Heart to Heart: Fr. Jim Willig - Gospel Teachings

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?" 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? 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 homage...

In this Nativity story Gospel Study, enjoy a dramatic proclamation of the Gospel by Fr. Michael Sparough, SJ followed by Fr. Jim's teaching. Luke 2:1-14 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment,  when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from...

Fr. Jim explores Mary's visitation to Elizabeth and the stirring of the Spirit within her. He also reflects on Mary's visit to St. Juan Diego and the miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe and how Mary continues to bring us to her Son. Luke 1:39-45 Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah,  where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When El...

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 what i...

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,...

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...

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." 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 you...

In this highly figurative gospel about the end times, Fr. Jim teaches that Mark's message to us is one of change to the whole world as we know it but as the gospel says, even Jesus did not know the hour when he would return. Only the Father knows. Listen below to Fr. Jim's full message or read the full transcript below the video. Read the transcript Mark 13:24-32 Jesus said to his discip...

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?" Read the full transcript: https://www.heartoheart.org/fr-jim/gospel-studies/cycle-b/gospel-stud...

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. Mark 12:28B-38 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 Isra...

"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. Mark 10:46-52 As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man,...

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. Mark 10:35-45 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, "Teacher, we want yo...

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? 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. 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 replied,...

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 days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”  But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him. They came t...

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. 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 aske...

In this Gospel where Jesus heals the deaf and mute man, Fr. Jim reminds us that our hearing problems may actually be listening problems. Listen to Fr. Jim's inspiring message for more insight. 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 ma...

Surround yourself with wisdom. In this Gospel parable, Jesus tells the story of the 5 wise bridesmaids and 5 foolish ones. The wise, who were prepared, got into the feast, while the foolish ones did not because they were not ready when the bridegroom arrived. Fr. Jim challenges us to live as the wise bridesmaids did by living for the Lord and anticipating our Heavenly feast. from Matthew 25:1-13 J...

Fr. Jim preaches on the Beatitudes from Matthew's gospel. Matthew 5:1-12 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. Bles...

In this Gospel Study Fr. Jim explores the two commandments that Jesus says are the greatest: Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as your self. Throughout this important Gospel Study Fr. Jim challenges our notion and commitment to loving as God does. Further, he asks us: Are we ready to decide each day to do what is loving? from Matthew 22:34-40 When the...

Once again Jesus is put to the test, but again he turns the test around on His interlocutors and exposes their hypocrisy and true selves. Listen and learn as Fr. Jim provides the historical context for this test and the deeper meaning behind Jesus' command to "Give to God What is God's" Matthew 22:15-21 The Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap Jesus in speech. T...

In this Gospel parable, some who are invited to the feast reject the king's invitation and some who accept are deemed unworthy, but among them are a few who make the cut. Which group do you fall in? Listen to Fr. Jim's teaching and learn how to be among the chosen at God's Heavenly feast. Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus again in reply spoke to the chief priests and elders of the people in par...

In the Gospel from Matthew 21:33-43, Jesus tells the parable of the wicked tenants who kill all of the servants and the son of the vineyard owner, hoping to steal his inheritance. In his Gospel Study, Fr. Jim reminds us of the need to respect life as life; as the gift from God it truly is. Matthew 21:33-43 Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable. Th...