Day 44: Love Poured Out – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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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.

“Bernadette” and “The Passion of Bernadette”- In Conversation with Sydney Penny – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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“Bernadette” and “The Passion of Bernadette”- In Conversation with Sydney Penny

In this classic interview from 2007, Bruce and Kris McGregor speak with actress Sydney Penny about her portrayal of St. Bernadette Soubirous in the films Bernadette and The Passion of Bernadette. Sydney reflects on how she was cast in the role as a young actress and how the experience of playing Bernadette—both in Lourdes and later in the convent at Nevers—deeply impacted her spiritually. She shares how the films aimed to faithfully present the saint’s life; not only the famous apparitions but also Bernadette’s later years marked by suffering, humility, and joyful perseverance. Sydney discusses how the role taught her about true spiritual strength, the value of simplicity, and the depth of Bernadette’s character, which continues to inspire her in everyday life.

They also explore the challenges Sydney faced filming in both English and French, her connection to the physical locations of Lourdes and Nevers, and the gift of encountering Bernadette’s incorrupt body. Sydney, though not Catholic, expresses how the story and spirit of Bernadette enriched her life and gave her a lasting model of grace.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

How does St. Bernadette’s humble acceptance of suffering challenge your own attitude toward trials in life?
In what ways can you cultivate the kind of joy and peace Bernadette maintained despite poor health and hardship?
How does Bernadette’s spiritual simplicity reveal a deeper kind of wisdom than academic knowledge alone?
When have you experienced God’s grace most profoundly in moments of loneliness or limitation?
What does it mean to you to be “in the effort business, not the results business,” as mentioned in the interview?
How can Bernadette’s example help you discern when to withdraw from public activity for deeper spiritual growth?
What role does humility play in your relationship with God, and how might you grow in it?
How do you see God working through art, film, and storytelling to deepen faith in today’s world?
When faced with decisions that may separate you from comfort or loved ones, how do you entrust those choices to God?
What can Bernadette’s witness teach you about obedience, trust, and faithfulness in your daily vocation?

Bernadette

The Passion of Bernadette

You can purchase a copy “Bernadette” and “The Passion of Bernadette” here.

You can also stream both these movies on Prime Video.

Day 43: The Price of Betrayal – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Day 43: The Price of Betrayal

Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible)

Matthew 26:14–25
One of the Twelve, the man called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you prepared to give me if I hand him over to you?” They paid him thirty silver pieces, and from that moment he looked for an opportunity to betray him.

Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus to say, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
He replied, “Go to so-and-so in the city and say to him, ‘The Master says: My time is near. It is at your house that I am keeping Passover with my disciples.’”
The disciples did what Jesus told them and prepared the Passover.

When evening came he was at table with the Twelve disciples. And while they were eating he said, “I tell you solemnly, one of you is about to betray me.”
They were greatly distressed and started asking him in turn, “Not I, Lord, surely?”
He answered, “Someone who has dipped his hand into the dish with me will betray me. The Son of Man is going to his fate, as the scriptures say he will, but alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Better for that man if he had never been born!”
Judas, who was to betray him, asked in his turn, “Not I, Rabbi, surely?”
“They are your own words,” answered Jesus.

Reflection:
This is the day the bargain is made.

Judas goes to the chief priests. He doesn’t stumble or hesitate—he asks the price. The transaction is quiet. Intentional. And heartbreakingly small.

Thirty silver coins. The going rate for a servant. That’s what the Son of God is valued at.

But what’s even more piercing is this: Jesus still chooses to eat with him. He shares the table. He offers him bread. He allows him to remain close—even in betrayal. Jesus holds nothing back, even though He knows what is coming.

We might feel removed from this moment, but if we’re honest—there may be places in our own lives where we’ve made quiet trades. Not out of hatred. Not even consciously. Just slow movements of the heart…
a little more comfort here,
a little less prayer there.
Distractions we let stay.
Silence when we could have spoken.
Fear when love called us to act.

There is a part of every human heart that bargains with God.
A part that clings to control.
A part that says, “What will I get for this?”

We may not hand Him over to death—but how often have we silenced His voice, withheld our love, chosen our own way?

Spy Wednesday is not just about betrayal.
It is about the quiet decisions we make to trade away intimacy with God
for comfort,
for convenience,
for control.

But Jesus still offers us the seat.
Still offers the bread.
Still calls us friend.

John Cassian reminds us,

“We must not imagine that we are safe from temptation simply because we feel secure. The enemy waits not for the moment we are strong, but for when our guard is lowered.”
(Conferences, V.10)

This day invites us to gently examine our hearts. Not to accuse—but to awaken. Where have I settled? What have I quietly allowed to take first place?

And still—Jesus is here. He offers the bread. He looks us in the eye.

Pope Benedict XVI wrote:

“In Judas, we see the mystery of human freedom and divine patience.
Jesus does not force him. Even in the moment of betrayal, Jesus appeals to the heart.”
(General Audience, October 18, 2006)

He is still appealing to ours.

This is not the end of the story. But it is a moment of decision.

Reflection Questions:

Are there places in my life where I’ve settled for less than the love of Christ?
What distractions or compromises quietly pull me away from Him?
What is He inviting me to return to today—before anything is lost?

Closing Prayer:
Jesus,
You saw Judas’ plan,
and still You offered him the bread.
You see the corners of our hearts—
the parts we are still guarding,
the compromises we may not even recognize.
You don’t shame us. You invite us.
Help us to return to You now—
with our whole heart,
before anything is lost.
Amen.

Day 42: A Table Prepared – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Day 42: A Table Prepared

Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible)

John 13:21–33, 36–38
Having said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and declared, “I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.”
The disciples looked at one another, wondering which he meant. The disciple Jesus loved was reclining next to Jesus; Simon Peter signed to him and said, “Ask who it is he means,” so leaning back on Jesus’ breast he said, “Who is it, Lord?”
“It is the one,” replied Jesus, “to whom I give the piece of bread that I dip in the dish.” He dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him.
Jesus then said, “What you are going to do, do quickly.”
None of the others at table understood the reason he said this. Since Judas had charge of the common fund, some thought Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival,” or, “Give something to the poor.”
As soon as Judas had taken the piece of bread he went out. Night had fallen.

When he had gone Jesus said: “Now has the Son of Man been glorified, and in him God has been glorified… My little children, I shall not be with you much longer.”

Simon Peter said, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now; you will follow me later.”
Peter said to him, “Why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.”
“Lay down your life for me?” answered Jesus. “I tell you most solemnly, before the cock crows you will have disowned me three times.”

Reflection:
Betrayal doesn’t come from enemies. It comes from those we’ve let in.
Those we’ve trusted. Those we’ve loved.

Judas has walked with Jesus. Eaten with Him. Slept under the same roof. Witnessed the miracles. Heard the parables. Felt the warmth of His friendship.

And still… he turns.

Jesus offers him bread. It is the sign of deepest communion, a gesture of peace and covenant. But Judas receives it not as a gift, but as a means to a hidden agenda. And then he leaves.

The Gospel says simply: “Night had fallen.” And not just outside.

The others don’t understand. Peter speaks with zeal. But Jesus knows what’s coming. Peter’s denials. Their scattering. His agony. He knows, and still He stays at the table.

And this is where it gets personal.

Because we’ve all known betrayal—not just from others, but sometimes within ourselves. We’ve betrayed our own integrity. We’ve said one thing and done another. We’ve made promises to God and failed to keep them. We’ve pulled away in fear.

But Jesus stays. He does not retreat. He gives His heart, knowing it will be broken.

He knows what’s in Judas. And He still offers him bread.
He knows what’s in Peter. And He still looks him in the eye.
He knows what’s in you. And He’s still sitting at the table.

This is not sentimental love. This is covenantal love. The kind that stays even when it hurts. The kind that doesn’t withdraw even when we do. The kind that keeps reaching.

Pope Benedict XVI said

“God does not force us. He does not fence us in. He leaves us free, even to refuse Him…But it is in this freedom that love becomes real.”
(Holy Week Homily, April 4, 2007)

Judas gave his heart to silver. Peter gave his heart to his own strength. Only one returned.

Evagrius Ponticus once said,

“A man in chains cannot run. Nor can the soul enslaved to passions be free to follow Christ.”
(On the Eight Thoughts)

Judas was not free. Peter would not be free—until he wept. Until he was healed.

Today, the question is not “Would I betray Him?”
The real question is: When I do fail Him—will I return?

Jesus already knows. And He’s still holding out the bread.

