Building Kingdom of Love Archives - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts

Pray Always and Never Grow Weary: Learning to Persevere in Prayer with Msgr. John Esseff – Building a Kingdom of Love podcast In this episode of Building a Kingdom of Love, Msgr. John Esseff reflects on Jesus’ parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 and His teaching about the necessity of praying always without becoming weary. Prayer is something every Christian must learn, and perseverance is essential to developing a lasting relationship with God. Drawing from his experiences with St. Teresa of Calcutta, Msgr. Esseff recalls a remarkable night of prayer in war-torn Beirut. Determined to rescue abandoned children trapped by the fighting, St. Teresa spent hours before the Blessed Sacrament, pleading for their safety. When the shelling stopped, the rescue became possible. Her persistence offers a powerful example of faith, trust, and confidence in God’s power. Yet persevering in prayer doesn’t mean that God will always grant what we ask. Msgr. Esseff shares the deeply personal experience of his sister’s death and his mother’s prayers for her healing. Her prayer eventually became an act of surrender, entrusting her daughter to God even as she faced the sorrow of losing her. Through this experience, Msgr. Esseff explores how suffering, illness, fear, and other difficulties can awaken a deeper desire for prayer. He encourages listeners to establish a daily habit of prayer, find a quiet place in their homes, and spend time listening to God. Prayer becomes the foundation of an ongoing friendship with the Lord. Kris McGregor asks what happens when someone prays with all their heart and still doesn’t receive the answer they hoped for. Msgr. Esseff turns to Psalm 22 and the cry of Jesus from the Cross, reminding us that anger, disappointment, fear, and grief can all be brought honestly before God. There is no need to hide our deepest emotions from the One who already knows our hearts. Learning to pray means learning to speak honestly with God while becoming increasingly attentive to what He desires to say to us. Msgr. Esseff concludes with an invitation to make prayer a daily priority and discover the God who has been looking upon us with love even when we have forgotten to turn toward Him. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions: 1. Jesus teaches us to pray always without becoming weary. What most often makes it difficult for me to persevere in prayer? 2. When I bring a particular need before God, do I continue praying even when the answer seems delayed or uncertain? 3. What can I learn from St. Teresa of Calcutta’s perseverance before the Blessed Sacrament during the crisis in Beirut? 4. Have I experienced a time when God didn’t answer my prayers in the way I had hoped? How did that experience affect my relationship with Him? 5. Do I feel free to bring my anger, fear, disappointment, and grief honestly before God? 6. Is there a quiet place and a regular time in my daily life where I can develop a deeper habit of prayer? 7. When I pray, do I leave room to listen for what God desires to communicate to my heart? The post Pray Always and Never Grow Weary with Msgr. John Esseff | Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

