Episode 3 -Stations of the Cross: Reflections with Deacon James Keating

The Stations of the Cross – one of the most powerful devotionals alive in the heart of the Church. Reflecting and deeply meditating on the Passion of the Christ, Deacon Keating guides us through the 6th station (Veronica wipes the face of Jesus), the 7th station (Jesus falls a 2nd time), and the 8th station (Jesus encounters the women of Jerusalem) along the Way of the Cross.

Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at...

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

Day 17: “God’s Steadfast Love and Forgiveness”

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Micah 7:18-19
“Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of your possession? He does not retain his anger forever because he delights in showing steadfast love. He will again have compassion upon us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”

Reflection:

Today’s s...

2nd Friday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 21:33-43,45-46

Jesus said to the chief p...



The Cross of Christ Unites. . .Us in the Work We Have to Do

Steps to Take as You Follow Christ

Ask—How can dying to myself help me to know God’s purpose?

Seek—Ask others to describe what your gifts are, and where they see you as being most authentic in your life. Resolve to see everyone who crosses your path as the servants that God sends to obtain fruit from the harvest.

Knock—Meditate on Revelation 22:1–2.

Then the angel showed me the river of life, rising fr...

In Place of Materialism, Gratitude – The Holy Rule of St. Benedict with Fr. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B

In this episode of The Holy Rule of St. Benedict: A Spiritual Path for Today’s World, Kris McGregor and Fr. Mauritius Wilde, OSB reflect on Chapter 6 of the Rule of St. Benedict, which addresses restraint of speech and the spiritual importance of silence. In a culture overflowing with words, St. Benedict proposes something countercultural: silence as the pathway to deeper listening. Drawing on Scripture and the wisdom of the monastic tradition, the Rule reminds us that “in a f...

The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor

Episode 16 – The First Degree of Humility

In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on the first degree of humility in Chapter 7 of the Holy Rule. St. Benedict begins with a simple but decisive foundation: keeping the fear of God always before our eyes. Humility begins when the heart lives with a steady awareness of God’s presence. This remembrance restores proper order to daily life and...



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

Day 16: “Blessed Are Those Who Trust in the Lord”

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Jeremiah 17:7-8
“Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream. It shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green; in the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Refle...

2nd Thurday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel of St. Luke 16:19-31

Jesus said to the...



The Cross of Christ Unites. . .Those Who Suffer for Justice

Steps to Take as You Follow Christ

Ask—What does God ask me to do for those who suffer?

Seek—Look for opportunities to help someone who needs it (and who cannot help you back). Stand up for someone who is being brought low.

Knock—Meditate on Romans 8:18.

I think that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory, as yet unrevealed, which is waiting for us.

As members of the b...

The Clergy – Love’s Earthly Form – Roots of the Faith with Mike Aquilina

Mike Aquilina and Kris McGregor discuss the sacrament of Holy Orders and its roots in the earliest life of the Church. Jesus entrusted the apostles with continuing His work when He commanded them at the Last Supper to “do this in memory of me,” establishing a structure that appears already in the New Testament: bishops, priests, and deacons. Early Christian writings confirm that this threefold ministry was present from the beginning and connected with the priestly pattern of Israel—high priest, priests, and...

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

Day 15: “Whoever Wishes to Be Great Must Be a Servant”

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Matthew 20:26-28
“Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reflection:

Jesus challenges us today with a profound truth abou...

2nd Wednesday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 20:17-28

Jesus was going u...

The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor

Episode 15 – Humility as Truth

In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor enters Chapter 7 during the third week of Lent as St. Benedict turns explicitly to humility. What has been quietly formed through listening, obedience and charity is now named. Humility is not weakness or self-negation. It is truth lived steadily before God.

Grounded in Scripture, Benedict teaches that humility is ordered relationship. God is Go...



The Cross of Christ Unites. . .In Liberty

Steps to Take as You Follow Christ

Ask—What continues to enslave me?

Seek—Ask God to point out areas of slavery that still exist in your life. As you go through your day, catch yourself not being true to who you really are, and ask yourself: Who are you serving now?

Knock—Meditate on Romans 7:22–25.

In my inmost self I dearly love God’s Law, but I can see that my body follows a different law that battles against the law...

