The Restless Hearts Podcast

Episode 187: A True Abundant Life (Fr. Ray's Homily from 4/26/26)

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 13:24:05 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Fourth Sunday of Easter on Sunday, April 26, 2026. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 186: Stay With Us (Fr. Ray's Homily from 4/19/26)

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:31:41 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Third Sunday of Easter on Sunday, April 19, 2026. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 185: Don't Believe Your Eyes (Fr. Ray's Homily from 3/15/26)

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:23:17 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Fourth Sunday of Lent on Sunday, March 15, 2026. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 184: Flawed Judgment (Fr. Ray's Homily from 2/23/26)

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 17:42:53 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The First Sunday of Lent on Sunday, February 23, 2026. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 183: Counting Our Blessings (Fr. Ray's Homily from 2/1/26)

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:10:56 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time on Sunday, February 1, 2026. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 182: Learning to See what Heaven Sees (Fr. Ray's Homily from 1/25/26)

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 15:06:00 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time on Sunday, January 25, 2026. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 181: The One Who Came (Fr. Ray's Homily from 12/14/25)

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 18:14:00 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Third Sunday of Advent on Sunday December 14, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 180: Advent's Double Vision (Fr. Ray's Homily from 11/30/25)

Fri, 23 Jan 2026 18:11:39 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The First Sunday of Advent on Sunday November 30, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 179: No Contest Between the Kings of This World and The King of the Universe (Fr. Ray's Homily from 11/23/25)

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:11:40 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, on Sunday November 23, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 178: Faith is Trusting that What Has Always Been Will Not Always Be (Fr. Ray's Homily from 11/16/25)

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:08:47 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, November 16, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 177: Changed, Not Ended (Fr. Ray's Homily from 11/2/25)

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:06:37 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from All Souls Day, The Commemoration Of All The Faithful Departed, on November 2, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 176: Seeing Ourselves As God Sees Us (Fr. Ray's Homily from 10/26/25)

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:40:44 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time on October 26, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 175: The Partnership of Prayer (Fr. Ray's Homily from 10/19/25)

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 16:39:48 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Twenty-Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time on October 19, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 174: Beyond Boundaries and Across Borders (Fr. Ray's Homily from 10/12/25)

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 16:00:44 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time on October 12, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 173: The Gift and Challenge of Faith (Fr. Ray's Homily from 10/5/25)

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 15:59:18 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time on October 5, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 172: Loving God First Changes Everything (Fr. Ray's Homily from 9/21/25)

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 15:50:45 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time on September 21, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 171: Overthrowing Our Own Empires (Fr. Ray's Homily from 9/7/25)

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 14:01:45 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time on September 7, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 170: Faith and Hope (Fr. Ray's Homily from 8/10/25)

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 13:07:18 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time on August 10, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 169: Learning from how Others Love God (Fr. Ray's Homily from 7/20/25)

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 15:01:34 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time on July 20, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 168: Unmaking Enemies (Fr. Ray's Homily from 7/13/25)

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:23:37 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time on July 13, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 167: Grounded by the Ordinary (Fr. Ray's Homily from 7/6/25)

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 10:22:29 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time on July 6, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 166: Without both Rock and Spirit, The Church is Diminished (Fr Ray's Homily from 6/29/25)

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 13:11:35 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles, on June 29, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 165: It Takes More Than Being Wicked Smart To Be Truly Wise (Fr. Ray's Homily from Baccalaureate Mass on 5/15/25)

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 17:22:54 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from Baccalaureate Mass celebrated on May 15, 2025 for Merrimack College’s graduating class of 2025. You can view the entire Baccalaureate Mass and Conferral of Degrees on Merrimack College’s YouTube channel.

