Msgr. John Esseff - Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts Discerning Hearts

In this episode, which coincides with Trinity Sunday, Msgr. Esseff delves into the Christian belief in the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He emphasizes the significance of this doctrine, referencing the Old Testament’s monotheism and the New Testament’s revelation of the triune God. He explains the historical and theological development of the doctrine, particularly through the Nicene Creed and the early Church councils.

Msgr. Esseff highlights the personal relationship believers have with each person of the Trinity, especially the importance of addressing the Father in prayer, as taught by Jesus. He also discusses the transformative power of the sacraments, particularly baptism and the Eucharist, in uniting Christians with the Trinity. The podcast concludes with a reflection on the role of saints as radiations of Trinitarian life and a call to deepen one’s personal relationship with God.

Reading 2 Rom 8:14-17

Brothers and sisters:

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear,

but you received a Spirit of adoption,

through whom we cry, “Abba, Father!”

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit

that we are children of God,

and if children, then heirs,

heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ,

if only we suffer with him

so that we may also be glorified with him.

Gospel Mt 28:16-20

The eleven disciples went to Galilee,

to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.

When they all saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.

Then Jesus approached and said to them,

“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”



Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:



* Understanding the Trinity: How does the concept of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—shape your personal understanding of God and your daily prayer life?

* Personal Relationship with God: Reflect on your prayer practices. Do you primarily address one Person of the Trinity in your prayers? How can you deepen your relationship with each Person of the Trinity?

* Sacramental Life: Consider the importance of baptism and the Eucharist as described by Msgr. Esseff. How do these sacraments influence your sense of identity and belonging in the Church?

* Role of the Saints: Msgr. Esseff mentions that saints radiate the Trinitarian life within them. Reflect on a saint who inspires you. How does this saint’s life exemplify a deep relationship with the Trinity?

* Faith in Practice: How can you incorporate the teachings of the Holy Trinity into your daily actions and interactions with others? What steps can you take to live out your faith more fully in light of this understanding?



 

 

Monsignor Esseff reflects on the scripture readings of the Third Sunday of Easter. Through our sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and Eucharist, who do we become? We discover the potential of Peter and the early Christian community, transformed by their Pentecost experience. In this Easter season, the Church guides us to understand and cherish the gift of the Holy Spirit and the emergence of the Church at Pentecost, both historically and in the present. What implications does this have for us today? How are we summoned to be evangelists and authentic witnesses of Truth and Hope?











Reading 1 ACTS 2:14, 22-33



Then Peter stood up with the Eleven,

raised his voice, and proclaimed:

“You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem.

Let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

You who are Israelites, hear these words.

Jesus the Nazarene was a man commended to you by God

with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs,

which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.

This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God,

you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.

But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death,

because it was impossible for him to be held by it.

For David says of him:

I saw the Lord ever before me,

with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted;

my flesh, too, will dwell in hope,

because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,

nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.

You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence.

“My brothers, one can confidently say to you

about the patriarch David that he died and was buried,

and his tomb is in our midst to this day.

But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him

that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,

he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,

that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld

nor did his flesh see corruption.

God raised this Jesus;

of this we are all witnesses.

Exalted at the right hand of God,

he received the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father

and poured him forth, as you see and hear.”f



 

 

 

 

Msgr. Esseff reflects on the readings for the 2nd Sunday of Easter and it's meanings for our lives. He discusses the identity of the Christian, and in particular, what it means to be a "Catholic".

Happy Easter!!!! Have You Encountered Jesus? – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff

Join Msgr. John Esseff as he reflects on the mystery of Easter and our relationship with the Risen Christ.





Gospel JN 20:1-9

“On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.”

Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine;



Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. Msgr. Esseff served as 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. 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 St. Pope 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.

A Special Good Friday Reflection with Msgr. John Esseff – Building a Kingdom of Love – Discerning Hearts Podcast



In a poignant episode of the Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcast, Msgr. John Esseff and Kris McGregor engage in a deep reflection on the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, drawing parallels to the personal tribulations faced by believers. They revisit the profound impact of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” emphasizing its visceral portrayal of Jesus’s physical agony and the enduring strength of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which offers solace and companionship in moments of unbearable pain.

Msgr. Esseff explores the significance of various episodes within the crucifixion narrative, such as the compassion shown by Pilate’s wife and the symbolism embodied in the Stations of the Cross. He encourages listeners to find personal resonance in Jesus’s journey, suggesting that the injustices and trials faced in our lives can be spiritually united with Christ’s sufferings.

Further, Msgr. Esseff delves into the deeper theological and existential implications of the crucifixion, considering it a manifestation of God’s boundless love and mercy. He underscores the transformative power of sharing in Christ’s pain, which not only fosters a profound communion with Him but also imbues our own sufferings with redemptive value.

In conclusion, the podcast extends an invitation to embrace the cross, not merely as a symbol of suffering but as a testament to divine love’s triumph over adversity. Through this contemplative journey, listeners are encouraged to perceive Good Friday not just as a day of mourning but as an opportunity for intimate union with Christ, ultimately finding solace and renewal in His sacrificial love.



Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions



* Personal Connection with Christ’s Passion: Reflect on a time when you felt unjustly treated or misunderstood. How can you relate this personal experience to the sufferings of Jesus during His Passion? In what ways can this reflection deepen your relationship with Christ?

* Role of Mary: Consider the strength and steadfastness of the Blessed Virgin Mary as she witnessed her Son’s crucifixion. How can Mary’s example inspire you to maintain faith and hope during your own trials and tribulations?

* The Power of the Cross: The cross is a central symbol in Christianity representing suffering, redemption, and victory over sin. How does the cross speak to you in your life’s challenges? Can you identify an instance where a personal ‘cross’ led to growth or deeper faith?

* Empathy and Compassion: The podcast mentions acts of kindness, such as Pilate’s wife providing towels or Veronica wiping Jesus’s face. When have you shown or received compassion in difficult times? How do these acts of mercy reflect the love of Christ?

* Identification with Jesus’s Sufferings: Msgr. Esseff encourages listeners to find elements of their own sufferings in Jesus’s Passion. What aspects of Jesus’s journey to Calvary resonate most with you? How can contemplating these moments enhance your understanding of suffering and redemption?

* The Significance of Good Friday: Despite the sorrow and pain associated with it, Good Friday is deemed ‘good’ because of what Jesus accomplished through His death. What does Good Friday mean to you? How does it influence your perception of sacrifice, forgiveness, and salvation?

* Spiritual Solidarity with the Crucified Christ: In what ways can you stand in solidarity with Christ in His suffering today? How can you incorporate the lessons of perseverance, faith, and love demonstrated by Jesus on the cross into your daily life?

* Transformation through Suffering: The podcast highlights how suffering,

Conference 3: The Holy Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday) – That All May Be One:  A Holy Week Retreat /w Msgr. Esseff & Sr. Cor Immaculatum Heffernan – Discerning Hearts Online Retreat

Retreat Directors: Monsignor John A. Esseff and Sister Cor Immaculatum Heffernan, IHM

The Paschal Mystery

The Last Supper…Passion…Death…Burial

Theme: Jesus’ love, humility, suffering, dying – John 13 – 18 

Holy Thursday The Lord’s Supper



* Jesus washes the disciples’ feet John 13: 1-20

* Jesus announces Judas’ betrayal John 13: 21-30

* The Bread of Life Discourse John 6: 22-51

* Take and eat…this is my body 26: 26-30

* Jesus’ passion, death, resurrection



Eucharist is the gift of Jesus, suffering, dying, rising.

We are Baptized into Jesus, we are to suffer, die, and rise…

My Suffering: Wounds in the Sacred Heart of Jesus – When did I suffer, die, rise?



* As a child – sexual & physical abuse; being made fun of; called names; rejected; did I relate my suffering to Jesus’ suffering?

* As a teenager – bullying; rejection; divorce of parents; did I realize that the depth of my suffering could be united to the wounds of Jesus?

* Throughout my life, what were – and are – my little and big crosses? Have I united them to Jesus’ wounded Heart?



 

Good Friday: The Passion, Death, and Burial of Jesus



* You are invited to reflect on Jesus and your own experiences of suffering during these days of rejection, abandonment, condemnation, torture, death, and burial.

* When were you lied about? falsely accused? rejected?  scorned? abandoned?

* Who was your Peter? Judas?





The friend who deserted you?  The person who ruined your reputation?



* Who was your Simon? Veronica?  Mary?  John?



Suffering and death are not the final answer…



* The Christian life is one of JOY…always ends in happiness…in GLORY.

* Mary took Jesus down from the Cross…held Him in her arms… prepared Him for burial…laid Him in the tomb…went home with John – John 19: 38-42



Holy Saturday with Mary

          Spend Saturday with Mary…be with her…talk to her… listen to her



Forgiveness Litany

The Lord spoke very clearly when He said: “And so, when you stand in prayer, forgive whatever you have against anybody so that your Father in Heaven may forgive you your failings, too”. Mark 11: 25

Lord Jesus, I ask that You give me the grace to forgive any person who has hurt me at any time in my life.  I ask, too, that I may be forgiven those persons whom I have hurt.

Significant areas of forgiveness may include:

God, I forgive YOU for:

Lord, I forgive MYSELF for:

Lord, I truly forgive my MOTHER for:

Jesus, I forgive my FATHER for:

Lord, I extend my forgiveness to my BROTHERS and SISTERS for:

Lord, I forgive my RELATIVES for:

Jesus, I forgive my HUSBAND/WIFE for:

Jesus, I forgive the PEOPLE with whom I work for:

Jesus, I forgive my BOSS for:

Lord, I forgive those of DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS BELIEFS for:

Lord, I forgive those who have harmed me ETHNICALLY or RACIALLY for:

Jesus, I pray especially the grace to forgive the ONE PERSON who has HURT ME the MOST:

Lord, I beg pardon of all those persons whom I HAVE HURT most deeply:

Thank You, Jesus, that I am being freed of the evil of unforgiveness.

 May Your Holy Spirit fill me with light and let every dark area of my mind be enlightened.



Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He served as 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.  He has lived in areas around the world,