Steps to Take as You Follow Christ

Ask—What continues to enslave me?

Seek—Ask God to point out areas of slavery that still exist in your life. As you go through your day, catch yourself not being true to who you really are, and ask yourself: Who are you serving now?

Knock—Meditate on Romans 7:22–25.

In my inmost self I dearly love God’s Law, but I can see that my body follows a different law that battles against the law which my reason dictates. This is what makes me a prisoner of that law of sin which lives inside my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body doomed to death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! In short, it is I who with my reason serve the Law of God, and no less I who serve in my unspiritual self the law of sin’.

Paul talks about delighting in the law of God but finding himself at war with other parts of himself. Spend time reflecting on what delights you about God’s law.

Ask Christ to save you.

Transform Your Life—Thomas Merton wrote about what he called a person’s True Self. Prayer, Merton argued, helps us to discover our True Self: the person God created us to be, totally free from the expectations and demands of others. By contrast, the False Self is enslaved; he cannot be himself, but only what he thinks others want him to be. Starting today, ask God to redeem you from the slavery of the False Self.

The author of The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ in Your Life, Michael Dubriuel, passed away in 2009. His wife, author Amy Welborn, has made his book available as a free e-book! We HIGHLY encourage you to download this exceptional work.

The Power of the Cross is now available as a free e-book,
check out more information by going here

Check out more at the Discerning Hearts’ Michael Dubruiel page

Excerpt from THE JERUSALEM BIBLE, copyright (c) 1966 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd. and Doubleday, a division of Penguin Random House, Inc. Reprinted by Permission.

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Matthew 20:26-28
“Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Reflection:

Jesus challenges us today with a profound truth about greatness: it is not about power or prestige but about service and sacrifice. “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant.” Jesus doesn’t simply teach this principle—He lives it. His life is the ultimate example of self-giving love, culminating in His death on the cross for the salvation of all.

This teaching calls us to examine our own hearts. Do we seek recognition or influence? Or are we willing to humble ourselves, to serve without expectation of reward? True service comes from a heart transformed by God’s love, one that seeks to imitate Christ in putting others first.

The Desert Fathers understood the power of humility in the life of service. Abba Isaiah said:
“Let yourself be persecuted, but do not persecute others. Let yourself be crucified, but do not crucify others. Let yourself be wronged, but do not wrong others.” (Apophthegmata Patrum, Alphabetical Collection, Isaiah 14)

Service, then, is not simply an action but a disposition of the heart—a willingness to bear burdens for the sake of others. St. Francis of Assisi, known for his radical embrace of humility and poverty, expressed this beautifully:
“It is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”

As we reflect today, let us ask ourselves: How can we embrace this call to serve others as Christ served us? What small acts of service can we offer in our daily lives, and how can they bring us closer to the heart of Jesus?

Reflection Questions:

Take a moment to reflect on these questions and allow them to guide your prayer today:

1. How can we follow Jesus’ example of selfless service in our relationships?
2. Are there ways we can set aside pride or self-interest to serve others more freely?
3. How does serving others draw us closer to Christ and His love?

Closing Prayer:

Let us now bring our time of reflection to God in prayer, asking for the grace to serve others with humility and love.

Lord, You came not to be served but to serve and to give Your life for us. Teach us to follow Your example, embracing humility and seeking to serve others with joy. Transform our hearts so that we may give without expecting anything in return and love as You love. May our lives reflect the greatness that comes from serving others in Your name. Amen.

This reflection is written by Kris McGregor of Discerning Hearts®. The Scripture passage is taken from the Jerusalem Bible (1966 edition), used with permission. No unauthorized use or reproduction is permitted without prior written consent.

In this episode, Deacon James Keating and Kris McGregor discuss integrating faith into daily life, warning against separating religion from ordinary activities. They stress the need for vulnerability in worship to avoid routine and self-centeredness.

Lent offers opportunities for spiritual growth, including reconciliation and stations of the cross. They lament the decline of shame and public judgment in society, emphasizing the community’s role in upholding moral truth. The Eucharist brings peace and transforms individuals, impacting society through witness.

1. Integration of Faith: How can we ensure that our faith is not compartmentalized but integrated into every aspect of our daily lives?
2. Vulnerability in Worship: Reflect on times when worship has felt routine or self-centered. How can we cultivate vulnerability and openness to God during worship?
3. Lenten Practices: In what ways can Lenten practices such as reconciliation and stations of the cross deepen our relationship with God?
4. Decline of Shame: What are the implications of the decline of shame and public judgment in contemporary society for moral behavior and community life?
5. Role of Community: How can communities uphold moral truth while respecting individual conscience and freedom?
6. Transformative Power of the Eucharist: Reflect on the transformative power of the Eucharist in bringing peace and impacting society through witness.

An excerpt from “Crossing the Desert: Lent and Conversion”:

“The only location for God to interact with us is deep within the ordinariness of our days. We are called to cherish the ordinary day, not because of its routine or common features, but because within this daily forum God reaches us through others, through worship, charity, and our relational commitments. Our daily lives carry an invitation from God to become morally good and holy; it is the only medium through which this invitation can come. Cherish the days.”
– Keating, James (2012-07-20). Liguori Publications. Kindle Edition.

Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., is a professor of Spiritual Theology and serves as a spiritual director at Kenrick Glennon Seminary in St. Louis, MO.

Check out Deacon Keating’s “Discerning Heart” page

In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor enters Chapter 7 during the third week of Lent as St. Benedict turns explicitly to humility. What has been quietly formed through listening, obedience and charity is now named. Humility is not weakness or self-negation. It is truth lived steadily before God.

Grounded in Scripture, Benedict teaches that humility is ordered relationship. God is God. We are not. When this truth is lived without distortion or pretense, the heart becomes free. It no longer needs to inflate or defend itself. Christ stands as the measure of this humility. He lives entirely from the Father. This episode invites listeners to see humility not as a new demand but as the natural shape of a heart formed through faithful practice.

Benedict of Nursia, The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 7 § 1 (RB 1980)

“Holy Scripture cries out to us, brothers, saying:
‘Everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled,
and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.’”

“Clamat ad nos scriptura divina, fratres, dicens: Omnis qui se exaltat humiliabitur, et qui se humiliat exaltabitur.”

“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

1. Do I associate humility with weakness or with truth?
2. Where am I tempted to assert or defend myself in order to secure worth?
3. How have obedience and charity already been forming humility in my life?
4. In what ways does Christ reveal a different understanding of strength?
5. What would it mean today to stand before God without pretense?

Copyright © 2026 Kris McGregor. All rights reserved. No portion of this content may be reproduced, distributed, published, or transmitted in any form, including audio, print or digital media, without prior written permission from Discerning Hearts®.

Scripture Reading (Jerusalem Bible):

Matthew 23:11-12
“The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus turns our understanding of greatness upside down: “The greatest among you must be your servant.” In a world that often celebrates power, ambition, and self-promotion, Jesus calls us to a different kind of greatness—one rooted in humility and service.

To be a servant is to put others before ourselves, to meet their needs with love and generosity. It is not a sign of weakness but of strength—a strength that comes from knowing who we are as beloved children of God. True humility does not diminish our dignity but elevates it, allowing us to reflect God’s love in our actions.

The Desert Fathers emphasized humility as the foundation of the spiritual life. Abba Macarius taught:

“If you are humble, you will inherit the earth without even trying. Humility brings peace to the soul.” (Apophthegmata Patrum, Alphabetical Collection, Macarius 15)

St. Bernard of Clairvaux, one of the great teachers of humility, reminds us:

“No spiritual house can stand if humility is not its foundation.” (Sermon on the Song of Songs, 16.2)

Humility is seeing our giftedness as well as our limitations, recognizing that all has a purpose in God’s plan for our lives and His mission to the world. It is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less. It is an interior disposition that recognizes all good comes from God. St. Bernard also warns of the dangers of pride, calling it “the enemy of grace”, for when we seek our own exaltation, we close ourselves off to God’s work in our hearts.

Humility frees us from the burden of constantly proving ourselves. It allows us to serve others with joy, knowing that our reward is not in the praise of men but in the love of God. When we embrace humility, we allow Christ to lead us on the path to true greatness—a greatness measured not by power, but by love.

As we reflect on Jesus’ words, let us consider: How is He calling us to embrace humility and service today? Where do we need to let go of pride and seek instead the grace of a servant’s heart?

1. How can I embrace humility in my daily life?
2. Who are the people God is calling me to serve, and how can I do so with a humble heart?
3. How does serving others draw me closer to Christ, who came to serve and not to be served?
4. In what areas of my life do I struggle with pride, and how can I surrender them to God?

Lord, You humbled Yourself to serve us, even to the point of death on the cross. Teach us to follow Your example, embracing humility and seeking greatness in service. Help us to put others before ourselves and to love as You love. May our lives reflect Your light and bring glory to Your name.

Amen.

This reflection is written by Kris McGregor of Discerning Hearts®. The Scripture passage is taken from the Jerusalem Bible (1966 edition), used with permission. No unauthorized use or reproduction is permitted without prior written consent.

In this episode of The Rule of St. Benedict for Daily Life, Kris McGregor reflects on St. Benedict’s teaching about receiving correction. As Chapter 5 concludes, obedience is tested in a practical way: how the heart responds when it is admonished or redirected. Correction reveals whether humility is truly taking root. The Holy Rule treats correction not as punishment but as part of ordinary spiritual formation.

St. Benedict calls the disciple to remain teachable, attributing any good to God rather than to personal achievement. Correction, when ordered toward truth and charity, becomes an instrument of growth. This episode explores how accepting fair correction without defensiveness keeps the heart free and receptive to grace, while also clarifying that humility does not mean accepting injustice or abuse. Benedictine formation shapes a heart that remains open, steady and responsive to truth.

Benedict of Nursia, The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 5 §§ 14-15 (RB 1980)

“Those who fear God and do not grow proud of their obedience,
but attribute the good they see in themselves to God, not to themselves,
always expect correction.”

“Qui Deum timent et non extolluntur de oboedientia sua, sed omne bonum quod in se vident Deo deputant, non sibi, semper se corrigendos existimant.”

Proverbs 12:1. RSV–CE

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.”

1. How do I typically respond when someone corrects me?
2. Do I instinctively defend myself, explain myself or shift blame?
3. Can I distinguish between fair correction and unjust treatment?
4. What might change if I expected correction as part of growth rather than as failure?
5. How does attributing the good in my life to God protect me from pride?

Copyright © 2026 Kris McGregor. All rights reserved. No portion of this content may be reproduced, distributed, published, or transmitted in any form, including audio, print or digital media, without prior written permission from Discerning Hearts®.