Reflection Questions:

1. Where have I felt betrayal in my own life—and how has it shaped my heart?
2. When have I betrayed or abandoned my love for Christ, even subtly?
3. What keeps me from coming back to the table, to receive the Bread He still offers?

Closing Prayer:
Jesus,
You were betrayed by a friend,
denied by the one who swore to defend You,
and abandoned by those closest to You.
Still, You loved.
Still, You offered Yourself.
Let me not run from my own weakness.
Let me not turn away in shame.
You are still offering bread.
And You are still offering Yourself.
Amen.

Day 41: The Fragrance of Love – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Day 41: The Fragrance of Love

Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible)

John 12:1–11
Six days before the Passover, Jesus went to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom he had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there; Martha waited on them and Lazarus was among those at table.

Mary brought in a pound of very costly ointment, pure nard, and with it anointed the feet of Jesus, wiping them with her hair; the house was filled with the scent of the ointment.

Then Judas Iscariot—one of his disciples, the man who was to betray him—said, “Why wasn’t this ointment sold for three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor?”

He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he was in charge of the common fund and used to help himself to the contents.

So Jesus said, “Leave her alone; she had to keep this scent for the day of my burial. You have the poor with you always, you will not always have me.”

Meanwhile, a large number of Jews heard that he was there and came, not only on account of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.

Then the chief priests decided to kill Lazarus as well, since it was on his account that many of the Jews were leaving them and believing in Jesus.

Reflection:
Holy Week begins not with fanfare, but with silence and intimacy. We are brought into the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus—not for a miracle, but for a quiet act of love.

Mary of Bethany says nothing. But in her silence, she listens—and in her listening, she responds. She kneels beside Jesus and pours out what is most precious to her: the costly ointment, her dignity, her very self.

What moved her to do this?

There is no record of Jesus asking her. No instruction from the disciples. But she had been at His feet before. She knew the sound of His voice. And she had learned to listen not just to words, but to the movement of the Spirit.

This act is the fruit of deep prayer—of the Father working through the Spirit in the stillness of her heart. It is the Father preparing the Son for what is to come. And Mary—hidden, faithful, receptive—says yes.

And still, she is ridiculed. Her devotion is questioned, her motives assumed. But she does not defend herself. Jesus defends her. “Leave her alone… she had to keep this scent for the day of my burial.”

Pope Benedict XVI wrote,

“Mary’s gesture is the response of one who, in encountering Jesus, has come to understand that no gift is too costly to give to Him, because He is the infinite Love of God made flesh.”
(Holy Monday Homily, April 2, 2007)

Sometimes love will look foolish. Sometimes prayer will lead us where others cannot follow. But if we remain in communion with the Father—if we listen with the heart—we will know what to do. And the Lord will receive it.

The Desert Father Abba Moses once said,

“If a man wishes to be always in the presence of God, he must pray often and love with a whole heart.”

That is what Mary of Bethany does.

This is what we are invited to now.

If you are holding back because you’re afraid to be misunderstood…
If you wonder whether your offering is too small…
If your prayer has led you to something others don’t see…

Stay close to the Lord.
Trust the Spirit’s prompting.
Pour it out anyway.

Reflection Questions:

What do I fear pouring out before Jesus?
Where is love asking me to move, without calculation or fear?
What would it mean today to be present at His feet, as Mary was?

Closing Prayer:
Lord Jesus,
You received the love Mary poured out,
and You made it part of the path to the Cross.
Help me to offer You what I cling to—
my time, my comfort, even my wounds.
Let my love be real,
fragrant in its surrender,
and faithful even in silence.
Amen.

Day 40: The Road of the Cross, The Way of Love – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Day 40: “The Road of the Cross, The Way of Love”

Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible)

Mark 11:1–10

When they were approaching Jerusalem, in sight of Bethphage and Bethany, close by the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go off to the village facing you, and as soon as you enter it you will find a tethered colt that no one has yet ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone says to you, ‘What are you doing?’ say, ‘The Master needs it and will send it back here directly.'”

They went off and found a colt tethered near a door in the open street. As they untied it, some men standing there said, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They gave the answer Jesus had told them, and the men let them go. Then they took the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on its back, and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, others greenery they had cut in the fields. And those who went in front and those who followed were all shouting, “Hosanna! Blessings on him who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessings on the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest heavens!”

Reflection:

We have arrived. This is the threshold of Holy Week—the most sacred time of the Church year. It is a culmination not just of the liturgical journey but of the inner pilgrimage we’ve taken through Lent. Prayer, fasting, repentance, surrender—none of it was for its own sake. It has all pointed toward this week, where Love reveals its fullness on the Cross.

Palm Sunday is a paradox. The people cry out with joy, welcoming Jesus with palm branches and hosannas. Yet we know the story turns quickly. The same voices that bless Him will call for His crucifixion. This tension is not just historical—it is personal. It reminds us that in our own hearts, we too swing between praise and resistance. Between surrender and fear. Between trust and control.

And yet, Christ enters anyway. He rides not on a war horse but on a donkey, a symbol of humility. He does not come to conquer by force, but to save through self-giving love.

This week we walk with Him—through the Upper Room, into Gethsemane, before the Sanhedrin, up the hill of Golgotha, and finally to the silence of the tomb. But we do not walk alone. We walk as a Church. We walk as people who have prayed, repented, struggled, and hoped. We walk with hearts that have been softened through the desert, ready now to enter the Passion.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux wrote:

“The Cross is the school of love. It is there we learn to love, not in word or feeling only, but in the laying down of self.”

This is what Lent has prepared us for. To gaze upon the Cross not as a symbol of defeat, but of the deepest victory. To allow it to speak to our wounds, our questions, and our hopes. To find ourselves there—not as spectators, but as those Christ carried with Him.

The Desert Father Abba Theodore said:

“If you are not yet able to carry your cross, weep before the Lord. He will lift it with you.”

This is not a week to rush through. It is a week to dwell in. To let the Scriptures penetrate. To let silence stretch. To revisit the Sacraments. To stay close to the Blessed Mother, who walked every step with her Son. To let Jesus show us how far Love will go.

We do not end at the Cross—but we must go through it. Resurrection is coming, but it is only understood in the light of the Passion. If you’ve struggled this Lent, if you feel like you haven’t done enough—take heart. This is the hour of grace. Begin again now. Be with Him now.

As the Church sings: Christ became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him.(cf. Philippians 2:8–9)

Reflection Questions:

How has your heart changed through this Lenten journey?
What part of Jesus’ Passion are you being invited to enter more deeply this week?
How can you live this Holy Week with greater intentionality—prayer, silence, reconciliation, service?

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, as You entered Jerusalem, You knew what awaited You—and still You came. You embraced the Cross to bring me life. Open my heart to walk with You this Holy Week. Let every step draw me closer to Your heart. Give me the grace to stay near to You in suffering, in silence, and in love. May the Cross become my home, and the Resurrection my hope. Amen.

Day 39: Hope in the Midst of Opposition – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Day 39: Hope in the Midst of Opposition

Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible)

John 11:45–56

Many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what he did believed in him, but some of them went to tell the Pharisees what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and Pharisees called a meeting. “Here is this man working all these signs,” they said, “and what action are we taking? If we let him go on in this way everybody will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy the Holy Place and our nation.”

One of them, Caiaphas, the high priest that year, said, “You do not seem to have grasped the situation at all; you fail to see that it is better for one man to die for the people, than for the whole nation to be destroyed.”

He did not speak in his own person, it was as high priest that he made this prophecy that Jesus was to die for the nation—and not for the nation only, but to gather together in unity the scattered children of God. From that day they were determined to kill him.
So Jesus no longer went about openly among the Jews, but left the district for a town called Ephraim, in the country bordering on the desert, and stayed there with his disciples.

The Jewish Passover drew near, and many of the country people who had gone up to Jerusalem to purify themselves looked out for Jesus, saying to one another as they stood about in the Temple, “What do you think? Will he come to the festival or not?”

Reflection:

Today’s Gospel sits in the shadow of the raising of Lazarus. That incredible sign of life was not welcomed by all. For some, it was a moment of conversion; for others, it was a threat. The decision is made: Jesus must be stopped. We now move closer to the Passion.

This passage confronts us with a truth we often feel: Jesus did not run from this reality. Instead, He stayed rooted in His mission, moving forward with trust in the Father.

It is here that we must remember: our call is not to success or approval, but to faithfulness. And faithfulness will at times mean walking through suffering, uncertainty, or even loneliness. But we are never alone. The Father is at work, even in hiddenness.

