man ran up, knelt down before him, and asked him, &...

Mark 10:2-16 addresses the difficult topic of marriage, divorce and re-marriage. In Jesus' time, divorce was very different than it is today. A man could divorce his wife for any reason and with no warning. Jesus is tested with this reality and responds that cavalierly ending a marriage is a sin. Listen as Fr. Jim teaches about the history behind this Gospel and the pastoral realities we face...

St. John continues to bring concerns to Jesus, this time about someone performing exorcisms in Jesus' name but without being a true follower. Again Jesus has to remind John of the true mission. from Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 At that time, John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." Jesus repl...

Fr. Jim encourages us to look in the mirror and ask ourselves each day, "How am I feeling today? What do I need today?"  from Mark 9:30-37 Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it.  He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three da...

Fr. Jim teaches that when we know who Jesus is we know who God is, but more than that, we must ask who Jesus is so that we know who we must be. from Mark 8:27-35 Jesus and his disciples set out for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.  Along the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?”  They said in reply, “John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others one of the prophets.”  And he...

In this Gospel where Jesus heals the deaf and mute man, Fr. Jim reminds us that our hearing problems may actually be listening problems.  From Mark 7:31-37 ...And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked u...

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 rejoi...

Just before Jesus ascends to Heaven, he offers this prayer for all of us as recorded in the Gospel of John. from John 17:1-11a When Jesus had said this, he raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal...