Heart to Heart: Faith Seasons Podcast

Fr. Jacob Willig, nephew of Fr. Jim Willig, leads us back to one of the great Easter stories: the disciples on the Road to Emmaus inviting us to become the unnamed disciple walking beside Cleopas. Jesus asks, “What are you discussing as you walk along?” That question becomes personal for us. What frustrations, hurts, worries, or disappointments are we carrying? What burdens have been weighing us down? Fr. Jacob invites us to bring them honestly to the Lord and ask for the help we need.Luke 24:15-17While they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.  He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?”Learn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

In today's reflection, Terri prays with St. Paul’s beautiful words from Ephesians 3, asking that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, and that we may come to know the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ. She then invites us into a brief practice of awareness and communion with God, praying: “Breathe in me Your Spirit, Lord.”To go further with Terri’s prayer practice, check out her music video meditation: BREATHE INLearn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Terri reflects on the woman who had suffered from hemorrhages for twelve years (Mark 5:25-34). Her story becomes an invitation to steadfast faith. Faith is both a gift we receive and a choice we make—to reach out, to trust, and to accept the healing love God offers. Terri then leads us into a prayer of resting in the loving and healing gaze of our God.To go further with Terri’s prayer practice, check out her music video meditation: BREATHE INLearn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Today Fr. Radmar turns to the story of Zacchaeus. Many of us carry the feeling that we are not enough, and so we settle for only a glimpse of Jesus from a distance. But in the Gospel, Jesus looks up, calls Zacchaeus by name, and invites Himself into his home. Fr. Radmar invites us to imagine Jesus doing the same for us: seeing who we truly are, not simply what we have done.Learn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Fr. Radmar Jao, SJ—a former professional actor turned Jesuit priest—helps us reflect on what it means to become living tabernacles of Christ.Fr. Radmar reflects on St. Paul’s words in Galatians: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Drawing from his own experience as an actor, he invites us to consider how Christ desires not simply to influence our lives, but to live within us and through us.youtube.com/watch?v=obeBXPy15u0Learn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

We close the week with Fr. Keith reflecting on Matthew 14, where Jesus comes to the disciples in the midst of a violent storm, walking on the water. After feeding the multitude, Jesus had commanded them to get into the boat—and they obeyed. But obedience did not spare them from the storm. In their fear, Jesus speaks the words they most need to hear: "Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid."Fr. Keith invites us to place ourselves in that boat and ask: Am I willing to let Jesus’ command—Do not be afraid—settle into my heart?Learn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Fr. Keith Romke guides us in a meditation on the powerful words of Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God.” He shares how this verse became deeply personal to him after a retreat confession, when a priest reminded him that God’s love cannot be earned. Love is not a wage; it is a gift. In stillness, we are invited to stop striving, stop proving ourselves, and simply receive the love God is already offering.Learn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Today Dr. Cobb reflects on Romans 8, where St. Paul reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. At times we may feel overwhelmed by worry, fear, anxiety, or pain. We may even feel distant from God. But Paul proclaims a deeper truth: no suffering, no failure, no fear, no darkness can cut us off from God’s love. This meditation invites us to surrender our anxieties and allow Jesus to heal the places in us that feel separated or alone.Romans 8:37-38No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LordLearn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Chaplain Dr. Willie Cobb leads us into the story of the Woman at the Well from John 4. This is a story of emotional and spiritual healing. Jesus meets a rejected and wounded woman exactly where she is. He listens, reveals the truth, offers Living Water, and transforms her into a disciple. Dr. Cobb invites us to ask: What keeps us from growing closer to God and neighbor? Are we willing to drink deeply of the Living Water Christ offers?John 4:11-13...the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself,Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”Learn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Rosanne continues today with John 14, where Jesus speaks tenderly to His troubled disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” In a moment of uncertainty and fear, Jesus assures them—and us—that we are not abandoned. He prepares a dwelling place for us, a home of peace, belonging, and renewal. We are invited to place our anxieties in His hands and trust that He is the way, the truth, and the life.*John 14:1-2a, 3, 6a“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places… I go [to] prepare a place for you [and] I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be… I am the way and the truth and the life.”Learn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

We begin on Sunday with Rosanne Coury, whose meditation flows naturally from Fr. Michael’s Saturday homily on the Good Shepherd (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sprd_kSHyTM). Drawing from John 10, Rosanne reflects on Jesus as the Shepherd who knows us intimately, loves us completely, and lays down His life so that we may live abundantly. She invites us to trust that the Lord sees the deepest truth of who we are and embraces us with a love that heals and makes us whole.John 10:11-18Learn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Today, Lauren invites us to stretch our prayer even further. Rooted in the promise of the Book of Isaiah (57:18–19), we are invited to intercede for those beyond our immediate circle—those we may never meet, yet whose suffering calls forth our compassion. Our prayer becomes wider, more generous, more like the heart of Christ.Isaiah 57:18b-19I will lead them and restore full comfort to them    and to those who mourn for them,    creating words of comfort.Peace! Peace to those who are far and near,    says the Lord; and I will heal them.Learn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Jesus was at home and the people flocked to him, bringing their loved ones for healing. Mark 2:2-42 When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay.Learn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Can you accept that you didn't choose God but that God chose you?John 15:16You did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointedyou that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide,so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, He may give it to you.Learn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate

Fr. Sean Grismer invites us into the intimacy of friendship with Christ. In the Gospel of John (15:15–16), Jesus says:“I no longer call you servants… I call you friends.”We are not distant followers—we are chosen companions. And from this friendship flows our mission: to bear fruit that will last. As we surrender unhealthy attachments and the need to control, Christ gently lifts the burdens we were never meant to carry. In their place, He gives us freedom, fruitfulness, and a deeper joy. And then, with hearts healed and grounded in friendship, our prayer begins to expand outward.Learn More Heart to Heart, a Catholic Media Ministry: htoh.us420 W County Line Rd, Suite 200Barrington, IL 60010Submit a prayer request: htoh.us/prayersSupport our ministry with a financial gift: htoh.us/donate