Heart to Heart: Fr. Jim Willig - Gospel Teachings

In this Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of two sons. One who disobeys his father, but then repents and one who says he will obey but doesn’t. Fr. Jim teaches us that faith is an active verb. Jesus is essentially asking, “Do you mean what you say? If so, change your life. Follow me.” The teaching concludes with the song Give Myself to Mercy by Michael Poirier: www.prayerbreaks.org . Matthew 21:28-3...

With over 4,000 views on YouTube, this is one of Fr. Jim's most popular gospel studies. From Matthew 20:1-16, Jesus tells the parable of the landowner who hires workers for his vineyard throughout the day, but when the time comes to pay them an argument ensues. Those hired in the morning resented being paid the same as those hired later in the day. The landowner reminds them that they agreed...

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...

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...

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 life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I glorified you on e...

Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love. Read the Gospel and Transcript: https://www.heartoheart.org/Transcript/2696/ John 15:9-17 Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain...

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...

If Jesus came back today and told the same parable, what profession do you think he would choose? Listen to hear Fr. Jim's thoughts on the question. Read the transcript: https://www.heartoheart.org/Transcript/2672/ John 10:11-18 Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf...

In this Gospel of deja vu all over again, Jesus asks Peter, "Do you love me?" John 21:1-19 (excerpt) At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee's sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am...

Fr. Jim teaches that Jesus calls his disciples (and therefore us) to love each other as he has loved them.  That is to say, not to like each other or tolerate each other but to truly Love each other. John 13:31-33A, 34-35 When Judas had left them, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and Go...

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/ Fr. Jim's Gospel Studies followed the Catholic Lectionary 3-year cycle. A Vision to Guide Us is the second Gospel Study for Lent in Year B. We are calling th...

Fervent prayer can often lead to unexpected results and a vision of Jesus that we weren't looking for. Are you ready for what the Lord might grant? Read the transcript: https://www.heartoheart.org/Transcript/2529/ John 12:20-23 Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee,  and asked him, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” Philip...

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...

Where does change need to begin? Out there in the world or in here, in your heart and mine? Fr. Jim shares a lesson in personal humility as he unpacks the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple. The full transcript is available here . John 2:13-25 Since the Passover of the Jews was near, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the mone...

Most of us know the story of the Transfiguration. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up to a mountain top and gives them a glimpse of His glory. You can read the full Gospel below. Fr. Jim takes this well known passage and asks us to find our own mission and our own vision to embrace the glory of God in simple and humble ways. Mark 9:2-10 Jesus took Peter, James, and John  and led them up a high mo...

Is Lent a time to give up dessert or a time to enter the desert along with Jesus? Fr. Jim suggests the latter. Listen for his profound insight into the healing struggle of this Lenten time.  The full transcript is available here . Mark 1:12-15 The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert,  and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels minist...