How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings glad tidings,
announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,
“Your God is King!”
Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry,
together they shout for joy,
for they see directly, before their eyes,
the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD comforts his people,
he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
all the ends of the earth will behold
the salvation of our God.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him,
and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through him was life,
and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God.
He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world,
and the world came to be through him,
but the world did not know him.
He came to what was his own,
but his own people did not accept him.But to those who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in his name,
who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision
but of God.
And the Word became flesh
and made his dwelling among us,
and we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying,
“This was he of whom I said,
‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.
On Christmas Eve, the grand sweeping journey of salvation history comes to an important epoch with the “yes” of a virgin named Mary. From that point, the world is transformed forever. Msgr. Esseff challenges all of us to identify the tendency or flaw that cripples us. Give whatever that is to God. Christ has the power to heal you and change you into the person you were created to be. He encourages us to allow the Father in Heaven to embrace and love us.
Discerning Hearts questions for reflection on this episode:
Understanding God’s Plan: Reflect on a time in your life when you felt that God was guiding you through a difficult situation. How did you perceive His presence and guidance during this time, and how has this experience influenced your faith and trust in God’s plan for your life?
Role of the Sacraments: Consider the importance of the sacraments in your Catholic faith. How do sacraments like Baptism, Confession, the Eucharist, and Confirmation strengthen your relationship with God? What personal transformations or experiences have you had through participating in these sacraments?
Living the Beatitudes: The Beatitudes are a central teaching of Jesus. Choose one Beatitude that resonates with you the most. How do you apply this Beatitude in your daily life, and what challenges and rewards have you encountered in trying to live out this teaching of Christ?
Forgiveness and Reconciliation: Reflect on a time when you found it difficult to forgive someone or seek forgiveness. How did you overcome these challenges, and what role did prayer, reflection, or the teachings of the Church play in this process? How did this experience impact your understanding of God’s forgiveness?
Personal Calling and Vocation: In what ways do you feel called by God to serve others and contribute to the Church’s mission? How do you discern your vocation or calling, and what steps are you taking to fulfill this calling in your daily life, whether through your career, volunteer work, family life, or community involvement?
When King David was settled in his palace,
and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet,
“Here I am living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”
Nathan answered the king,
“Go, do whatever you have in mind,
for the LORD is with you.”
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD:
Should you build me a house to dwell in?“‘It was I who took you from the pasture
and from the care of the flock
to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went,
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel;
I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you
that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his Kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.’”
Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, saying:“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
for he has come to his people and set them free.
He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,
born of the house of his servant David.
Through his prophets he promised of old
that he would save us from our enemies,
from the hands of all who hate us.
He promised to show mercy to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant.
This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
to set us free from the hand of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear,
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.
You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
by the forgiveness of their sins.
In the tender compassion of our God
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
The Fourth Sunday of Advent – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
On the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Msgr. Esseff reflects on the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary; her profound humility and obedience, which serve as the cornerstone of salvation through Christ. Drawing on scriptural passages, he highlights Mary’s pivotal role in the Incarnation, her identification with the “lowly,” and her deep faith in God’s will. He intertwines Mary’s example with the Christmas story. It inspires us to embrace the simplicity, humility, and joy embodied by the Holy Family. He also shares his personal experiences celebrating Christmas in Peru, illustrating how material poverty often coincides with spiritual richness and authentic joy.
Families should cultivate virtues of love, sacrifice, and service. Msgr. Esseff recounts the lives of saints and personal heroes, including his own mother and grandfather, as examples of humility and holiness in everyday life.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
The Role of Humility in Salvation How does Mary’s humility and submission to God’s will inspire your understanding of obedience in your own spiritual life?
Mary as the Model Disciple In what ways can you imitate Mary’s faith and trust in God during times of uncertainty or difficulty?
The Simplicity of Christmas How can you embrace the simplicity and humility of the Holy Family in your own Christmas preparations and celebrations?
Recognizing Spiritual Richness in Poverty What lessons can you draw from the spiritually rich yet materially poor communities Monsignor Esseff describes, and how can they transform your perspective on gratitude?
The Transformative Power of the Nativity How can reflecting on the nativity scene help you encounter Christ more deeply in your daily life and relationships?
Living as Witnesses of Joy and Peace How can you radiate the joy and peace of Christmas to others in your family, community, and workplace?
The Saints as Examples of Holiness Who are the everyday “saints” in your life that inspire you to grow in holiness, and how can you emulate their virtues?
Preparing Your Heart for Christ What steps can you take during Advent to spiritually prepare your heart for Christ’s arrival this Christmas?
“Mary set out
and traveled to the hill country in haste
to a town of Judah,
where she entered the house of Zechariah
and greeted Elizabeth.
When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,
the infant leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,
cried out in a loud voice and said,
“Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
And how does this happen to me,
that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,
the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed are you who believed
that what was spoken to you by the Lord
would be fulfilled.”
Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30, 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served a retreat director and confessor to St. Mother Teresa. 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 St. Pope John Paul II to bring the Good News to the world especially to the poor. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and continues to serve as a spiritual director for the Institute. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians and other religious leaders around the world.
The First Sunday of Advent – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
On the First Sunday of Advent, Msgr. Esseff shares two deeply moving testimonies that reveal the power of love, faith, and the kingship of Christ. The first story follows a Christian couple who defied medical advice to abort their “defective” child, trusting instead in God’s providence. Their faith was rewarded with the birth of a healthy baby who grew into a successful firefighter.
The second testimony recounts the spiritual transformation of a man named Tom, who initially struggled with anger and control but was ultimately led to conversion through a miraculous encounter with God at work. Tom’s journey deepened as he faced the rebellion of his adopted daughter, whose waywardness became a crucible of love and surrender to God’s kingship. Christ’s kingship is established first in individual hearts through love, truth, and submission to God’s will. He calls us to embrace Jesus as their King by inviting Him to rule over their lives, bringing redemption and purpose to even the most difficult circumstances.
Through these reflections, Msgr. Esseff reminds us that Christ’s dominion is one of gentle, transformative love that triumphs in every soul willing to surrender to His will.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
Trusting in God’s Plan for Life: How can you grow in trusting God’s providence, especially in situations that challenge your beliefs about the sanctity of life?
Recognizing Christ’s Kingship: In what ways can you acknowledge Jesus as King in your daily actions and decisions?
Faith in the Midst of Trials: How does your faith sustain you when faced with difficult choices or seemingly insurmountable obstacles?
Surrendering Control to God: Where in your life are you still trying to maintain control, and how can you surrender those areas to God’s will?
Living as a Witness to Love: How can you model Christ’s love in your relationships, even with those who are difficult to love?
Understanding Conversion Through Love: What role has love played in your own conversion or deepening of faith, and how can you extend that love to others?
Extending God’s Kingdom in Your Heart: How can you allow Christ to reign more fully in your heart and bring His kingdom into your daily life?
Patience with God’s Timing: How can you cultivate patience and trust in God’s timing, especially when His plans seem delayed or unclear?
Brothers and sisters:
You know the time;
it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.
For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed;
the night is advanced, the day is at hand.
Let us then throw off the works of darkness
and put on the armor of light;
let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day,
not in orgies and drunkenness,
not in promiscuity and lust,
not in rivalry and jealousy.
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
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 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. Msgr. Esseff assisted the founders of the Institute for Priestly Formation and continues to serve as a spiritual director for the Institute. He continues to serve as a retreat leader and director to bishops, priests and sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders around the world.
St. Therese, the Little Flower – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
Msgr. John Esseff and Kris McGregor discuss the spirituality and life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as “The Little Flower.” Msgr. Esseff reflects on the humble, childlike simplicity and profound love that characterized St. Thérèse’s life. Although she lived a hidden existence in a Carmelite convent and died at the age of 24, she transformed everyday moments into acts of sacrificial love for God, even embracing small annoyances and difficult people as opportunities for spiritual growth.
Her life challenges modern notions of success, showing that prayer, humility, and love for others can lead to spiritual greatness. St. Thérèse’s “Little Way” of love and trust in God has inspired countless people, and she is recognized as a patroness of missions, despite never leaving her convent. Msgr. Esseff shares personal stories of her intercession and the miraculous signs people receive, such as roses, when invoking her in prayer.
Childlike innocence, humility, and prayer are important in the Christian life. St. Thérèse’s example is presented as a model for living with love, simplicity, and faith in God’s hidden work, encouraging us to embrace prayer and spiritual intercession in our lives.
Discerning Hearts Discussion Questions
The Value of Hiddenness in Spiritual Life
How can I embrace the hidden and ordinary moments of my life as opportunities to grow in love and holiness, following St. Thérèse’s example?
Transforming Annoyances into Love
Am I willing to see everyday frustrations and difficult relationships as occasions for offering sacrificial love to God?
Childlike Simplicity and Trust
Do I approach God with the trust, humility, and simplicity of a child, as Jesus teaches in the Gospel?
Prayer and Intercession in My Life
How can I deepen my reliance on prayer and the intercession of the saints and angels in my daily challenges and decisions?
Defining True Success and Attractiveness
Do I seek recognition and approval from the world, or do I strive to cultivate inner beauty and virtue through humility and love for others?
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 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, sisters and seminarians, and other religious leaders around the world.
St. Padre Pio and the Healing of the Church – Building a Kingdom of Love with Msgr. John Esseff
In this episode, Monsignor John Esseff shares his profound experiences with St. Padre Pio, offering a unique glimpse into the saint’s life, suffering, and sanctity. Monsignor Esseff recounts his personal encounters with Padre Pio, including a transformative moment during the saint’s Eucharistic celebration in 1959, where he witnessed the bleeding stigmata. Padre Pio’s example of humility, obedience, and faith amidst rejection serves as an inspiring reminder of the cost of following Christ. Monsignor Esseff also emphasizes the grace available to all of us, highlighting the importance of prayer and the Eucharist in staying connected to God’s will.
Join Kris McGregor and Monsignor Esseff as they reflect on how we are called to be lights in the world, radiating Christ’s love even through suffering.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions
How does the example of St. Padre Pio’s suffering and obedience challenge your understanding of what it means to follow Christ faithfully, even when facing rejection or misunderstanding?
In what ways can you embrace the daily crosses in your life, uniting your sufferings with Christ, as St. Padre Pio did through his stigmata and spiritual trials?
How can the Eucharist become a more central part of your spiritual life, as it was for St. Padre Pio, who drew strength from it even in the midst of his physical and emotional pain?
Are there areas in your life where you feel distant from God or struggle to see His presence? How can you deepen your connection through prayer, as St. Padre Pio’s prayer “Stay with me, Lord” invites us to?
What does it mean to be a “light on a lampstand” in your current circumstances? How can you radiate Christ’s love and truth in a world that often rejects or misunderstands the Christian message?
St. Padre Pio Communion Prayer:
Stay with me, Lord, for it is necessary to have you present so that I do not forget You. You know how easily I abandon You
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my life and without You I am without fervor.
Stay with me, Lord, for You are my light and without You I am in darkness.
Stay with me, Lord, so that I hear Your voice and follow You.
Stay with me, Lord, for I desire to love You very much and alway be in Your company.
Stay with me, Lord, if You wish me to be faithful to You.
Stay with me, Lord, as poor as my soul is I want it to be a place of consolation for You, a nest of Love.
Stay with me, Jesus, for it is getting late and the day is coming to a close and life passes, death, judgment and eternity approach. It is necessary to renew my strenth, so that I will not stop along the way and for that, I need You. It is getting late and death approaches, I fear the darkness, the temptations, the dryness, the cross, the sorrows. O how I need You, my Jesus, in this night of exile!
Stay with me tonight, Jesus, in life with all its dangers, I need You.
Let me recognize You as Your disciples did at the breaking of the bread, so that the Eucharistic Communion be the Light which disperses the darkness, the force which sustains me, the unique joy of my heart.
Stay with me, Lord, because at the hour of my death, I want to remain united to You, if not by Communion, at least by grace and love.
Stay with me, Lord, for it is You alone I look for, Your Love, Your Grace, Your Will, Your Heart, Your Spirit, because I love You and ask no other reward but to love You more and more.
With a firm love, I will love You with all my heart while on earth and continue to love You perfectly during all eternity. Amen.
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.
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.
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?
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
Who are you? Your Catholic Identity on Divine Mercy Sunday with Msgr. John Esseff
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the readings for Divine Mercy Sunday and it’s meanings for our lives. He discusses the identity of the Christian, and in particular, what it means to be a “Catholic”.
Many signs and wonders were done among the people
at the hands of the apostles.
They were all together in Solomon’s portico.
None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them.
Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord,
great numbers of men and women, were added to them.
Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets
and laid them on cots and mats
so that when Peter came by,
at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them.
A large number of people from the towns
in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered,
bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits,
and they were all cured.
Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30, 1953, by the late Bishop William J. Hafey, D.D. at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, PA. Msgr. Esseff served a retreat director and confessor to St. Mother Teresa. 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 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, sisters, seminarians, and other religious leaders around the world.
Msgr. Esseff reflects on the readings for the 5th Sunday of Lent. He guides us through an honest self-examination of conscience and the need to confess our brokenness in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.
But early in the morning he arrived again in the temple area,
and all the people started coming to him,
and he sat down and taught them.
Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman
who had been caught in adultery
and made her stand in the middle.
They said to him,
“Teacher, this woman was caught
in the very act of committing adultery.
Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women.
So what do you say?”
They said this to test him,
so that they could have some charge to bring against him.
Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger.
But when they continued asking him,
he straightened up and said to them,
“Let the one among you who is without sin
be the first to throw a stone at her.”
Again he bent down and wrote on the ground.
And in response, they went away one by one,
beginning with the elders.
So he was left alone with the woman before him.
Then Jesus straightened up and said to her,
“Woman, where are they?
Has no one condemned you?”
She replied, “No one, sir.”
Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.
Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”
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 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 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 around the world.