The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor

Episode 14 – Receiving Admonition and Correction

In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on St. Benedict’s teaching about receiving correction. As Chapter 5 concludes, obedience is tested in a practical way: how the heart responds when it is admonished or redirected. Correction reveals whether humility is truly taking root. The Holy Rule treats correction not as punishment but as part of ordinary spiritual formation.

S...

The Desert of Ordinary Life – Crossing the Desert: Lent and Conversion with Deacon James Keating

In this episode, Deacon James Keating and Kris McGregor discuss integrating faith into daily life, warning against separating religion from ordinary activities. They stress the need for vulnerability in worship to avoid routine and self-centeredness.

Lent offers opportunities for spiritual growth, including reconciliation and stations of the cross. They lament the decline of shame and public judgment in society, emphasizing the community’s role in upholding moral truth. The Eucharist brings peace and transforms individuals, impacting society thro...

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

Day 14: “The Path of Humility and True Greatness”

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Matthew 23:11-12
“The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Reflection:

Jesus turns our understanding of greatness upside down: “The greatest among you must be your servant.” In a world that often celebrates power, ambition, and self-promotion, Jesus calls us to a different kind of greatness—one ro...

2nd Tuesday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel of Matthew 23:1-12

Addressing the people and...



The Cross of Christ Unites. . .In Humility

Steps to Take as You Follow Christ

Ask——In what areas of my life do I have the most trouble with pride?

Seek—Pray the Litany of Humility. What parts of the litany do you find it most difficult to say? Take concrete steps to defer to others throughout the day, to die to yourself in little things. For the Litany of Humility, visit here

Knock—

Meditate on Philippians 2:5–11 and pray that God will give you the mind of Christ.

The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor

Episode 13 – Obedience Without Murmuring

In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on St. Benedict’s warning against murmuring. Obedience is not only about completing a task. It includes the consent of the heart. When the exterior action is finished but the interior resistance remains, the heart is divided. The Holy Rule teaches that fidelity requires unity between action and intention.

Murmuring often disg...

How Can I Be Drawn to Such Things? – Struggles in the Spiritual Life with Fr. Timothy Gallagher O.M.V.

Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor reflect on spiritual desolation through Beth’s story. After a draining day, she feels too discouraged to pray and instead turns to gossip, television, and social media, ending the night ashamed. Ordinary fatigue can open the door to deeper discouragement and a pull toward “low and earthly” things.

The pull itself isn’t sinful; what matters is recognizing it and choosing how to respond. Desolation often whispers “I can’t,” ye...

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

Day 13: “Be Merciful as Your Father is Merciful”

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Luke 6:36-38
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be...

2nd Monday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel of Luke 6:36-38

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be compassion...



The Cross of Christ Unites. . .Those Divided by Sin

Steps to Take as You Follow Christ

Ask—Whom do I treat as an outsider in God’s kingdom?

Seek—As you go about your daily activities, think about how often you see someone else as “one of them” rather than “one of us.” Of course, people are all unique and different. However, the gospel calls us to break down artificial barriers that prevent us from expressing the unity God desires.

Knock—Meditate on 1 Peter 2:21–24 while holding a crucifix in your hands.

The Power of the Cross, applying the Passion of Christ to your life

Episode 3: The Cross of Christ unites us… – Ash Wednesday through Saturday of that week.

In Episode 3 of The Power of the Cross, Michael Dubruiel reflects on the Cross as a uniting force that draws together heaven and earth, mercy and truth, humility and love. During the Second Week of Lent, the Cross is revealed not only as the place of suffering, but as the point where God’s transforming grace meets the reality of daily life.

Through Scripture, story...

The Second Sunday of Lent: The Transfiguration and Listening to Christ – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff Podcast

In this Second Sunday of Lent reflection, Msgr. John Esseff invites listeners into the mystery of the Transfiguration from the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus reveals his glory on the mountain as he prepares to face suffering and death. The mountain of light is inseparable from the mountain of Calvary. Jesus stands between glory and the cross, revealing that resurrection is reached only through suffering freely embraced in trust and obedience to the Father.

