Discerning Hearts - Catholic Podcasts

O Clavis David O Key of David and scepter of the House of Israel; you open and no one can shut; you shut and no one can open: Come and lead the prisoners from the prison house, those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death. Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your everyday life. “Seeking Truth” is an in-depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net The post O Clavis David – The O Antiphons Reflections with Sharon Doran – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Fourth Antiphon – December 20th: O Clavis David O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel, controlling at your will the gate of heaven,[1] Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,[2] and lead your captive people into freedom The Lord Jesus is invoked here as the Key of David,[3] the one who can open the gate into the kingdom because he is the gate.[4]  He knocks at the door of our hearts[5] leading us out of the darkness of sin into the true freedom of the children of God, which is freedom from sin and the resulting joy and delight. [1] Is. 22:22 [2] Luke 1:79 [3] Rev. 3:7 [4] cf. John 10:7 [5] Rev. 3:19 For more visit:  O Antiphons Reflections from Fr. Giles Dimock O.P.   The O Antiphon reflections are from Musings: Liturgical and Charismatic authored by Fr. Giles Dimock, O.P. and published by Discerning Hearts® You can find the book here The post O Clavis David – The O Antiphon Reflections from Fr. Giles Dimock, O.P. – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Caryll Houselander image used with permission from TRINITY ICONS Day 20:  Christ, the Word of God’s Love Neither have we any words to tell of God’s love for us, but God gave His Word, Christ is the Word, telling how God loves the word. Everything that Christ said and did and experienced on earth is the Word saying, “see how God loves you!” Not content to be a human being, Christ wishes to be each human being, and is in fact born in the soul of every one who will receive Him; and in each one in whom He lives, whose life He lives, He is loved infinitely by the Father, loved as what He is, the only Son. Commentary:  Caryll Houselander expresses the profound mystery of God’s love made manifest in Christ, the Word. Everything Christ did, said, and endured on earth was a living proclamation of God’s love for humanity. This love is not distant or abstract; it is personal and intimate. Christ’s Incarnation reveals that He not only lived as one among us but desires to live within each of us. When we open our hearts to Him, Christ is born anew in our souls, and we are drawn into the infinite love between the Father and the Son. This insight highlights the Catholic understanding of union with Christ, particularly through the sacraments, where we receive Him and participate in this divine love. Personal Reflection: Reflect on how Christ is born within you, calling you to live in a way that expresses God’s love. How might you embrace this intimate union with Him today, allowing His love to flow through you to others? Caryll Houselander The Passion of the Infant Christ, Sheed & Ward, 1949, For more reflections visit: Caryll Houselander  – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts Image © Trinity Icons / Joseph M. Malham Image used with permission To purchase your own copy, visit Trinity Icons The post Day 20: Christ, the Word of God’s Love – From the writings of Caryll Houselander – Discerning Hearts Podcasts appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

A Christmas Novena – Day 5 – Love O Lord, infant Jesus, inspire in us Your selfless love! You humbled yourself to become like us in all things but sin, and even humbled yourself to die on a cross. We pray that you will help us to love as You love this Christmas. Divine Infant, after the wonders of Your birth in Bethlehem, You wished to extend Your infinite mercy to the whole world by calling the Wise Men by heavenly inspiration to Your crib, which was in this way changed into a royal throne. You graciously received those holy men who were obedient to the Divine call and hastened to Your feet. They recognized and worshipped You as Prince of Peace, the Redeemer of mankind, and the very Son of God. Show us also Your goodness and almighty power. Enlighten our minds, strengthen our wills, and inflame our hearts to know You, to serve You, and to love You in this life, that we may merit to find our joy in You eternally in the life to come. Jesus, most powerful Child, We implore You again to help us with the intentions we hold in the depths of our hearts. Divine Child, great omnipotent God, I implore through Your most Holy Mother’s most powerful intercession, and through the boundless mercy of Your omnipotence as God, for a favorable answer to my prayer during this Novena. Grant us the grace of possessing You eternally with Mary and Joseph and of adoring You with Your holy angels and saints. Amen. The post A Christmas Novena – Day 5 – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Saturday of the 3rd Week of Advent – An Advent Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord. Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over” Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart… From the Holy Gospel According to St. Luke 1:39-45 Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’ What word made this passage come alive for you? What did you sense the Lord saying to you? Once more give the Lord an opportunity to speak to you: Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’ What did your heart feel as you listened? What did you sense the Lord saying to you? Once more, through Him, with Him and in Him listen to the Word: Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’ What did your heart feel as you prayed? What do you hope to carry with you from this time with the Lord? Our Father, who art in heaven,   hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,  and forgive us our trespasses,  as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation,  but deliver us from evil. May the Lord bless us, and keep us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen Excerpt from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.   The post Saturday of the 3rd Week of Advent – An Advent Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.