Do you truly know how to pray? A prayer primer with Msgr. John Esseff Discerning Hearts Podcast In a profound episode of Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts, Msgr. John Esseff and Kris McGregor delve into the essence of prayer and its central role in the Christian life. Msgr. Esseff, with decades of experience in spiritual guidance, emphasizes that prayer is foundational, akin to kindergarten, where one learns the basic, yet crucial aspects of communicating with God. He insists that prayer is not just a ritual but a conversation that necessitates the presence of God. Without this presence, prayer risks becoming an empty gesture. Drawing on Jesus’ example, Msgr. Esseff encourages finding solitude and silence for prayer, underlining the importance of establishing a relationship with God. He uses the parable of the ten virgins from Matthew’s Gospel to illustrate the difference between merely performing religious acts and cultivating a personal connection with God. This relationship is rooted in understanding one’s identity as God’s child, which then shapes the way one prays. Kris McGregor broaches the common challenge of discerning God’s voice in prayer. Msgr. Esseff acknowledges this difficulty and suggests that spiritual direction can be invaluable in learning to distinguish and understand the divine communication. In conclusion, Msgr. Esseff stresses that prayer is not just about asking or saying things to God but also about listening and being open to His will. He urges listeners to approach prayer with a focus on forming a deep relationship with God, which, in turn, empowers them to be channels of God’s peace in the world. The podcast is a reminder of the transformative power of prayer in the Christian journey. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions: Understanding Prayer as Relationship: How do you currently perceive prayer in your life? Is it more of a routine or a relational conversation with God? Reflect on the idea that prayer is like kindergarten. In what ways are you learning the basics of prayer, and how can you grow in this area? Presence of God in Prayer: Recall a time when you felt God’s presence strongly during prayer. What was different about that experience compared to other times? How can you create a conducive environment for recognizing God’s presence in your daily prayer life? The Role of Solitude and Silence: What are the distractions that most commonly interfere with your prayer life? How can you minimize these distractions? How can you incorporate solitude and silence into your daily routine to enhance your prayer experience? Personal Relationship with God: Reflect on the parable of the ten virgins. In what ways are you like the wise virgins, and in what ways are you like the foolish ones in your spiritual life? What practical steps can you take to strengthen your personal relationship with God? Identity as a Child of God: How does understanding your identity as a child of God change the way you approach prayer? In moments of prayer, how can you remind yourself of this identity and its significance? Listening to God: What are some of the challenges you face in listening to God during prayer? How can you develop a more discerning heart to recognize and understand God’s voice? The Importance of Spiritual Direction: Have you ever considered seeking spiritual direction? If not, what might be holding you back? How can a spiritual director assist you in deepening your prayer life and relationship with God? Applying the ‘Our Father’ Prayer: Reflect on how you usually pray the ‘Our Father’. How can you pray it more thoughtfully and intentionally, considering Msgr. Esseff’s insights? How does the ‘Our Father’ encapsulate your relationship with God and your daily spiritual needs? Msgr. Esseff offers a basic of prayer, R.I.M. – Relationship, Identity, and Mission. Matthew 6:9-13 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) 9 Pray then like this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread;a]">[a] 12 And forgive us our debts, As we also have forgiven our debtors; 13 And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.b]">[b] The post Do you truly know how to pray? A prayer primer with Msgr. John Esseff Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

The Sacred Heart, Sin, and Confession – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff In this episode of Building a Kingdom of Love, Msgr. John Esseff turns to the reality of sin and the healing power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The battle between the Kingdom of Light and the Kingdom of Darkness isn’t only visible in war, violence, and suffering throughout the world. That same struggle reaches into every human heart. Msgr. Esseff asks how we recognize what separates us from Christ and recover the grace and union with Him that God desires for us. His answer leads directly to Confession, a sacrament he believes is greatly needed in the Church and the world today. But preparing for Confession requires more than making a mental inventory of mistakes. Msgr. Esseff distinguishes a Christian examination of conscience from simple introspection or self-judgment. The Holy Spirit helps us see where our thoughts, words, actions, and omissions have interrupted our communion with Christ. Humility isn’t self-condemnation. It is the recognition that without Christ, we can do nothing and that our lives depend completely upon His grace. The examination of conscience, therefore, takes place before the merciful gaze of God, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal what keeps us from loving with the Heart of Christ. Msgr. Esseff then considers jealousy and envy as examples of how the Sacrament of Reconciliation can lead us beneath individual sins to a deeper spiritual wound. Gossip, comparison, competition, resentment, and division may all grow from the same root. Rather than continually “cutting off the tail of the snake,” Confession can help expose the capital sin at its head. As Christ heals that root, we become freer to rejoice in the gifts of others, recognize Christ in our neighbor, and see others with His eyes of love. The sacrament becomes a place not simply for naming sins, but for deeper conversion and growth in union with Jesus Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions When I prepare for Confession, do I ask the Holy Spirit to show me what is separating me from deeper union with Jesus? Have I confused an examination of conscience with self-criticism, introspection, or condemnation? Are there recurring sins in my life that may point toward a deeper root or capital sin? Where do comparison and competition enter my relationships with family members, friends, coworkers, or others? Can I genuinely rejoice when another person receives a gift, opportunity, recognition, or blessing that I wanted for myself? How might regular reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation help me grow not only in freedom from sin, but also in Christ’s way of seeing and loving others? Whom am I being invited to see today through the loving gaze of Christ rather than through jealousy, resentment, or comparison? Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30, 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served as a retreat director and confessor to St. Teresa of Calcutta. He continues to offer direction and retreats for the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity around the world. Msgr. Esseff encountered St. Padre Pio, who would become a spiritual father to him. He has lived in areas around the world, serving in the Pontifical Missions, a Catholic organization established by St. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world, especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and serves as a spiritual director for the Institute. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests, and sisters, seminarians, and other religious leaders around the world. The post SH11 – The Sacred Heart, Sin, and Confession – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

“Why Did You Doubt?” Growing in Faith and Trust in Jesus – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff In this episode of Building a Kingdom of Love, Msgr. John Esseff reflects on the need for a Christian life in which prayer and action remain deeply united. The ache and emptiness experienced by so many people can’t be healed simply by greater activity. Ministry, service, and works of charity must flow from an interior relationship with God. When doing becomes separated from being with God, even good work can lead to exhaustion, self-reliance, and eventually losing sight of the One who called us to serve. Drawing from Jesus’ warning about external religious observances and St. James’ call to become doers of the Word, Msgr. Esseff explains that authentic Christian life begins in the heart and bears fruit in concrete love of neighbor. He recalls young people transformed through serving the poor in mission countries and witnesses such as St. Teresa of Calcutta, whose extraordinary service grew from a solid life of prayer. Yet even good works require discernment. Msgr. Esseff shares his own experience of repeatedly asking to serve in Latin America while his bishop required him to remain where he was. His eventual mission came through obedience rather than simply following his own desire to do something good. Kris McGregor brings this discernment into family life, where the desire to serve the Church can sometimes pull a person away from the responsibilities God has already entrusted to them as a spouse or parent. Msgr. Esseff returns to the first commandment: love God with your whole heart, soul, strength, and mind. From that relationship, Christ can love others through us. The Christian life becomes less about accomplishing something through our own strength and more about allowing God to act through us, whether our work seems great or very small. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions: Is my service to others flowing from a real life of prayer with God? Where have I become so busy doing good things that I’ve neglected my interior life? When I want to undertake something good, do I first ask God whether it is His will for me? What does Msgr. Esseff’s experience of obedience teach me about trusting God when my plans are delayed? Are any of my activities pulling me away from responsibilities God has already entrusted to me in my family or vocation? Where am I relying primarily on my own strength rather than allowing Christ to work through me? What small act of love can I offer today as a response to God’s love for me? The post Embracing God’s Will – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.

The Queenship of Mary: A Mother and Queen of Every Heart – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff In this episode of Building a Kingdom of Love, Msgr. John Esseff reflects on the Queenship of Mary, revealing a queenship rooted not in earthly power or grandeur, but in motherhood, humility, and love. Mary is Queen of Heaven and Earth because she is the Mother of God and the mother given to us by Jesus from the Cross. From Guadalupe and Fatima to Lourdes and the Miraculous Medal, Msgr. Esseff shows Mary continually reaching toward the poor, the sick, the suffering, and those most in need of mercy with the tenderness of a mother. Mary’s greatness is found precisely in her lowliness. Msgr. Esseff recalls an image of the Immaculate Conception in which Mary crushes the serpent beneath her heel, connecting her victory over Satan with her profound humility. She is the lowly servant who hastens to care for Elizabeth, the mother who intercedes for her children, and the Queen who desires to bring God’s gifts to those who ask. Her queenship reveals something essential about the Kingdom of God: the first shall be last, the last shall be first, and true greatness is found in becoming small. Msgr. Esseff connects Mary’s queenship with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and God’s particular love for the little ones, the lost, the sick, and the forgotten. Ezekiel’s warning to shepherds who care for themselves rather than their sheep becomes a challenge for priests, parents, grandparents, and everyone entrusted with another soul. Mary shows us another way, to become humble, dependent, and childlike before God. She teaches us to “grow down,” becoming small enough to receive the Kingdom and allowing ourselves to be held in the loving arms of God. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions: How does Mary’s humility help me understand what it truly means for her to be Queen of Heaven and Earth? What need or burden in my life have I hesitated to bring to Mary in prayer? How do Mary’s appearances at Guadalupe, Fatima, and Lourdes reveal her motherly care for those who suffer? What does Mary’s humility teach me about overcoming pride and resisting evil? Who are the little, lost, sick, or forgotten people God has entrusted to my care? Where is God asking me to become smaller, more humble, and more dependent upon Him? How can Mary’s example help me become more childlike and ready to receive the Kingdom of God? The post The Queenship of Mary – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.