Why Did You Doubt? Growing in Faith and Trust in Jesus – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast

“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 what it truly means to say, “I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.” Drawing from the Gospel account of Peter walking on the water, he asks whether faith remains something we profess with our lips or becomes a living reality that changes the way we act, pray, trust, and respond when Christ calls. Peter gets out of the boat because Jesus says, “Come.” When fear takes hold, he begins to sink, revealing the struggle between faith and doubt that can arise in every Christian life. Msgr. Esseff recalls his experiences with St. Teresa of Calcutta as a powerful witness to this living faith. In war-torn Beirut, Mother Teresa prayed before the Blessed Sacrament for the shelling to cease so abandoned children could be rescued. He also remembers her radical trust in Albania, where she insisted that stored food be given to the hungry, trusting God to provide what would be needed the following day. For Msgr. Esseff, these encounters transformed an intellectual understanding of faith into a deeper awareness of the power of prayer, the Eucharist, and trust in Jesus Christ. Msgr. Esseff returns to Peter’s decision to leave the safety of the boat. Faith requires a response to Christ’s invitation, even when the winds of fear, uncertainty, worry, and the voices around us tempt us to turn away. Mother Teresa’s life shows how this relationship is nurtured through continual prayer, Eucharistic adoration, and the Mass. The challenges that arise after stepping out in faith can become opportunities for deeper trust as Christ draws us beyond a merely cultural Christianity into a life rooted in Him. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions: What does it mean in my daily life to say, “I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God”? Where is Jesus asking me to “get out of the boat” and trust Him more deeply? What fears or worries cause me to take my eyes away from Christ? How does Mother Teresa’s trust in Jesus challenge my understanding of faith and prayer? How can Eucharistic adoration, the Mass, and daily prayer deepen my relationship with Jesus? Where has worry about the future prevented me from trusting God for my “daily bread”? How might the difficulties I encounter after responding to Christ become opportunities for my faith to grow? The post Why Did You Doubt? Growing in Faith and Trust in Jesus – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.