St. John Cassian, drawing from the wisdom of the desert, wrote:

“The endurance of trials for the sake of virtue produces the strongest hope.”
(Conferences, X.6)

Hope is born not in ease, but in the fire of perseverance. It grows in those moments when we choose to stay with Christ, even when the way is unclear or difficult. Hope is remembering that God indeed keeps His promises—and that He is bigger than our circumstances. Lent brings us to this place of decision: Will we stay close to Jesus even when the way becomes narrow? Will we trust the slow, quiet work of God even when the cost feels high?

Sometimes the opposition we face is not from others, but within ourselves: doubt, fear, or spiritual fatigue. These too are places where grace can meet us, where prayer becomes our anchor. If you feel weary, spend time today in quiet before the Lord. Ask for the grace of endurance, and the gift of hope.

The “Jesus, You Take Over” prayer—also known as the Surrender Prayer—by Servant of God Fr. Dolindo Ruotolo, found on Discerning Hearts, is a powerful reminder to release our anxieties and concerns in trust to Jesus. We are not asked to carry the weight of the world, but to entrust it to the One who already bears it for us.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church, offers us a word of clarity and perspective:

“The world’s thy ship and not thy home.”
(Letter 102 to Céline)

Her simple but profound reminder re-centers us when the seas grow rough. Lent is not a time to prove our strength, but to rest more deeply in the strength of Christ, who leads us to the safe harbor of the Father.

Reflection Questions:

What challenges or opposition do you face as you follow Christ?
Are there places of hidden fear or resistance that you can bring to the Lord today?
How can you ask for the grace to be faithful, even when it is costly?

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, as You faced rejection, You remained faithful. Help us to walk in that same trust. When we are afraid, strengthen our hearts. When we are tired, renew our hope. Teach us to remain close to You, even in the face of opposition, and to always remember that Your love has already conquered all.

Amen.

IP#509 Dr. Robert D. Enright – Forgiving as Unity with Christ on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Dr. Robert D. Enright – Forgiving as Unity with Christ on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Dr. Robert Enright speaks with Kris McGregor about his book Forgiving as Unity with Christ: A Journey for Healing, Resentment, and Relationships. He shares how an epiphany in 1985 redirected his academic career toward the study of forgiveness, which had previously been neglected in psychological research. Forgiveness, as a moral virtue, can transform the heart by healing the effects of injustice such as anger, resentment, and mistrust. Drawing from Aristotle and Aquinas, forgiveness does not excuse wrongdoing, demand forgetfulness, require reconciliation, or negate the pursuit of justice. Rather, it involves offering goodness to one who has acted unfairly, allowing a person to reclaim peace and dignity while also maintaining boundaries and seeking fairness where needed.

Dr. Enright outlines forgiveness as a deliberate, grace-filled path that must often be walked slowly, with self-awareness and even journaling. He discusses its spiritual dimensions, particularly its unity with Christ’s suffering and love on the cross, which brings healing not only to the individual but potentially to the offender and their relationship. He touches on the need for forgiveness education, especially within Catholic contexts, to help children and adults alike cope with life’s inevitable wounds. Dr. Enright also speaks on self-forgiveness, highlighting its importance in embracing one’s worth before God, especially through confession and sincere restitution. His research in diverse settings—from survivors of incest to prison inmates—demonstrates the transformative power of forgiveness on emotional, relational, and even physical well-being.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:

How does unhealed resentment affect your relationship with God and others?
In what areas of your life might God be inviting you to forgive, even if the other person hasn’t repented?
How can uniting your suffering with Christ on the cross transform your experience of injustice?
Are there ways you’ve misunderstood forgiveness—as excusing, forgetting, or reconciling—that need to be corrected?
How might your pursuit of justice be more Christ-like if it flows from a forgiving heart?
Who in your life do you need to forgive not just for their sake, but for your own healing and freedom?
How do you see the Sacrament of Reconciliation supporting both seeking and offering forgiveness?
What role does prayer and grace play in your ability to forgive someone who deeply wounded you?
How can cultivating forgiveness in your family or community reflect the mercy of Christ more fully?
In what ways have you struggled with self-forgiveness, and how can God’s mercy reshape your self-understanding?

From the book’s description:

Dr. Robert D. Enright, founder of the International Forgiveness Institute, invites you to travel with him down the road from alienation to forgiveness to possible reconciliation. His cathartic exercises will enliven your relationship with Jesus and provide a healing balm that will deepen your empathy and dispose you to forgiving others.

