Deep in Christ

Divine Grace and Man's Response - Deep in Christ, Episode 7

On this episode, JonMarc Grodi is joined by his brother, Fr. Peter Grodi, now as co-host, to look at the balance and interplay in the spiritual life of Divine grace and human action.

God is the source of all truth, beauty, and goodness, and He grants us all good gifts through his abundant providence. But how are we called to respond as recipients and stewards of those gifts?

Find more episodes of Deep in Christ at www.chnetwork.org.

The Urgency of the Gospel and Daily Conversion - Deep in Christ, Episode 6

Today on Deep in Christ I am joined by my father, Marcus, the founder and president of the Coming Home Network and host of EWTN’s Journey Home program, to discuss the urgency of the Gospel.

Throughout Scripture, and particularly in the New Testament, we are exhorted to live holy lives, ready on any given day to be called home to the Lord and give an account of how we’ve spent the time and opportunities that have been given to us.

How do we understand and live out this “urgency”? How does this urgency bear on the mission and work of the Coming Home Network and the importance of seeking unity among divided Christians?

Find more of JonMarc Grodi's work at http://www.chnetwork.org.

Praying When Prayer is Hard - Deep in Christ Episode 5

In the midst of the continuing pandemic, as a tumultuous election plays out, and as the Church herself continues to experience controversy and division, we are probably all facing a familiar Christian dilemma: how do I pray when it is difficult? We believe that no matter what is going on, God remains in control, and prayer is the first and best recourse, but how do I sit still when I am anxious? How do I focus when my mind is chaotic?

On this first of many discussions on prayer, JonMarc Grodi is joined by Brother Rex Anthony Norris, a diocesan hermit from Maine and member of the CHNetwork team, to explore what prayer is and how we can prioritize it in day-to-day life, especially when we are, like Martha, “anxious and troubled about many things.”

 

For more episodes of Deep in Christ, visit www.chnetwork.org.

Saints as Living Images of Holiness - Deep in Christ, Episode 4

In this episode of Deep in Christ, we continue to explore the holiness that we are all called to as Christians, and discover some helpful guides and intercessors for our journey.

We discuss the saints as images of what holiness looks like in the lives of those who say “yes” to God, no matter the cost. We also dig into the practical ways the saints help us in everyday life, both through their example and through their intercession.

Find more videos from JonMarc Grodi and Seth Paine at www.chnetwork.org.

Discovering the Cardinal Virtues – Deep in Christ Episode3

In this episode, featuring Fr. Peter Grodi, we make a brief introduction and overview of the Human or Cardinal Virtues, what they are, how they connect with the Theological virtues, and why they are important to life in Christ. We place special emphasis on the first cardinal virtue of “Prudence”, which St. Thomas Aquinas calls “the mother and mould of virtue” or “virtue bearer” and which Scripture often connects with wisdom and taking right action.

For more episodes, visit www.chnetwork.org

Aspects of Life in Christ - Deep in Christ Episode 2

Building upon last episode's discussion of The Universal Call to Holiness and the theme of this show as it fits into the mission of the Coming Home Network, JonMarc Grodi and Ken Hensley look today at a passage in the introduction to Part 3 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which lists eight catecheses on “Life in Christ” which Christians must receive and put into practice. JonMarc and Ken begin to plot a course for the future topics that will be covered on this show, as well as their practical application.

 

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Catechism, Part 3, Life in Christ, Introduction (https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P5D.HTM)1697 Catechesis has to reveal in all clarity the joy and the demands of the way of Christ.22 Catechesis for the “newness of life”23 in him should be:

• a catechesis of the Holy Spirit, the interior Master of life according to Christ, a gentle guest and friend who inspires, guides, corrects, and strengthens this life;
• a catechesis of grace, for it is by grace that we are saved and again it is by grace that our works can bear fruit for eternal life;
• a catechesis of the beatitudes, for the way of Christ is summed up in the beatitudes, the only path that leads to the eternal beatitude for which the human heart longs;
• a catechesis of sin and forgiveness, for unless man acknowledges that he is a sinner he cannot know the truth about himself, which is a condition for acting justly; and without the offer of forgiveness he would not be able to bear this truth;
• a catechesis of the human virtues which causes one to grasp the beauty and attraction of right dispositions towards goodness;
• a catechesis of the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and charity, generously inspired by the example of the saints; — a catechesis of the twofold commandment of charity set forth in the Decalogue;
• an ecclesial catechesis, for it is through the manifold exchanges of “spiritual goods” in the “communion of saints” that Christian life can grow, develop, and be communicated.

The Universal Call to Holiness - Deep in Christ Episode 1

On this introductory episode we will discuss Our Lord’s command for all of us to become perfect in holiness and how this goes for everyone, no matter state of life or stage of life. Whether someone is a convert to Catholicism, in RCIA, or maybe is asking questions but has not yet any intention or conviction to become Catholic, all of us are still called to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”.

We can — and must — continue to pursue and grow in imitation of Christ no matter what the circumstances of our lives. Only by doing so will we be able to discern and follow God’s forward guidance. This is also a crucial key to any authentic ecumenism — Catholics and Protestant Christians need to seek to be Holy, and trust that in the context of that seeking, God will work the healing and reunification He wills.

Join host JonMarc Grodi and special guest, Ken Hensley for this inaugural episode of Deep in Christ and be sure to join the CHNetwork mailing list and/or subscribe on social media to follow along with this new show.

Sources/Quotes:

Fr. Benedict Groeschel

The real foundation of real ecumenism is devotion to Jesus Christ… Devotion is a powerful personal conviction that our Divine Savior in eternal life knows me, knows you individually, knows us, not as the great choir, but one at a time. That He cares about us. That He sends us grace. That in the difficult times of life we can trust in Him and that He will lead us even through the valley of the shadow of death. That He expects things of us and that when we fail He expects our repentance.That He hears our prayers especially for those who are dear to us and for the world, and that in the hour of death when we close our eyes we will find Him — He will be there.

LUMEN GENTIUM: Chapter V, The Universal Call to Holiness in the Church

(P. 40) The Lord Jesus, the divine Teacher and Model of all perfection, preached holiness of life to each and everyone of His disciples of every condition. He Himself stands as the author and consummator of this holiness of life:

“Be you therefore perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect”.(Mt. 5:48.)

Indeed He sent the Holy Spirit upon all men that He might move them inwardly to love God with their whole heart and their whole soul, with all their mind and all their strength (Mk. 12:30) and that they might love each other as Christ loves them.(Jn. 13.34; 15:12.)

The followers of Christ are called by God, not because of their works, but according to His own purpose and grace. They are justified in the Lord Jesus, because in the baptism of faith they truly become sons of God and sharers in the divine nature. In this way they are really made holy.

Then too, by God’s gift, they must hold on to and complete in their lives this holiness they have received. They are warned by the Apostle to live “as becomes saints”, (Eph. 5:3) and to put on “as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience”,(Col . 3:12) and to possess the fruit of the Spirit in holiness.(Gal. 5:22; Rom. 6:22) Since truly we all offend in many things (Jas. 3:2) we all need God’s mercies continually and we all must daily pray: “Forgive us our debts”(1 Mt. 6:12)

Thus it is evident to everyone, that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity; by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society. In order that the faithful may reach this perfection, they must use their strength accordingly as they have received it, as a gift from Christ. They must follow in His footsteps and conform themselves to His image seeking the will of the Father in all things. They must devote themselves with all their being to the glory of God and the service of their neighbor. In this way, the holiness of the People of God will grow into an abundant harvest of good, as is admirably shown by the life of so many saints in Church history.