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Discerning Hearts - Catholic Podcasts

Discerning Hearts - Catholic Podcasts

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Catholic podcasts dedicated to those on the spiritual journey! Offering the best teachings from the rich Catholic Spiritual/Discernment tradition.Discerning Hearts ©2010-2022 All Rights Reserved. Christianity Ministry & Evangelism Philosophy Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • BW44 – Guarding What Is Hidden – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

    BW44 – Guarding What Is Hidden – The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcasts
    Apr 2 2026


    The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor Episode 44 – St. Gregory the Great – The Pastoral Rule: Guarding What Is Hidden

    In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor continues with St. Gregory the Great and reflects on a quieter danger in the spiritual life: not open failure, but the slow erosion that can come through long responsibility, weariness, and the desire to be seen as good, dependable, or necessary. Gregory knows that what is at risk is not only the work itself, but the soul doing it. A person may continue serving faithfully on the outside while the hidden life with God begins to thin out within.

    Gregory’s warning is both sober and merciful. Good work becomes dangerous when the heart begins to feed on visibility, praise, or the comfort of being appreciated. Prayer grows thin, humility weakens, and service quietly shifts away from God. That is why Gregory insists that the interior life must be guarded even more carefully than the works others can see. Hidden fidelity protects the soul from this erosion and keeps the heart turned toward God rather than toward recognition.

    This teaching belongs deeply within the Benedictine way. The Holy Rule trains a person not to build life on praise, notice, or self-importance. Stability keeps the heart in place before God. Humility checks the desire to be lifted up. Obedience keeps action ordered toward God’s will rather than self-satisfaction. This episode invites listeners to guard what is hidden, remain faithful where no one sees, and let prayer stay deeper than appearance, so that perseverance can endure in freedom and truth.

    Citations

    St. Gregory the Great: The Pastoral Rule

    “Often the mind is lifted up by the good it does,
    and while it seeks the praise of men,
    it loses the reward of God.
    Therefore the shepherd must guard the interior life
    more carefully than the works that are seen.”

    Matthew 6:6, RSV–Catholic Edition

    “When you pray, go into your room and shut the door
    and pray to your Father who is in secret;
    and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

    Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
    1. Where in my service or responsibilities am I tempted to draw strength from recognition or praise?
    2. Has weariness or long responsibility thinned out my hidden life with God?
    3. Do I notice disappointment or resentment when my sacrifices go unseen?
    4. What helps keep my heart anchored in God rather than in results or approval?
    5. How is Christ inviting me to remain faithful in what is hidden and unseen?
    For other episodes in this series, visit The Rule Of St. Benedict For Daily Life: Learning To Listen To God With A Discerning Heart Pick up a copy of The Rule of St. Benedict here

    Copyright © 2026 Kris McGregor. All rights reserved. No portion of this content may be reproduced, distributed, published, or transmitted in any form, including audio, print, or digital media, without prior written permission from Discerning Hearts®.
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    8 mins
  • A Special Holy Thursday Reflection – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast

    A Special Holy Thursday Reflection – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff – Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast
    Apr 2 2026
    A Special Holy Thursday Reflection – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff Msgr. John Esseff reflects deeply on the meaning of Holy Thursday, focusing especially on Jesus’ washing of the disciples’ feet and the institution of the Eucharist. He describes the foot-washing as a sign of humility and love that all Christians are called to imitate, not just toward family and friends, but especially toward enemies and those most difficult to serve. This act, performed by Christ before his Passion, is framed as his last will and testament—a mandate to serve others with profound humility, as he did. Msgr. Esseff invites us to internalize this calling by examining their relationships and asking us whose feet we would struggle to wash. There is the unity between the Eucharist and this act of service. Receiving Christ in the Eucharist, especially during the Triduum, is meant to transform hearts to love as he loves. It’s important to receive spiritual discernment in knowing when and how to engage with others in this sacrificial way. Msgr. Esseff recalls traditional Holy Thursday devotions and reflects on the Paschal Mystery—Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection—as the heart of Christian life, reminding the listener that Easter marks a beginning, not an end, in the journey of faith. Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions Whose feet in your life would be the hardest for you to wash, and why?In what ways do you live out Christ’s call to humble service in your daily relationships?How does your participation in the Eucharist transform the way you treat others, especially those who hurt you?Are there people you need to forgive before entering into the Triduum more fully?How do you discern when to serve and when to retreat in prayer, following Jesus’ example?What does the washing of feet reveal to you about true greatness in the Kingdom of God?Have you ever tried to serve someone with hidden resentment or pride—how can that change?How does your Holy Thursday participation reflect your love for the Eucharist and your understanding of its meaning?What spiritual traditions during Holy Thursday or the Triduum help you grow closer to Christ? Gospel JN 13:1-15 “Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him, “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. Msgr. Esseff served 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 Pope St. John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world especially to the poor. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians and other religious leaders around the world.
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    55 mins
  • Day 44: Love Poured Out – Discerning Hearts Podcast

