Chris Stefanick Catholic Show

A lot of people think Jesus was anti-rules. He hated the Pharisees, dined with sinners—so He must be cool with whatever we want to do, right?

In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus says something that should stop us in our tracks: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets." And then He doesn't just uphold the moral law—He raises the bar.

In this reflection, I dive into the difference between legalism and the moral law, why God's rules aren't arbitrary (they're more like the laws of gravity), and what Jesus actually wants from us: not behavior modification, but a complete transformation of the heart.

The gift of love is free—you can't earn it. But love costs you literally everything. And as any lover knows, it's totally worth the price.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Do you ever catch yourself treating your faith more like a checklist than a relationship? What does that look like in your life?
2. What is the difference between legalism and following God's moral laws out of love? How can you tell which one is driving your obedience?
3. Chris says God's moral laws are like the laws of gravity—"you don't break them, they break you." How have you experienced this to be true?
4. Is there an area of your life where you’ve assumed, “God’s cool with it”?
5. What is one concrete step you can take this week to give Jesus not just your behavior—but your heart?

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Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

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Chapters

(00:00:00) - Preaching the Gospel in the Cayman Islands
(00:03:05) - The Moral Requirements of Obeying the Law
(00:08:27) - The Law of Love in the New Testament

What does your body reveal about God?

Christopher West—the world's leading communicator of St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body—returns to the show for a timely interview about an essential topic: the human body, gender, and sexuality.

Christopher unpacks the revolutionary truth that our bodies aren't just biological accidents. They're a theology—a divine revelation of who God is and how He loves. Whether you're struggling with your body image, wrestling with the sexual confusion dominating our culture, or longing for deeper meaning in your marriage, this message will deepen your understanding of how our physical bodies beautifully connect us to God's divinity.

This isn't just theology—it's healing, hope, and the best news you'll ever hear about your body, your sexuality, and God's passionate love for you.

More from Christopher West: www.theologyofthebody.com

Highlights
0:00 - Intro
1:43 Christopher West’s First Theology of the Body Talk
3:15 The Most Legendary Speaking Injury Ever
11:48 “I Was Catholic My Whole Life and Never Heard This”
14:26 Theology of the Body Explains the Entire Faith
19:36 Your Body Is Not Just Biological
24:42 Why the Devil Is After the Human Body
30:04 Christianity Begins in Mary’s Womb
42:15 The Body Is Not a Prison — It’s a Temple
45:57 What Your Glorified Body Will Be Like in Heaven
52:25 Law, Freedom, and Why Both Sides Miss Grace
1:12:09 Why humiliation is part of authentic ministry
1:27:07 What does "gender" really mean?
1:28:45 Theology of the Body is a "time bomb"

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Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and get free access to the new Living Peace study series: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

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Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage: https://www.reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages

Chapters

(00:00:00) - The Theology of the Body with Christopher West
(00:00:29) - Mission: A Mission of Joy
(00:01:40) - Christopher West on His First Wedding
(00:03:04) - Christopher West On His Most Legendary Speaking Moment
(00:06:21) - How to Die While Preaching
(00:07:11) - Christopher West on Puking During a Talk
(00:11:24) - Theology of the Body
(00:11:54) - John Paul II on Theology of the Body
(00:16:51) - The Catechism: The Nuptial Wedding
(00:17:33) - The Theology of the Body
(00:22:39) - The Spousal Meaning of the Body
(00:22:59) - Mission to the World: Living Joy
(00:27:07) - Is God Sexually Intimate?
(00:28:51) - Jesus Christ and Sexuality
(00:35:14) - Envy of the Body
(00:39:30) - What Theology of the Body Remains
(00:42:22) - The Glory of God Revealed Through the Human Body
(00:44:24) - Imagine the Glory of Jesus' Body
(00:47:58) - The Joy of Married Love
(00:50:30) - Criticisms of the Law and its application
(00:55:56) - The Death of Legalism in the Church
(01:00:33) - The Parable of the Prodigal Son
(01:04:40) - The Sexual Critique
(01:09:35) - Philosopher on the Pharisees
(01:12:09) - Paul on Criticism and Humiliation
(01:16:01) - Christians on the Sabbatical
(01:18:33) - Christopher West on Sandcastles and His
(01:22:47) - The Power of the Cross
(01:25:51) - on the Theology of the Body
(01:30:57) - Theology of the Body

Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth. You are the light of the world."

And if you're like most of us, you hear that and think, "Jesus, I love you, but... really? I'm just trying to keep my kids alive today. I'm the light of my living room on a good day. That's about it."

Here's the truth: When you're faithful right where you are—in that living room, at that job, with that one person in front of you—you ARE changing the world. You just can't see it yet.

Look at the Gospels. Jesus didn't spend His time chasing massive crowds. Most of His ministry was small encounters with individuals. One conversation at a time. That's how the world actually gets changed.

The problem is we think so big that we miss what God's calling us to do right under our noses. We obsess over global problems we can't control while ignoring the person right in front of us who desperately needs our love.