The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor

Episode 12 – Unhesitating Obedience

In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on the beginning of Chapter 5 and St. Benedict’s teaching on unhesitating obedience. This obedience is not compliance or loss of freedom. It is a readiness born of love. When Christ is cherished above all, the heart is not divided. It becomes able to respond promptly and peacefully.

St. Benedict roots obedience in d...

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

Day 12: “The Call to Deeper Prayer and Surrender”

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Psalm 27:8-9
“My heart says of You, ‘Seek His face!’ Your face, Lord, I will seek. Do not hide Your face from me, do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior.”

Reflection:

Lent calls us deeper—not into more activity, but into greater surrender. The spiritual li...

Episode 3 – The Cross of Christ teaches us… – Second Week

In “The Power of the Cross”, Michael Dubruiel penned a truly exceptional meditation on the Cross of Christ which serves beautifully as a source for reflection any time of the year, but it is particularly poignant and compelling during the weeks of Lent. Several years ago Bruce and I had the chance to have a series of conversations with Michael during Lent using his book for reflection…it was a big hit with the audience. Those discussions have been remastered and made available once again here. Michael died unexpectedly...

2nd Sunday of Lent – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 17:1-9

Jesus took with h...



The Cross of Christ Unites. . .the Temporal and Eternal

Steps to Take as You Follow Christ

Ask—How does the “light” of Christ shine into the darkness of my world?

Seek—At every moment of the day say with St. Peter, “Lord, it is good that we are here!” Realize that when we follow Jesus we see the cross in a new light; we see everything anew where once we could only curse the darkness.

Knock—Meditate on 2 Peter 1:17-19.

He was honoured and glorified by God the Father, when...

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

Day 11: “Love Your Enemies”

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Matthew 5:43-48
“You have learnt how it was said: You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say this to you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; in this way, you will be sons of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and his rain to fall on the h...

1st Saturday of Lent- A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 5:43-48

Jesus said to his disciples...



The Cross of Christ Teaches Us. . .How to Love

Steps to Take as You Follow Christ

Ask——Do I allow God to love through me?

Seek—Keep before you the image of Jesus forgiving those who nailed him on the cross and see everyone with whom you come into contact through Christ. Think about how Christ died for those people and how precious they are as children of God, the same God who loves you

Knock—Meditate on 1 John 4:11–12.

My dear people, since God has loved us so much...

The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor

Episode 11 – Before the Setting of the Sun

In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on St. Benedict’s instruction not to nurse anger or harbor a grudge, but to make peace before the setting of the sun. The Holy Rule recognizes how quietly resentment can settle into the heart and distort judgment over time. Peace is not optional in Benedictine life. It is necessary for...

Episode 2 -Stations of the Cross: Reflections with Deacon James Keating 
The Stations of the Cross – one of the most powerful devotionals alive in the heart of the Church. Reflecting and deeply meditating on the Passion of the Christ, Deacon Keating guides us through the 3rd station (Jesus falls the first time), the 4th station (Jesus encounters His Blessed Mother), and the 5th station (Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry the Cross) along the Way of the Cross.

For other episodes in the “Stations of the Cross” series click here

Deacon James Keating...

St. Gregory of Narek – The Doctors of the Church: The Charism of Wisdom with Dr. Matthew Bunson

Dr. Matthew Bunson and Kris McGregor discuss the significance of St. Gregory of Narek being declared the 36th Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2015. St. Gregory’s profound contributions to Christian spirituality, particularly his “Book of Lamentations,” is a collection of 95 poetic prayers that deeply resonate with themes of humility, suffering, and the longing for union with God. A mystic...

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

Day 10: “Reconciliation and Forgiveness”

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Matthew 5:23-24
“If you are bringing your offering to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first, and then come back and present your offering.”

Reflection:

Forgiveness is the doorway to healing, the first step toward true reconciliation. We accept that a past action has...

1st Friday of Lent- A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.

Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”

Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…

From the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew 5:20-26

Jesus said to his disciples...

The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life: Learning to Listen to God with a Discerning Heart with Kris McGregor

Episode 10 – Preferring Nothing to Christ

In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on St. Benedict’s call to concrete charity and the decisive command to prefer nothing whatever to Christ. The tools of good works now move outward into ordinary and demanding circumstances where real human need presents itself. These works are not sentimental gestures. They are steady expressions of love lived through presence, rest...