God Calls Man First -Communion with Christ: Practical Prayer with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Episode 1: God Calls Man First -Communion with Christ: Practical Prayer with Deacon James Keating Deacon James Keating joins Kris McGregor to explore the Church’s teaching on prayer through the Catechism of the Catholic Church, beginning with the profound truth that God desires communion with each person. Prayer is not simply a human search for meaning but a response to God’s loving presence and His continual invitation to relationship. Drawing from the Old Testament and the experiences of Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and the prophets, Deacon Keating reveals how salvation history unfolds through God’s initiative and humanity’s response. He considers the obstacles that keep us from encountering God, including distraction, materialism, fear of change, and the temptation to believe that God has abandoned us in suffering. The Psalms and the prayers of the prophets offer a way to enter more deeply into this ongoing relationship, allowing Scripture to become a living encounter with the God who continues to speak and act. Deacon Keating also explores the prophetic dimension of Christian prayer, explaining that genuine faith recognizes God’s active presence in the world and remains open to His transforming grace. Through humility, obedience, and a conscience formed by Scripture and the teachings of the Church, Christians grow in their ability to discern God’s voice. The fullness of prayer is revealed in Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh, who draws humanity into communion with the Father through the Holy Spirit. This intimacy finds a particularly profound expression in the Eucharist, where personal prayer and the communal worship of the Church meet. Deacon Keating offers a simple prayer following Holy Communion, “Jesus, take me to the Father,” as an invitation to surrender our thoughts, desires, and will to Christ. Through this surrender, prayer becomes a transforming encounter in which Christ’s love increasingly shapes our lives, bringing freedom, hope, and lasting joy. From the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 2567 “God calls man first. Man may forget his Creator or hide far from his face; he may run after idols or accuse the deity of having abandoned him; yet the living and true God tirelessly calls each person to that mysterious encounter known as prayer. In prayer, the faithful God’s initiative of love always comes first; our own first step is always a response. As God gradually reveals himself and reveals man to himself, prayer appears as a reciprocal call, a covenant drama. Through words and actions, this drama engages the heart. It unfolds throughout the whole history of salvation.” Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Hearts” page You can find the book here. Discerning Hearts Questions for Reflection and Study Personal Reflection Do I truly believe that God desires a personal relationship with me, even more than I desire Him? What distractions or attachments in my daily life prevent me from responding to God’s invitation to prayer? When have I experienced God’s presence during a time of suffering, loneliness, or uncertainty? How might I incorporate the Psalms or the prayers of the Old Testament into my daily prayer life? Do I approach prayer with the faith that God is living, present, and actively working in my life? How willing am I to allow God to transform my heart, even when that transformation requires change or sacrifice? How can I become more attentive to Christ’s presence within me after receiving Holy Communion? What would it mean for me to pray, “Jesus, take me to the Father,” with complete trust and surrender? In what areas of my life am I still holding on to my own will rather than allowing Christ’s will to guide me? How is God inviting me to become a more faithful witness to His love through prayer, humility, and obedience? Group Reflection or Study How does understanding prayer as a response to God’s initiative change the way we approach our relationship with Him? What can the experiences of Abraham, Moses, and Elijah teach us about listening to God and responding to His call? How do modern distractions and attachments interfere with our ability to recognize God’s presence? In what ways can the Psalms help us understand the relationship between personal prayer and communal worship? What does it mean to have a prophetic awareness that God continues to act in our world today? How do Scripture, the teachings of the Church, and participation in the liturgy help us discern God’s voice? Why does Deacon Keating describe the Eucharist as the place where personal prayer reaches its deepest fulfillment? How can surrendering our thoughts, desires, and will to Christ lead to greater spiritual freedom? From the book description: The book addresses their mutual dedication to remain with Christ in prayer even in the service of parishioners. Once prayer finds a place in the heart, compassion grows for those who look for God “like sheep without a shepherd.” Through interior prayerfulness, clerical unity in ministry can be better ensured Remain in Me is for priests and deacons to use as prayer, on retreat, or during the holy seasons of Lent and Advent. Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.  The post God Calls Man First -Communion with Christ: Practical Prayer with Deacon James Keating – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.