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BKL#23 – Prepare the Way of the Lord! – Building a Kingdom of Love w/ Msgr. John Esseff

Now is not a time of gloom and despair…it is a time of anticipation and glory!

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Msgr. Esseff shares his experience at a prayer service that took place at 12 Step retreat. He speaks of a woman named Helen who witnessed to a healing miracle that occurred 17 years earlier at Lourdes, but it turn of the story is more about a miracle that flowed more from love rather than need. From this Msgr. Esseff reflects on the Word of God found in the readings for the 2nd Sunday of Advent.

Msgr. John A. Esseff is a Roman Catholic priest in the Diocese of Scranton. He was ordained on May 30th 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 Blessed 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 Bl. 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.

To obtain a copy of Msgr. Esseff’s book byvisiting here

Be sure to visit Msgr. Esseff’s website “Building a Kingdom of Love”

St. Nicholas, who are you? The Saint and the origin of Santa Claus…In Conversation with Thomas Craughwell

Who is St. Nicholas…it’s a beautiful story of a life that transcends time, becoming a full blown witness to total giving in Charity. St. Nicholas, pray for us who desire and need the authentic understanding and practice of self-giving love.

Here’s the wonderful Thomas Craughwell talking about St. Nicholas and other Saints who are great witnesses to the child in each of us.

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Here is a fantastic site as well on St. Nicholas

A Guided Meditiation – “And their eyes were opened” – reflection from Msgr. John Esseff

Msgr. Esseff leads the listener through a special Advent guided mediation based on the Scripture from Matthew.

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Gospel mt 9:27-31

As Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying out,
“Son of David, have pity on us!”
When he entered the house,
the blind men approached him and Jesus said to them,
“Do you believe that I can do this?”
“Yes, Lord,” they said to him.
Then he touched their eyes and said,
“Let it be done for you according to your faith.”
And their eyes were opened.
Jesus warned them sternly,
“See that no one knows about this.”
But they went out and spread word of him through all that land.

Second Sunday of Advent – Sunday, Sunday, Sunday with Mark Hart

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The Sunday, Sunday, Sunday Podcast is a reflection on the upcoming Sunday Mass readings presented by LifeTeen.com and hosted by Mark Hart.

Sunday Readings from the USCCB

Reading 1 Is 40:1-5, 9-11

Responsorial Psalm ps 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14

Reading 2 2 pt 3:8-14

Gospel Mk 1:1-8

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way.
A voice of one crying out in the desert:
“Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.”
John the Baptist appeared in the desert
proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
People of the whole Judean countryside
and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.
John was clothed in camel’s hair,
with a leather belt around his waist.
He fed on locusts and wild honey.
And this is what he proclaimed:
“One mightier than I is coming after me.
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals.
I have baptized you with water;
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

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;

STSG1 – An Overview of the Synoptic Gospels Part 1 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Discerning Hearts

Episode 1 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – The Synoptic Gospels: An Overview Part 1

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Sharon Doran serves as the teaching director of “Seeking Truth.” An experienced Bible Study teacher, Sharon has a passion for scripture that will motivate and challenge you to immerse yourself in God’s Word and apply His message to your every day life.

Episode 1 –

From the beginning of time, God planned to send his son, Jesus, to be the savior of the world. The story of Jesus is the story of the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke.

In this 2 part overview lecture, Sharon gives a dynamic teaching that outlines God’s plan of salvation, beginning with the fall in the Garden of Eden and culminating with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But just hearing the story is not enough.

As Sharon tells us, the Church exists to evangelize and we are called to spread the Gospel message to a culture in desperate need of a savior.

“Seeking Truth” is an in depth Catholic Bible Study, commissioned by the Archdiocese of Omaha in response to John Paul II’s call to the New Evangelization as well as Pope Benedict XVI’s exhortation for all Catholics to study scripture. To learn more go to:www.seekingtruth.net

STSG2 – An Overview of the Synoptic Gospels Part 2 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 2 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – The Synoptic Gospels: An Overview Part 2

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Episode 2 –

From the beginning of time, God planned to send his son, Jesus, to be the savior of the world. The story of Jesus is the story of the Synoptic Gospels: Matthew, Mark and Luke.

But just hearing the story is not enough.

As Sharon tells us, the Church exists to evangelize and we are called to spread the Gospel message to a culture in desperate need of a savior.

STSG3 – Preparation for the Coming of the Messiah (PART 1) – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 3 – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Preparation for the Coming of the Messiah (PART 1)

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Episode 3 –

This 2 part lecture is a “must listen to” as Sharon gives us the Biblical basis for the perpetual … (more info)virginity of Mary as well as for her Immaculate Conception. Drawing from both Old and New Testament scripture, Sharon shows us how Mary was filled with grace from the moment of her conception and remained sinless throughout her entire life.

We also learn that through the power of the Holy Spirit, Mary becomes Theotokos, God-Bearer, and is the Ark of the New Covenant. Like the Ark of the Old Covenant, Mary is not meant to be touched, and she remains perpetually virgin.

John-the-Baptist-1

But wait! There’s more! Sharon also reveals to us the amazing fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic Prophecies through the birth of John the Baptist.

You won’t want to miss this foundational lecture.

STSG4 – Preparation for the Coming of the Messiah (PART 2) – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 4- Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – Preparation for the Coming of the Messiah (PART 2)

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Episode 4 –

But wait! There’s more! Sharon also reveals to us the amazing fulfillment of Old Testament Messianic Prophecies through the birth of John the Baptist.

You won’t want to miss this foundational lecture.

STSG5 – The Birth of Jesus (PART 1) – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 5- Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – The Birth of Jesus (PART 1)

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Episode 5 –

The story of Israel is the story of Jesus. On this 2 part lecture, Sharon weaves a beautiful tapestry of the history of the nation of Israel.

The fabric of this history is revealed in the genealogy of Jesus, a family tree ripe with great leaders and scandalous sinners.

This story is a stream that flows through the times of the patriarchs, the wandering in the desert, the era of the Judges, the reign of David and Solomon, the division of the Hebrew kingdom and the exile into Babylon.

This story is punctuated with the voices of the prophets who announce with astonishing accuracy the coming of Messiah.

This story is culminated in the most unlikely of places: the virginal womb of a young Jewish woman.

STSG6 – The Birth of Jesus (PART 2) – Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran

Episode 6- Seeking Truth with Sharon Doran – The Birth of Jesus (PART 2)

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Episode 6 –

The story of Israel is the story of Jesus. On this 2 part lecture, Sharon weaves a beautiful tapestry of the history of the nation of Israel. The fabric of this history is revealed in the genealogy of Jesus, a family tree ripe with great leaders and scandalous sinners. This story is a stream that flows through the times of the patriarchs, the wandering in the desert, the era of the Judges, the reign of David and Solomon, the division of the Hebrew kingdom and the exile into Babylon. This story is punctuated with the voices of the prophets who announce with astonishing accuracy the coming of Messiah. This story is culminated in the most unlikely of places: the virginal womb of a young Jewish woman.