Heart to Heart: Fr. Jim Willig - Gospel Teachings

A Gospel Study for the first week of Advent. Prepare! Christ is coming! from Matthew 24:27-44 Jesus said to his disciples: "As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. In those days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark. They did not know until the flood came and carried them...

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...

This gospel passage gives a dire warning about what is to come, but Jesus ends with a message of hope. Listen in as Fr. Jim adds his own learned commentary. from Luke 21:5-19 While some people were speaking about how the temple was adorned with costly stones and votive offerings, Jesus said, "All that you see here-- the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone tha...

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!  H...

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,...

With one of his more dramatic readings on the podcast, Fr. Michael proclaims this story that most of us know by heart and that Fr. Jim calls "probably the greatest short story of all time."  From Luke 15:1-32 ...Then he said, “A man had two sons, and the younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property be...

Fr. Jim muses that in the animal world, the sheep are not the most wise of creatures and so for us to be compared to the sheep is not a great compliment. The sheep are often weak and foolish, a comparison that we must admit often fits us as well. Listen for Fr. Jim's redeeming lesson on our role as God's flock with Jesus as our shepherd. From John 10:27-30 Jesus said: “My sheep hear my v...

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...

Fr. Jim reflects on the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ with dramatic Gospel reading by Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ. John 20:1-9 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lo...

Fr. Jim reflects on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ with dramatic Gospel reading by Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ. Read the full Gospel: https://www.heartoheart.org/fr-jim/gospel-studies/cycle-c/gospel-study-jesus-passion-luke-2214-2356/ Gospel Study: Fr. Jim Willig Gospel Narration: Fr. J Michael Sparough, SJ Narration: Lili Fuller  Narration Producers: Lili Fuller and Joe Sofranko Primary Music:...

Jesus looks into our hearts and into our souls. He heals that which we might not even know is hurt. John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38 As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva, and smeared the clay on his eyes, and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” — which means Sent —. So he went and washed, and came back able to see. His neighbors...

Fr. Jim teaches on the living water of Christ based on this passage from the Gospel of John. Further, he extolls us to recognize God's gift. John 4:5-15, 19B-26, 39A, 40-42 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 wom...

How would you react to a beatific vision of our Lord? Imagine Peter, James and John overwhelmed with the change of their friend and teacher who became the glory of God in their midst. 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 h...

Luke 4:1-13 Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days, to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, One does not live on bread alone .” Then he t...

How can we invest in ourselves and make a spiritual deposit for eternal life? Listen to what Fr. Jim has to say about using our time, talent and treasure for the glory of God. 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 s...

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...

Fr. Jim reminds us that we are like Peter and seeking fulfillment from the world and our pastimes but that our only fulfillment will come from the Lord, who fills us in His own time. 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 washi...

Fr. Jim tells us that listening is the greatest way of loving. He could not have predicted the current crisis in the world, but he does give us a recipe for working through the day to day conflicts that arise in our lives. Luke 4:21-30 Jesus began speaking in the synagogue, saying: “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the graci...

Fr. Jim calls us on us to reflect on any scripture passage and seek out the work that God is calling each of us to do. Jesus revealed His mission statement to his friends and family. What mission is God calling us to? Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word ha...

Fr. Jim unpacks the miracle at the Wedding feast in Cana and draws a parallel between the abundance of wine that Jesus creates and abundance of grace that God showers down upon all of us out of pure, unconditional love. John 2:1-11 There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother...