Walking with Jesus — Episode 9: Holy Week

 

Walking with Jesus — Episode 9: Holy Week
When Love Walked Toward the Cross

The crowds shout, “Hosanna!” But Jesus knows where this road will lead.

In Episode 9 of Walking with Jesus, we enter the most sacred and heartbreaking days of Christ’s earthly life. We walk beside Him into Jerusalem, sit with Him at the Last Supper, enter the darkness of Gethsemane, witness Peter’s denial, follow Jesus along the road to Calvary, and finally stand in silence before the sealed tomb.

But Holy Week is more than remembering what happened to Jesus. It asks each of us a deeply personal question:

Will I still follow Jesus when I don’t understand what He is doing?

We all experience our own Holy Saturdays—those times when we have prayed, waited, and wondered why God seems silent. Yet the tomb reminds us:

God’s silence does not mean God’s absence.

The Cross looked like defeat.
The tomb looked final.
The stone looked immovable.

But the story wasn’t over.

Join me for this powerful episode of The Catholic Journey as we continue Walking with Jesus through Holy Week.

And stay with us...

Because next comes Episode 10: The Resurrection — When Everything Changed.

Sunday is coming.

#WalkingWithJesus #HolyWeek #CatholicPodcast #TheCatholicJourney

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS (Homily 19th Sunday Ordinary Time - Year A)

 

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS
A Catholic Homily on Matthew 14:22–33

Sometimes life is calm… and then suddenly, the wind changes.

A diagnosis. A struggling marriage. A child who is hurting. Financial worries. The loss of someone we love. Or perhaps simply the exhaustion of carrying more than anyone realizes.

In this Gospel, Peter does the impossible—he steps out of the boat and walks toward Jesus on the water. But then something changes.

The storm doesn't change.

Peter's focus does.

He takes his eyes off Jesus, looks at the wind and waves, becomes afraid, and begins to sink.

And aren't we sometimes just like Peter?

We can become so focused on everything that might go wrong that we lose sight of the One who is already standing in the middle of our storm.

When Peter begins to sink, he offers one of the simplest and most powerful prayers in Scripture:

“Lord, save me!”

And immediately, Jesus reaches out His hand and catches him.

Maybe you're facing a storm today. Maybe you're tired, frightened, uncertain, or even beginning to sink.

You don't need the perfect prayer.

Just reach for Him.

Because sometimes the storm doesn't disappear immediately—but we discover something even more important:

While we were desperately reaching for God, God was already reaching for us.

🎙️ A Catholic Homily with Deacon Pat Kearns
Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish
Sacramento, California

#KeepYourEyesOnJesus #CatholicHomily #CatholicFaith #DeaconPatKearns

Walking with Jesus — Episode 8: Raising Lazarus

 

Walking with Jesus — Episode 8: Raising Lazarus

“Lazarus, come out!”

In Episode 8 of Walking with Jesus, we travel to Bethany and stand beside Jesus at the tomb of His friend Lazarus.

Mary and Martha are grieving. Lazarus has been dead for four days. Jesus seems to have arrived too late.

But Jesus is never powerless before a tomb.

In this deeply moving episode, we experience Martha’s heartbreaking words—“Lord, if you had been here…”—the tenderness of the moment when Jesus wept, and finally the astonishing command that changes everything: “Lazarus, come out!”

But this story is about more than a miracle 2,000 years ago.

What in your life have you given up on? What have you placed behind a stone and declared finished, hopeless, or beyond repair?

Bethany reminds us:

Never declare dead what Christ may still call back to life.

And there is an even deeper significance to this miracle. As Jesus gives Lazarus back his life, Jesus moves one step closer to surrendering His own.

The road now turns toward Jerusalem.

Next on Walking with Jesus: Episode 9 — Holy Week.

🎙️ The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns

#WalkingWithJesus #RaisingLazarus #CatholicPodcast #TheCatholicJourney

Walking with Jesus: The Sermon on the Mount

 

Walking with Jesus: The Sermon on the Mount

What if the greatest sermon ever preached wasn't meant to be admired—but lived?

In this episode of The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns, we continue our Walking with Jesus series as we climb the hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee and take our place among the first disciples listening to Jesus proclaim the Sermon on the Mount.

Together, we'll experience the beauty and power of the Beatitudes, discover what it truly means to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and hear Jesus call us to a deeper righteousness—one that transforms not only our actions but our hearts.

The Sermon on the Mount is more than a collection of inspiring teachings. It is the blueprint for Christian living and the foundation of a life built firmly on Christ. In a world that often values power, success, and self-interest, Jesus offers a radically different path—one marked by humility, mercy, forgiveness, purity of heart, and unwavering trust in God.

Join us as we walk beside Jesus and discover that true happiness is not found in what we possess, but in becoming the men and women God created us to be.

"Blessed are the poorin spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 5:3

If you've ever wondered how to live your faith more authentically in today's world, this episode will inspire you to build your life on the solid rock of Christ and embrace the values of His Kingdom.

Next Episode: The Raising of Lazarus—walk with Jesus to Bethany and witness one of His greatest miracles as He proclaims, "I am the resurrection and the life."

Walking with Jesus: The Sea of Galilee

Walking with Jesus: The Sea of Galilee

Have you ever felt like the storms of life were stronger than your faith?

In this episode of The Catholic Journey with Deacon Pat Kearns, we continue our Walking with Jesus series as we journey to the beautiful shores of the Sea of Galilee—the place where ordinary fishermen became apostles, where Jesus calmed raging storms, walked on water, and invited His followers to trust Him completely.

As we imagine ourselves standing beside the lake, listening to the waves and watching Jesus call Peter, Andrew, James, and John, we discover that the Sea of Galilee was far more than a setting for miracles. It became a classroom where Jesus taught some of life's greatest lessons about faith, courage, and surrender.

What do we do when the storms of life threaten to overwhelm us? How do we keep our eyes fixed on Christ instead of our fears? And what does it really mean to hear Jesus say, "Follow Me"?

Whether you're facing uncertainty, struggling with anxiety, or simply longing to deepen your trust in God, this episode will remind you that no storm is greater than the One who commands the wind and the waves.

Join us as we walk beside Jesus and discover that even when life feels uncertain, Christ is still in the boat—and His words still speak peace into every troubled heart.

"Peace! Be still." — Mark 4:39

The same Lord who calmed the Sea of Galilee continues to calm hearts today. Walk with us and discover the peace that comes from trusting Him more deeply.

Next Episode: The Sermon on the Mount—where Jesus delivers the greatest sermon ever preached and reveals the Beatitudes, the blueprint for living as citizens of the Kingdom of God.

 

Walking with Jesus – Episode 5: Capernaum – The City Where Miracles Became Daily Life

 

Walking with Jesus – Episode 5: Capernaum – The City Where Miracles Became Daily Life What would it have been like to walk the streets of the town Jesus called home during His public ministry? In Episode 5 of Walking with Jesus, we travel to Capernaum, the bustling fishing village on the shores of the Sea of Galilee that became the center of Jesus' ministry. Here, ordinary streets became holy ground as Christ preached with authority, healed the sick, forgave sins, and called ordinary men and women to extraordinary lives. Together, we'll visit Peter's home, witness the healing of his mother-in-law, stand among the crowds gathered outside the door seeking hope and healing, watch four faithful friends lower a paralyzed man through the roof to meet Jesus, and experience the life-changing call of Matthew, the tax collector, who left everything behind to follow Christ. Capernaum reminds us that Jesus doesn't wait for us to reach extraordinary places before He enters our lives. He meets us where we are—in our homes, our workplaces, our families, and our daily routines—and invites us to experience His healing, mercy, and transforming grace. Join Deacon Pat Kearns as we continue our journey through the places where Jesus walked and discover that the same Lord who transformed lives in Capernaum is still walking beside us today. Next Episode: The Sea of Galilee – Faith in the Midst of the Storm If this episode strengthens your faith, please share it with a friend, subscribe to The Catholic Journey, and continue walking with us as we follow Christ through the places where the Gospel came alive. "Jesus didn't simply perform miracles in Capernaum—He transformed lives. And He is still doing the same today." #WalkingWithJesus #Capernaum #CatholicJourney #CatholicPodcast #DeaconPatKearns #MiraclesOfJesus #FollowChrist #SeaOfGalilee #CatholicFaith

Walking with Jesus – Episode 4: Cana – When Ordinary Became Extraordinary

 

Walking with Jesus – Episode 4: Cana – When Ordinary Became Extraordinary What if Jesus' very first miracle wasn't just about changing water into wine—but about transforming every ordinary part of our lives? In Episode 4 of Walking with Jesus, we journey to the small village of Cana, where Jesus attends a simple wedding celebration with His mother, Mary, and His first disciples. What begins as a family celebration becomes the setting for one of the most beautiful moments in the Gospel—the first public sign that reveals Christ's divine glory. Together, we'll stand among the wedding guests, witness Mary's quiet yet powerful faith, hear her timeless words, "Do whatever He tells you," and watch as Jesus transforms ordinary water into the finest wine. Through this miracle, we discover that Christ delights in entering the everyday moments of our lives, bringing hope where there is emptiness, joy where there is disappointment, and grace where we have reached the end of ourselves. This episode is a reminder that Jesus is still transforming lives today. When we invite Him into our homes, our marriages, our families, and our daily struggles, He continues to make all things new. Join Deacon Pat Kearns as we continue our journey through the places where Jesus walked and discover how His presence can transform our own lives with extraordinary grace. Next Episode: Capernaum – The City Where Miracles Became Daily Life If this episode inspires you, please share it with a friend, subscribe to The Catholic Journey, and continue walking with us as we follow Christ through the places that forever changed the world. "When we place our ordinary lives into the hands of Jesus, He has a way of making them extraordinary." #WalkingWithJesus #Cana #WaterIntoWine #CatholicJourney #CatholicPodcast #DeaconPatKearns #CatholicFaith #DoWhateverHeTellsYou #MiraclesOfJesus