Heart to Heart, A Catholic Media Ministry
“Go into all the world and proclaim the
Good News to all creation.” Mark 16:15
Given at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House during a Day of Prayer focused on making decisions through discernment, Fr. Michael contrasts the unifying nature of God with the divisive nature of sin. Mark 3:22-30 The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “By the prince of demons he…
Jesus shows in the Gospel that the Law and human compassion are not always in sync with each other. Weaving this story into our modern times, Fr. Michael preaches that even though abortion is legal and giving basic human aid to illegal immigrants illegal, as Christians we must speak truth to power when our faith…
God called to Samuel in the night and after three times, Samuel said, “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.” Fr. Michael urges us to seek the grace to listen for God’s call. Mark 1:29-39 On leaving the synagogue Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with…
Jesus did miraculous things; signs that his power was from God and greater than our own. Fear and worry are not from God but in the midst of storms, famine or sickness it is all too easy to get lost in our worries and fears. Fr. Michael reminds us that God’s love for us is…
Joseph’s mind was made up but then an angel came to him in a dream and the course of his life and ours changed forever. Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child…
Fr. Michael reminds us that Jesus wants to share our burdens but only if we humbly seek his help and hitch our yoke to him. Matthew 11:28-30 Jesus said to the crowds: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn…
Advent is a time of preparation and purgation. We must purge those things from our lives that are distractions and impediments to our relationship with Christ. As this first week of Advent concludes, Fr. Michael offers some real world examples to help prepare our hearts to receive the love of Jesus. Matthew 15:29-37 At that…
The parable of the talents is not new to us. A nobleman gives 10 coins to his servants and then expects them to invest them in his absence. When he returns he holds them accountable…How are we accountable to God? What return are we making for God’s investment in us? Bonus homily details: Given last…
We usually think of fire as destructive, and indeed Fr. Michael begins his homily with a story of fiery destruction. But God’s fiery love is something else; it doesn’t consume but transforms and nourishes, if we choose to accept it. But if we reject God, then that same fiery love will consume and torment us.…
Given this past week at Bellarmine Jesuit Retreat House during a day retreat on caring for our planet, Fr. Michael calls us to a new level of conversion and environmental awareness. Luke 17:1-6 Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the one through whom they occur. It…