Chris Explores the Gospels

Ep 9: Matthew- Blessed: Stepping Into the Heart of the Kingdom

In this episode, we climb the hillside with Jesus as He begins the Sermon on the Mount. Here, He reveals the heart of the Kingdom through the Beatitudes — a series of blessings that turn the world’s values upside down and invite us into a new way of seeing, living, and loving.
Drawing from the wisdom of St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Catherine of Siena, we explore how the Beatitudes form the interior life of a disciple and shape the soul through humility, mercy, purity, and holy desire. We also uncover the historical and cultural context of this moment: why Jesus teaches on a mountain, what “blessed” meant in the first century, and how His words would have sounded to the ordinary people gathered around Him.
Join me as we step into the heart of the Kingdom and discover how Jesus’ blessings still speak to our wounds, our hopes, and our deepest longings today.

Ep 8: Matthew- Follow Me The Call That Changes Everything

In this episode, we stand on the shoreline of Galilee as Jesus begins His public ministry. From the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy to the calling of the first disciples, we explore how the light of Christ breaks into ordinary places and how His simple invitation — “Follow Me” — becomes the turning point of countless lives.
Drawing on insights from John Paul II, Father Mike Schmitz, Bishop Barron, Fulton Sheen, and early Church Fathers, we uncover the first‑century meaning behind Jesus’ call, why He chose Galilee, and what it meant for fishermen to drop their nets and step into a new identity. We also reflect on Jesus’ early ministry of teaching, healing, and restoring the broken — a glimpse of the kingdom arriving in power and compassion.
Join me as we discover how Christ’s call still reaches us today, inviting us to trust Him, to leave behind what holds us back, and to step into a life shaped by His mission and His love.

Ep 7: Matthew- The Temptation of Jesus

In this episode, we follow Jesus into the wilderness where hunger, silence, and temptation become the setting for one of the most important moments of His mission. Through historical insight, first‑century context, and the wisdom of saints and scholars—from Augustine and Chrysostom to Aquinas, Fulton Sheen, Benedict XVI, and Bishop Barron—we explore what this encounter truly meant.
Jesus shows us that the wilderness is not wasted. It is the place where faith is refined, identity is clarified, and trust in God’s Word becomes stronger than any temptation. in this episode, we discover how Jesus’ victory in the desert becomes a roadmap for our own seasons of testing.
Join me as we learn how to face our wilderness moments not with fear, but with the confidence that God is forming us for what comes next.

Ep 6: Matthew- The Voice in the Wilderness and the Baptism of Jesus

John the Baptist cries out in the wilderness, calling Israel — and us — to a fresh start. In this episode, Chris explores John’s bold message of repentance and the hope it carries for anyone longing for renewal. Then we move to the Jordan River, where Jesus steps into the water and reveals the depth of God’s love through His baptism.
A short, clear reflection on identity, renewal, and what it means to be God’s beloved — right in the midst of everyday life.

Epiphanytide: A Season of Revelation- Gospel Snacks with Chris

Epiphany isn’t just a feast day — it opens a short season in the Catholic Church called Epiphanytide. In this episode, Chris explores the meaning of Epiphany, the Greek roots of the word, and the three key moments when Jesus is revealed: the Magi, the Baptism of the Lord, and the Wedding at Cana. A brief, thoughtful reflection back to his childhood to help you notice how God may be revealing Himself in your own life today.

Ep 5: Matthew— Flight, Sorrow, and Return

In this episode, we enter one of the most dramatic and tender moments of Jesus’ early life: the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt and their unexpected return to Nazareth (Matthew 2:13–23).
Through historical insight, sensory storytelling, and prayerful reflection, we explore how God guides Joseph, Mary, and Jesus through fear, exile, danger, and the quiet rebuilding that follows. We also confront the heartbreaking reality of the massacre of the Holy Innocents and the deep grief that shaped Bethlehem.
This episode reveals a God who is present not only in the places we choose, but in the unfamiliar places we never expected to go — the Egypts and Nazareths of our own lives.
Join me as we discover how God’s quiet, steady presence leads us through uncertainty and into unexpected peace.

Gospel Snacks with Chris — Daniel & the Hallow App Challenge

I thought I knew Daniel… until I actually read the Book of Daniel for the first time this week. And what I found hit me harder than I expected.
With the Hallow App prayer challenge starting in just a few days, I realized I didn’t know much about Daniel beyond the lions’ den. So I sat down, opened the book, and really paid attention. And honestly… it changed me.

Ep. 4: Matthew- The Magi and the King of Kings

This episode takes listeners on a vivid journey through the Gospel of Matthew’s account of the Magi, uncovering the history, culture, and spiritual significance of their visit to Bethlehem.
Travel across desert nights with the Magi, ancient priests and scholars from the East, as they follow a mysterious star to worship the newborn King. Discover who the Magi really were, what their gifts meant, and how their journey fulfilled ancient prophecies. Step into the bustling streets of Bethlehem during the census, and witness the contrast between Herod’s fearful rule and the humble birth of Jesus.