    Day 44: Love Poured Out – Discerning Hearts Podcast
    Apr 2 2026
    A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast Day 44: Love Poured Out Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible) John 13:1–15 It was before the festival of the Passover, and Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father. He had always loved those who were his in the world, but now he showed how perfect his love was. They were at supper, and the devil had already put it into the mind of Judas Iscariot son of Simon, to betray him. Jesus knew that the Father had put everything into his hands, and that he had come from God and was returning to God, and he got up from table, removed his outer garment, and, taking a towel, wrapped it around his waist; he then poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel he was wearing. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered, “At the moment you do not know what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “Never!” said Peter. “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus replied, “If I do not wash you, you can have nothing in common with me.” “Then, Lord,” said Simon Peter, “not only my feet, but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus said, “No one who has taken a bath needs washing, he is clean all over. You too are clean, though not all of you are.” He knew who was going to betray him, that was why he said, “though not all of you are.” When he had washed their feet and put on his clothes again he went back to the table. “Do you understand,” he said, “what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord, and rightly; so I am. If I, then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.” Reflection: This is the night of love poured out. You may feel the weight of the days behind you. You may feel tired. Unready. Maybe even unsure of how to enter what is unfolding now. Jesus knows. And He meets you here, gently. He kneels before His friends—not just to serve, but to cleanse. To invite them into a love that is not about status or performance, but about presence. Humility. Communion. He says to Peter, “Unless I wash you, you can have no part with me.” That word is for you, too. Let Him wash you. Let Him draw close to whatever you’re tempted to hide—the weariness, the regrets, the guarded places of your heart. This isn’t about what you’ve done or failed to do. It’s about letting Him love you now. Abba Theodore once said, “Many are quick to speak of love, but few know how to be washed in it.” (Sayings of the Desert Fathers) But the Gospel doesn’t stop with being washed. Jesus doesn’t just cleanse. He commissions. “If I, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, you must wash each other’s feet.” This is not metaphorical. It is the shape of love. To wash another’s feet means to draw near to their humanity. Their weakness. Their wounds. It means being willing to stoop—not to be lesser, but to love more. This may look like offering forgiveness that hasn’t been asked for. Or listening without fixing. It may mean remaining present to someone difficult. Or showing kindness when your heart feels dry. To wash another’s feet may mean serving in ways no one sees, giving when it costs, or holding silence when words would only wound. St. Thérèse of Lisieux wrote, “Jesus does not demand great actions from us, but simply surrender and gratitude.” (Manuscript B) Tonight is not just about service. It’s about surrender. Allowing yourself to be loved by the One who empties Himself entirely—and then going out to love as He has loved you. Let that love meet you where you are. And then… ask: Whose feet am I being asked to wash? Where in your life is Christ inviting you to kneel—not in shame, but in love? Reflection Questions: 1. Where do I resist the Lord’s tenderness—His desire to serve me? 2. Is there a part of me that still wants to earn His love, instead of receiving it? 3. Who in my life might need to be served, forgiven, or simply loved today? Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, You chose to wash what we often hide. You loved with humility and poured Yourself out completely. Wash me, Lord. Let me receive Your love. And give me the grace to kneel, wherever love calls me to go. Amen. This reflection is written by Kris McGregor of Discerning Hearts®. The Scripture passage is taken from the Jerusalem Bible (1966 edition), used with permission. No unauthorized use or reproduction is permitted without prior written consent.
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    9 mins
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