Episode 164: The Eucharist is Meant for Community (Fr. Ray's Homily from 6/22/25)

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 17:19:34 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ on Sunday on June 22, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 163: The Holy Spirit is at Work When... (Fr. Ray's Homily from 6/8/25)

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:50:57 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from Pentecost Sunday on June 8, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 162: The Many are One in the One (Fr. Ray's Homily from 5/11/25)

Fri, 16 May 2025 15:39:07 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Fourth Sunday of Easter on May 11, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 161: Is There A Happy Ending To This Parable? (Fr. Ray's Homily from 3/30/25)

Mon, 31 Mar 2025 15:28:15 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Fourth Sunday of Lent on March 30, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 160: Hatred Is Really Too Much Work (Fr. Ray's Homily from 2/23/25)

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 14:22:32 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time on February 23, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 159: A Lesson In How To See Deeply (Fr. Ray's Homily from 2/9/25)

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 10:48:33 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time on February 9, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 158: A Day Holy to the Lord your God (Fr. Ray's Homily from 1/26/25)

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 11:18:43 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time on January 26, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 157: Delight and Joy (Fr. Ray's Homily from 1/19/25)

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 11:15:17 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time on January 19, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 156: Beloved (Fr. Ray's Homily from 1/12/25)

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 15:26:15 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the First Sunday of Ordinary Time, The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, on January 12, 2025. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 155: The Most Joyful Passage In The Bible (Fr. Ray's Homily from 12/22/24)

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 11:28:58 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Fourth Sunday of Advent, on December 22, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 154: A True King Or An Illusion? (Fr. Ray's Homily from 11/24/24)

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 13:45:04 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, on November 24, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 153: A Worthy Citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven (Fr. Ray's Homily from 11/10/24)

Wed, 13 Nov 2024 15:12:42 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time on November 10, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 152: Suffering As Service (Fr. Ray's Homily from 10/20/24)

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 14:53:42 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-Ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time on October 20, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 151: A Life-Changing Look of Love (Fr. Ray's Homily from 10/13/24)

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 10:52:21 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time on October 13, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 150: Marriage as the Completion of Creation (Fr. Ray's Homily from 10/5/24)

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 11:14:39 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time on October 5, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 149: In The Name Of Jesus (Fr. Ray's Homily from 9/29/24)

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 12:48:12 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time on September 29, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 148: When Scripture Holds Up A Mirror (Fr. Ray's Homily from 9/22/24)

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 09:07:42 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time on September 22, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 147: Following Jesus Is More Than A Walk In The Park (Fr. Ray's Homily from 9/15/24)

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 13:06:43 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time on September 15, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 146: The Hard Work of Jesus to Heal the World's Hearing (Fr. Ray's Homily from 9/8/24)

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 14:47:24 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time on September 8, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 145: Whom Will You Serve If Not The Lord? (Fr. Ray's Homily from 8/25/24)

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 16:35:00 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time on August 25, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 144: The Food of Freedom (Fr. Ray's Homily from 8/4/24)

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 15:24:56 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Eighteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time on August 4, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 143: A Shepherd That Will Not Fail (Fr. Ray's Homily from 7/21/24)

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 16:24:20 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time on July 21, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 142: Don't Minimize Our Weakness (Fr. Ray's Homily from 7/7/24)

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 10:22:31 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time on July 7, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 141: Life...God's Desire For Us (Fr. Ray's Homily from 6/30/24)

Mon, 08 Jul 2024 10:21:01 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time on June 30, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 140: Life Will Overwhelm Skill—Fr. Ray's Homily from 6/32/24

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 12:02:56 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time on June 23, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 139: Our Call to be Human as Jesus was Human—Session 10, Happiness, Joy, and Love (7/14/23)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:32:06 -0300

The final conference of this retreat calls our attention to those experiences in life that evoke the emotion of happiness because they are meeting our conscious or unconscious needs. Easily overlooked in self-awareness and powerfully reinforcing due to the pleasant and positive emotions they evoke, these experiences may well distract us from our call to be fully human in that they may satisfy desires that do not contribute to our health, holiness, or growth as persons. In contrast to happiness, joy is not an emotion but a choice to be mindful and aware of the goodness of life, the gift of love, and the hope for the fullness of both in eternity. Finally, listeners are invited to review the various stages of life to note how love has come to them, possibly in fragmented and incomplete ways, but still love that calls us to the fullness of our humanity.

Episode 138: Our Call to be Human as Jesus was Human—Session 9, The Paradox of Power (7/14/23)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:28:53 -0300

Power, which is understood as our ability to influence others, is as pervasive as sexuality in human relationships and is constantly being exercised by everyone over everyone in a myriad of different strategies and styles and often without our conscious awareness that we are both exercising power and having power exercised over us. As such, power can be both very dangerous and very beneficial. This conference invites listeners to reflect on their own relational styles and ways of attempting to satisfy their needs by exercising power and invites them to note whether their exercise of power is effective, ineffective, mutual and respectful, or dismissive and destructive.

Episode 137: Our Call to be Human as Jesus was Human—Session 8, The Dangerous Blessing of Sexuality (7/13/23)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:21:25 -0300

In this eighth conference, listeners are invited to reflect on the pervasive experience of sexuality in our lives, the most powerful force in the universe, and to note how its power can and has been used as a destructive force through dominance and control, as a weapon and as a toy, and as something that takes life rather than gives life. At the same time, sexuality is our most direct sharing in the life of the Trinity characterized by free and full giving and receiving for the sake of creativity and love. Aware that sexuality is an experience that can tempt us in many ways to be both less than human and more than human in our expression of it, it also contains within it the invitation to be fully human as it calls us into relationship, self-gift, and love.

Episode 136: Our Call to be Human as Jesus was Human—Session 7, Loneliness as the Locus of Revelation (7/13/23)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:17:19 -0300

With this seventh conference of the retreat the focus shifts from reflections on experiences that evoke emotions to experiences that are universal and pervasive in human life and yet are profoundly prone toward denial, illusion, and a lack of self awareness, while tempting us to compromise the values we profess to live by. In this session, the very noxious and uncomfortable experience of loneliness that typically isolates us from others and cries out to be relieved in a host of unhealthy and even addictive ways is explored as something that can reveal the full truth about our real selves and join us in solidarity with the human race and be a foundational building block of authentic community.

Episode 135: Our Call to be Human as Jesus was Human—Session 6, From Shame to Humility (7/12/23)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:13:46 -0300

The sixth conference of the retreat focuses our attention on those experiences of life in which we know ourselves to be inadequate, imperfect, and incomplete which inevitably evoke the emotion of shame and the myriad of unhealthy instinctive reactions to which it tempts us, including disappearing, blaming, doing violence to oneself, and shamelessness as well as to the capital sin of pride which is simply the other side of the same coin as shame. It invites consideration that the fully human antidote to shame is the virtue and practice of humility which is defined as allowing others to see us as we truly are and allowing them to make the choice to accept us in love or to reject us, with trying to influence that choice.

Episode 134: Our Call to be Human as Jesus was Human—Session 5, From Sadness to Gratitude (7/11/23)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:10:36 -0300

Noting that life is filled with loss and so is also filled with the unpleasant and inconvenient emotion of sadness, this fifth conference invites listeners to take note of losses that have been ungrieved and so unhealed, to see loss as an essential part of life and the emotion of sadness as possibly the most humanizing of our emotions, and the reality that sadness is in direct proportion to how much we have loved who or what we have lost so that to avoid sadness is to deny love. While the process of grieving is painful and difficult, the courage to enter it is a choice to be more fully human as sadness reveals love which can move us from emptiness of loss to the fullness of gratitude.