Similar to The Imitation of Christ, this work is divided into three books comprising short chapters with brief points to consider. The first book lays out forgiveness in general and includes biblical stories of forgiveness; the second approaches forgiveness from the Catholic perspective, including loving others through our intimate connection with Christ and seeking forgiveness ourselves; the third discusses skeptical views of forgiveness as well as self-forgiveness, forgiveness within communities, and what legacy you will leave behind.

These powerful exercises will help you understand what forgiveness actually is and why it is beneficial, including scientific studies of those who were suffering physically, psychologically, or emotionally and experienced healing.

You will learn answers to soul-searching questions and discover:

How to embrace your littleness with the humility of a beloved child of God

The Process Model of Forgiveness to aid you in becoming “forgivingly fit”

Seven forgiveness lessons in the Old Testament story of Joseph and his brothers

The three Rs that help complete the triangle of forgiveness and rebuild trust

Seven aspects of “forgiveness as redemptive suffering”

The importance of forgiveness in God’s design for our peace and joy

As you contemplate God’s love for you in these extraordinary pages, you will grow deeper in your faith through journaling prompts and transformative meditations, including penetrating questions to guide you on your path to freedom. The book has been given an imprimatur by Bishop Donald Hying of the Catholic Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin.

About the Author

Dr. Robert Enright is a member of the Catholic Church. He is a licensed psychologist and the founder of the International Forgiveness Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to disseminating knowledge about forgiveness and community renewal through forgiveness. In 2020, he was awarded the Aristotelian Professorship in Forgiveness Science in the Department of Educational Psychology at University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is the first to publish a scientific study on the topic of person-to-person forgiving (1989). He is a popular speaker on forgiveness, and his work has appeared in such outlets as Time magazine, the Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Tribune and on ABC’s 20/20. His International Forgiveness Institute organized the Jerusalem Conference on Forgiveness for the Renewal of Individuals, Families, and Communities at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center, 2017; the Rome Conference on Forgiveness at the University of Santa Croce, 2018; and the International Educational Conference on Agape Love and Forgiveness in Madison, Wisconsin, 2022. For his innovative research on forgiveness, he received in 2022 what the American Psychological Association calls “psychology’s highest awards:” the APF Gold Medal Award for Impact in Psychology..

Day 38: In the Father’s Hands – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Day 38: In the Father’s Hands

Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible)

John 10:31–42

The Jews fetched stones to stone Him, so Jesus said to them, “I have done many good works for you to see, works from My Father; for which of these are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “We are not stoning You for doing a good work, but for blasphemy: You are only a man and You claim to be God.”

Jesus answered: “Is it not written in your Law: I said, you are gods? So the Law uses the word ‘gods’ of those to whom the word of God was addressed, and scripture cannot be rejected. Yet you say to someone the Father has consecrated and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because He says, ‘I am the Son of God.’ If I am not doing My Father’s work, there is no need to believe Me; but if I am doing it, then even if you refuse to believe in Me, at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for sure that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father.”

They tried to arrest Him then, but He eluded them. He went back again to the far side of the Jordan, to the district where John had once been baptizing, and He stayed there. Many people who came to Him said, “John gave no signs, but all he said about this man was true,” and many of them believed in Him.

Reflection:

As we near the end of Lent, the tension in the Gospel rises. Jesus is no longer met with curiosity but with hostility. His words are not misunderstood—they are rejected. Still, He does not retreat in fear. He rests in the truth of who He is and remains faithful to the will of the Father.

This moment invites us to consider the cost of fidelity. When we strive to follow Christ in a world that may not understand or accept us, we too may experience opposition, confusion, or silence. But these are not signs of failure. Often, they are moments of deep purification—invitations to trust more completely in the Father, just as Jesus does.

What sustained Jesus was not popularity or ease. It was union. “The Father is in Me and I am in the Father.” This is the heart of our journey, too. Lent is not about performance. It is about deeper intimacy with the God who has consecrated and sent us into the world with a mission of love. And sometimes, faithfulness means walking forward even when we do not see the fruit.

But that doesn’t make the road easy. Many of us wrestle with fears or pressure—from relationships, from work, or from the weight of our own expectations. In those moments, we need companions. The Church encourages us to seek wise counsel: a spiritual friend, a confessor, a priest or religious who can help us remember who we are and who we belong to. We are not alone.