Mother Teresa showed up late to a global hunger summit because she stopped to feed one dying man outside the door. Everyone else had walked right past him.

Jan Tyranowski lived under Nazi and then Communist oppression in Poland. What could one guy possibly do? He started a Catholic small group. He poured his life into a handful of young men. One of them became Pope John Paul II, who helped topple communism in Eastern Europe.

Jan never saw it. But he was faithful anyway.

Whatever you're doing today, whoever God has put in front of you—even if no one else sees it—He does.

Do it well...and see what happens.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. When you hear "You are the light of the world," what's your honest first reaction? Do you believe Jesus when He says this to you?

2. How does focusing on "big impact" cause us to miss the people and opportunities right in front of us?

3. Think about Jan Tyranowski's story. What "small" faithfulness is God calling you to that might have ripple effects you'll never see in your lifetime?

4. In what ways does our culture's obsession with metrics, followers, and "influence" distort our understanding of what it means to change the world?

5. What's one specific way you can be "the light of your living room" this week—faithful to the small encounters God has placed right in front of you?

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Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox:
https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk

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Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

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Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to the Holy Land: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/cs-holyland2026/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - You're a World Changer!
(00:07:30) - Jan Taranowski: What I Do Matters

Why would anyone confess to a crime when they have the right to remain silent?

Former K-9 officer and white-collar detective Jeff Wrigley has spent years in the room where criminals confess—and he's discovered something shocking: most of them feel RELIEF when they finally tell the truth.

In this eye-opening conversation, Jeff reveals why guilt and shame work like a "boa constrictor" that squeezes tighter every day, why the interrogation room and the confessional aren't that different, and what physically happens when someone finally comes clean.

We also dive into Jeff's powerful conversion story (including his first confession in a police cruiser), why shame makes kids hide instead of heal, and the one phrase every parent needs when their kid messes up.

This conversation will change how you think about confession—both the sacrament and the human need to be known and loved anyway.

Highlights:

0:00 - Intro

3:07 - From K-9 Officer to White Collar Detective

8:53 - Why Criminals Think They'll Get Away With It

11:55 - The "Boa Constrictor" Effect of Guilt and Shame

18:03 - The Confession Room vs. The Confessional

22:40 - When Shoulders Soften: What Confession Looks Like

26:29 - How a Detective Found God (Conversion Story)

35:25 - "He Can't Redeem What You Won't Confess"

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Sign up for The Daily Anchor to get Chris Stefanick's bite-sized reflections every morning: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk

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Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic and g...

Chapters

(00:00:00) - How to Extract Confessions From Your Teenagers
(00:00:31) - Chris Stefanik: Real Life Catholic
(00:02:39) - A Senior Detective's Last Words
(00:03:04) - The Role of a Dog in Law Enforcement
(00:06:56) - The Thrill of the Chase
(00:10:31) - Mission: Mission of Joy
(00:11:55) - How to Fall Into Big Sin
(00:12:35) - Detective: The Confession Room
(00:18:14) - How to Carry a Heavy Weight
(00:22:29) - In the Elevator With Convicted Criminals
(00:26:27) - One Cop Converts to Catholicism at 32
(00:28:54) - Tom Brokaw on Confession
(00:33:14) - What Would You Say to Someone Who's Been Forced to Confess

What do you do when everything just becomes too much?

This Sunday Reflection is deeply personal, as lately God has been bringing me right up to the edge of my own strength—physically, emotionally, spiritually. In prayer, I was reminded of something we all need to remember when we reach our breaking point:

You were never meant to be your own source.

We’re all afraid of running out—of energy, money, patience, creativity, love. As we get older, that fear can quietly run our lives. But Jesus offers a radically different way: trusting God as an infinite storehouse.

In this reflection, I talk about:

The fear of “running out” and how it shapes our stress

Why self-reliance eventually makes us miserable

What Jesus really means by “Blessed are the poor in spirit”

How trusting God sets you free from burnout and anxiety

If you’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or feeling like you just don’t have it in you right now—I hope this video brings you some peace. You’re not running out. You just need to remember where the supply really comes from.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Can you identify a moment in your life when you hit a breaking point? How did God show up — or how did you wish He had?

Where in your life do you most fear “running out” right now?

When you feel overwhelmed, do you tend to withdraw, overwork, or lash out? How does self-reliance show up in your stress, anxiety, or relationships?

How would your daily decisions change if you truly believed God is your infinite storehouse?

What’s one concrete way you can surrender control to God this week?

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Sign up for the Daily Anchor for free daily reflections from Chris Stefanick in your inbox: https://bit.ly/48Xfhfk

-----

Join the mission to spread the joy of the Gospel! Become a Missionary of Joy to support this free content: https://bit.ly/4nTHbN0

-----

Join Chris Stefanick on pilgrimage to the Holy Land: https://www.canterburypilgrimages.com/tour/cs-holyland2026/

Chapters

(00:00:00) - Chris Stefanik on His Challenge
(00:05:23) - How to Trust God in Life
(00:06:09) - Blessed Makarios