Episode 133: Our Call to be Human as Jesus was Human—Session 4, From Anger to Passion and Compassion (7/11/23)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:04:03 -0300

The fourth conference of this retreat invites listeners to attend to experiences in life in which our needs and desires are not met and so evoke the emotion of anger and its instinctive drives toward hostility, aggression, and violence as we assert the satisfaction of our needs as paramount to anyone else and so act in a more than human ways as well as the less than human tendency to see ourselves as undeserving and worthless. The talk suggests that anger properly listened to and understood can be an invitation to the fully human experiences of solidarity with the rest of humanity and its suffering and deprivation as well as a righteous passion to correct harmful and exploitative practices that deprive people of their humanity.

Episode 132: Our Call to be Human as Jesus was Human—Session 3, From Fear to Trust (7/10/23)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 13:01:11 -0300

The third conference of this retreat invites listeners to reflect on experiences in life that evoke the emotion of fear and the instinctive responses to fear; namely flight, fight, or learned helplessness may not serve us well in all circumstances (while they may be quite appropriate in others). It further invites us to consider that experiences that evoke fear may well be invitations to trust and so lead us to growth, courage, and faith.

Episode 131: Our Call to be Human as Jesus was Human—Session 2, Four Steps to Health and Holiness (7/10/23)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 12:59:08 -0300

The second conference of this retreat outlines a method of reflection on our experiences so that we can respond to them in fully human ways rather than reacting instinctively in less than human or more than human ways. These steps to health and holiness are; first, to tell the truth about our experience without denial or illusion; second, to engage in honest self awareness using our emotions to reveal our needs and values; third, to be conscious of the values that our mission, call, and vocation in life call us to live out; and fourth, to choose a course of action that will be truly life-giving because it is consistent with our vocation to be fully human.

Episode 130: Our Call to be Human as Jesus was Human—Session 1, Introduction (7/9/23)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 12:55:36 -0300

This and the following nine episodes of the Restless Hearts Podcast were recorded between July 9 and 14, 2023 during a retreat for the community of the Motherhouse of the Dominican Sisters of Peace in Columbus, OH. The title of the retreat is “Our Call to be Human as Jesus was Human.” This introductory session invites listeners to focus on the humanity that Jesus shares with us and to see our true human vocation in his true and full humanness rather than trying to imitate his divinity. It points out that being fully human does not come naturally to any of us as being human is hard and filled with anxiety, tension, and unpredictability. It lays the framework for the rest of the conferences by noting how there are two ways to “sin”, namely to choose to respond to life in ways that are either less than human or more than human, both of which deny our true call to be fully human and describes how Jesus’ responses to life are examples of what fully human choices might be.

Episode 129: Vision Correction (Fr. Ray's Homily from 6/9/24)

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 12:50:12 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time on June 9, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 128: A Mystery To Be Lived (Fr. Ray's Homily from 5/26/24)

Wed, 29 May 2024 12:00:59 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity on May 26, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 127: A Glimpse Of How Things Could Be (Fr. Ray's Homily from 4/28/24)

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 11:55:59 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Fifth Sunday of Easter on April 28, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 126: Witnesses (Fr. Ray's Homily from 4/14/24)

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 10:18:41 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Third Sunday of Easter on April 14, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 125: Mercy for Mercy's Sake (Fr. Ray's Homily from 4/7/24)

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 17:00:22 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Second Sunday of Easter on April 7, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 124: Faith That Steps Into The Light (Fr. Ray's Homily from 3/10/24)

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 10:34:05 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Fourth Sunday of Lent on March 10, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 123: A Template For Lent (Fr. Ray's Homily from 2/18/24)

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 10:31:25 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the First Sunday of Lent on February 11, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 122: When Faith Is Stronger Than Shame (Fr. Ray's Homily from 2/11/24)

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 16:06:19 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time on February 11, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 121: Experiencing Jesus (Fr. Ray's Homily from 1/28/24)

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 15:06:31 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time on January 28, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 120: What Will Change Your Mind? (Fr. Ray's Homily from 1/21/24)

Mon, 22 Jan 2024 16:24:59 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time on January 21, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 119: Listening Again For The First Time (Fr. Ray's Homily from 1/14/24)

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 10:49:02 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time on January 14, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 118: After Encountering Jesus, Go Home By Another Route (Fr. Ray’s Homily from 1/7/24)

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 14:05:07 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Epiphany of the Lord on January 7, 2024. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 117: Market Basket As A Holy Place—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 12/31/23

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 09:56:48 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph on December 31, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 116: Letting Our Savior Save Us—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 12/25/23

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 09:54:13 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Nativity of the Lord, Christmas Day, December 25, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 115: Letting God Decide Where To Live—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 12/24/23

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 09:52:37 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Fourth Sunday of Advent on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 114: Being Able To See In The Dark—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 12/17/23

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 09:51:15 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Third Sunday of Advent on December 17, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 113: Where Is Your Desert?—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 12/10/23

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 13:42:14 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Second Sunday of Advent on December 10, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 112: Lord, Make Us Turn To You—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 12/3/23

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 12:27:03 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The First Sunday of Advent on December 3, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 111: To Look Up, Look Down—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 11/26/23

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 13:52:17 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe on November 26, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 110: Turning A Parable Upside Down—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 11/19/23

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 10:59:52 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Thirty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time on November 19, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 109: Practicing Wisdom—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 11/12/23

Mon, 27 Nov 2023 09:40:53 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Thirty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time on November 12, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 108: Responsible For Our Own Faithfulness—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 11/5/23

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 13:06:27 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Thirty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time on November 5, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 107: When We Want To Love, We Don’t Need A Commandment—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 10/29/23

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 13:02:01 -0400

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time on October 29, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 106: God’s Ways Revealed through Women in Scripture and Tradition—Session 10, The Women of Tradition and in the Church Today (7/1/23)

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:58:41 -0400

The tenth and final conference of the retreat briefly touches on the significant roles of women in shaping the tradition and life of the Church through peacemaking, study, prayer, actions for justice and holding male power accountable to the fulness of the mystery of God.

Episode 105: God’s Ways Revealed through Women in Scripture and Tradition—Session 9, The Women of the Early Church (7/1/23)

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:56:44 -0400

The ninth conference of the retreat sifts through the Acts of the Apostles and the Letters of St. Paul to take note of the many women given passing mention in these texts while revealing the highly significant roles of leadership, influence, and service played by women in the foundation and spread of the Church.

Episode 104: God’s Ways Revealed through Women in Scripture and Tradition—Session 8, The Women of the Parables (6/30/23)

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:54:17 -0400

The eighth conference of the retreat explores the women of the parables of Jesus and how their actions reveal God’s ways to us. After starting with the parables of the woman leavening wheat with yeast, searching for the lost coin, the conference invites us to allow the parables of the persistent widow demanding justice and the ten virgins awaiting the bridegroom to challenge us. Finally, although not a parable per se, the story of Jesus’ response to the widow who gave all she had to live on to the temple is examined.

Episode 103: God’s Ways Revealed through Women in Scripture and Tradition—Session 7, The Women of the Gospels (6/30/23)

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:52:41 -0400

This seventh conference of the retreat brought to light encounters that Jesus had with particular women in the Gospels that reveal God’s ways in unique and invaluable ways. These women include the sinful woman in the house of Simon the Pharisee; Mary of Magdala; the sisters, Martha and Mary; the Samaritan woman at the well; the woman caught in adultery; the women at the cross of Jesus; and the women who were the first witnesses to the Resurrection.

Episode 102: God’s Ways Revealed through Women in Scripture and Tradition—Session 6, Feminine Images of the Divine in the New Testament (6/29/23)

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:47:54 -0400

The sixth conference of the retreat turns to the New Testament and begins with a reflection of the very unique and ordinary role of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and of her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and their joyful experience and expression of knowing the ways of God in our lives. It continues with an exploration of how Jesus, a human male, reveals how the fullness of humanity is fully feminine and masculine at the same time.