The Desert Father Evagrius Ponticus wrote:

“When the mind is stripped, and empty of thoughts, then it can enter into the depths where Christ dwells.”
(Chapters on Prayer, 67)

It is in stillness that we begin to recognize the voice of the Father and rest in His care. Let us not fear the places of quiet where we feel unseen or unrecognized. It may be there that Christ draws us into His own hidden life of love.

St. Teresa of Calcutta, who knew well the silence of God, reminds us:

“God has not called me to be successful. He has called me to be faithful.”

Today, let us walk with Jesus in trust. Even when misunderstood or rejected, we are in the Father’s hands. That is where our peace lies.

Reflection Questions:

Are there places in your life where you are experiencing resistance or misunderstanding in your faith journey?
How can you deepen your trust in the Father, even when His presence feels hidden?
Who might you turn to for support and wise counsel in your spiritual walk?

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You were not afraid to speak truth, even when it brought rejection. You stayed faithful because You knew the love of the Father. Teach me to trust in that same love. Help me not to be discouraged by the misunderstandings or struggles I face. Let me rest in Your presence and draw strength from the knowledge that I am never alone.

Amen.

Day 37: Before Abraham Was, I Am – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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A Lenten Spiritual Journey with Discerning Hearts: From Ashes to Glory – Discerning Hearts Podcast

Day 37: Before Abraham Was, I Am

Scripture Reading: (Jerusalem Bible)

John 8:51–59

Jesus said to the Jews: “I tell you solemnly, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.” The Jews said, “Now we know that You are possessed. Abraham is dead, and the prophets are dead, and yet You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he will never know the taste of death.’ Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? The prophets are dead too. Who are You claiming to be?”

Jesus answered: “If I were to seek My own glory that would be no glory at all; My glory is conferred by the Father, by the One of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’ although you do not know Him. But I know Him, and if I were to say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I should be a liar, as you are. But I do know Him, and I keep His word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to think that he would see My Day; he saw it and was glad.”

The Jews then said, “You are not fifty yet, and You have seen Abraham!” Jesus replied: “I tell you solemnly, before Abraham ever was, I Am.” At this they picked up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and left the Temple.

Reflection:

This Gospel reaches a dramatic and profound turning point: Jesus reveals not only His mission, but His identity. “Before Abraham ever was, I Am.” It is a name that echoes the voice of God from the burning bush—a claim that leaves no room for ambiguity. Jesus is not merely a prophet or a teacher. He is the Eternal One. The Word made flesh.

But what does this mean for us, especially in these final days of Lent?

It means that in Christ, we are not following a distant ideal—we are being invited into communion with the Living God. Lent is not just about moral effort. It is about relationship. To keep His word, as Jesus says, is to remain in that relationship—faithful, trusting, open.

And yet, we know how hard that can be. There are days we feel distant. Times when questions cloud our faith. Moments when silence feels louder than the presence of God. Like those in today’s Gospel, we can be tempted to react with skepticism or resistance—especially when Jesus asks for deeper surrender.

But Lent teaches us to stay in the conversation. To ask—not with cynicism, but with longing—“Who are You claiming to be?” And to listen for His answer. Jesus does not force belief; He reveals, patiently and truthfully, again and again.

St. Teresa of Calcutta once said:

“When you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you. When you look at the Sacred Host, you understand how much Jesus loves you now.”
(Jesus, the Word to Be Spoken: Prayers and Meditations by Mother Teresa, edited by Brother Angelo Devananda, 1996)

And from Evagrius Ponticus, one of the great voices of early Christian wisdom:

“If you are a theologian, you will pray truly; and if you pray truly, you are a theologian.”
(Chapters on Prayer, 61)

To stay close to Jesus, we need prayer—not just as obligation, but as encounter. We need silence to listen. Scripture to anchor us. And people who can walk with us when the path feels unclear. God has not left us alone. And Jesus, the Great I Am, does not abandon His own.

Reflection Questions:

What does Jesus’ identity as “I Am” mean for your life today?
Are there places of resistance or fear in your heart where Christ is inviting deeper trust?
How can prayer help you remain in relationship with the Living God today?

Closing Prayer:

Jesus, You are the Eternal Word, the Living God who calls me to communion. Help me to keep Your word not only with my lips but with my life. Teach me to stay with You in prayer, even when I do not understand. Open my heart to the mystery of who You are, and let that truth lead me into deeper love, deeper freedom, and deeper faith.

Amen.