Episode 101: God’s Ways Revealed through Women in Scripture and Tradition—Session 5, Feminine Images of the Divine in the Old Testament (6/28/23)

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:46:26 -0400

The fifth conference of the retreat explores the challenges of imaging a personal God as the fullness of gender rather than as either male or female. It calls upon images from the Old Testament, especially Wisdom Literature and the Prophets, to open our imaginations to receive the fullness of the revelation of God’s being in relationship with us.

Episode 100: God’s Ways Revealed through Women in Scripture and Tradition—Session 4, The Women of the Historical Books (6/28/23)

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:45:08 -0400

The fourth conference of the retreat explores the actions of women in the history of Israel from the time of the Judges, the transition to the twin institutions of Monarchy and Prophecy, as well as how heroism displayed by women during times of foreign conquest, exile, and persecution allowed God’s people to cling to freedom. Click here to hear the podcast of this session.

Episode 99: God’s Ways Revealed through Women in Scripture and Tradition—Session 3, The Women of Exodus (6/27/23)

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:37:34 -0400

The third conference of the retreat offers reflections on the heroic and essential actions of women making possible the salvation of God’s people from oppressive slavery in Egypt to freedom as portrayed in the Book of Exodus including courageous acts of civil disobedience, calculated risks, compassion and love overpowering oppression, and the hidden but essential role of Miriam; the sister of Moses; before, during, and after the escape of the Israelites from Egypt.

Episode 98: God’s Ways Revealed through Women in Scripture and Tradition—Session 2, The Women of Genesis (6/27/23)

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:35:44 -0400

This second conference of the retreat explores the very messy narratives of the Book of Genesis which set the stage for all of the subsequent actions of God’s revelation in history. It explores the roles of Eve, the mother of all the living; Sarah and Hagar, the mothers of the children of Abraham; Leah and Rachel, sisters who were the wives of Jacob; and the very curious but pivotal role of Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah.

Episode 97: God’s Ways Revealed through Women in Scripture and Tradition—Session 1, Introduction (6/26/23)

Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:33:55 -0400

This and the following nine episodes of the Restless Hearts Podcast were recorded between June 26 and July 1, 2023 at the Dominican Retreat and Conference Center in Niskayuna, NY. During that week, Fr. Ray Dlugos offered a preached retreat for women who are vowed members of Religious Communities. The overall theme of the retreat was “God’s Ways Revealed through Women in Scripture and Tradition.” This first conference introduces that theme and explains how and why it was chosen.

Episode 96: God Wants What Caesar Doesn’t—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 10/22/23

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 09:34:46 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-ninth Sunday of Ordinary Time on October 22, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 95: Come As You Are, But Don’t Stay That Way—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 10/15/23

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 09:24:08 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time on October 15, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 94: Vineyards of Violence, Vineyards of Peace—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 10/8/23

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 09:45:37 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time on October 8, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 93: Fairness or Justice?—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 9/24/23

Tue, 26 Sep 2023 09:40:09 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time on September 24, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 92: Forgiveness Is Easier Said Than Done—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 9/17/23

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 09:33:46 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time on September 17, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 91: Salvation Is Not An Individual Sport—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 9/10/23

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 09:32:33 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-third Sunday of Ordinary Time on September 10, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 90: Carrying Our True Cross—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 9/3/23

Fri, 22 Sep 2023 09:30:52 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-second Sunday of Ordinary Time on September 3, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 89: Who Does He Say You Are?—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 8/27/23

Thu, 31 Aug 2023 16:33:36 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time on August 27, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.

Episode 88: What Faith Looks Like—Fr. Ray’s Homily from 8/20/23

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 17:02:39 -0300

This episode of the Restless Hearts Podcast includes the Proclamation of the Gospel and Father Ray's homily from the Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time on August 20, 2023. You can view the full liturgy of the Word for this Sunday under Daily Readings at usccb.org.