What does it actually mean to love—not just in theory, but in real life?

In this episode, Fr. Michael Trummer is joined by Fr. Christopher Trummer and Mike Nolan for a deep, honest conversation on love (charity) as the greatest theological virtue. Moving beyond clichés and sentimentality, they explore why love is both a gift of grace and something we must actively cooperate with—and why knowing about love is very different from actually living it.

The conversation touches on:

• Why love is the only virtue that endures into heaven
• How love is fulfilled not by doing more, but by delighting in the other
• The difference between Christian love and merely “being nice”
• Why loving difficult people is essential for spiritual growth
• How unhealed wounds and failure to receive love make loving others so hard
• The relationship between agape (self-giving love) and eros (delight and desire)
• Why heaven is not a glorified vacation—but perfect communion

This episode challenges listeners to examine whether their love is rooted in busyness, duty, and performance—or in real communion, hope, and grace. It’s a practical, demanding, and deeply hopeful vision of love as preparation for heaven and participation in God’s own life.

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00:00 Introduction to Theological Virtues

00:58 The Paradox of Love and Grace

02:07 Love in the Context of Faith and Hope

03:38 The Uniqueness of Christian Love

08:21 Love as Preparation for Heaven

12:09 The Role of Emotions in Love

22:43 The Challenge of Loving Difficult People

25:55 Integrating Agape and Eros

41:35 Understanding Self-Agreement and Interior Brokenness

42:26 The Difficulty of Receiving Love

42:48 The Trinity and the Nature of Love

44:05 The Impact of Being Loved

44:43 The Heart Magnifies What It Receives

47:36 The Role of Security in Love

48:41 Experiencing True Friendship and Love

54:48 The Importance of Hope in Love

59:19 Patience and the Unveiling of Love

01:06:36 The Impossible Vocation of Love

01:11:55 The Necessity of Gentleness in Love

01:17:04 Closing Thoughts and Prayer

What is faith—really?

In this episode of The Normal Christian Life, we continue our series on the theological virtues by exploring faith: what it is, what it isn’t, and why it cannot be reduced to intellectual agreement or apologetics alone.

This conversation unpacks:

• Why biblical faith is relational and lived, not merely believed
• How faith engages the whole person—mind, heart, will, and action
• The proper role of reason in the life of faith
• Why dryness, doubt, and desolation do not mean faith is failing
• How God’s hiddenness can actually deepen trust
• The importance of community, testimony, and perseverance

Drawing from Scripture (especially Hebrews 11), the saints, and lived experience, we show that faith is not emotional hype or blind guessing—but a conviction that endures even when God feels absent.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• “Why doesn’t God feel close anymore?”
• “Is my faith weak if I don’t feel anything?”
• “How do I keep believing through suffering or silence?”

This episode offers clarity, realism, and hope.

Faith is a gift—and a response—that matures through trust, surrender, and perseverance.

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00:00 Introduction to Theological Virtues

02:17 Understanding Faith: Beyond Intellectual Assent

06:25 Personal Faith Journeys

09:48 Faith and Reason: A Harmonious Relationship

13:12 Experiencing God: Faith and Feelings

23:11 Faith in Action: Living Out Beliefs

30:07 Struggles with Faith and Desolation

31:44 Understanding God's Hiddenness

34:58 The Role of Suffering in Faith

50:35 The Importance of Community in Faith

53:24 Evangelization and Personal Testimonies

58:55 Concluding Thoughts and Prayer

As the Church concludes the Jubilee Year of Hope, the hosts discuss the profound significance of hope in the Christian life. They explain that hope is more than just a feel-good sentiment, highlighting its roots as a theological virtue that is central to overcoming adversity and recognizing God's hand in the midst of trials. They offer practical ways to cultivate this virtue day by day, face unavoidable suffering with faith, and keep hope alive in the dark times. This conversation emphasizes that true hope is anchored in the character and promises of God, surpassing mere human optimism.

00:00 Introduction to Hope

00:13 The Theological Virtues

01:12 A Poem on Hope

03:01 Hope in Practice

4:34 Hope Amidst Anxiety

07:43 Hope as a Choice

17:44 Hope and Suffering

24:54 Hope Beyond This Life

35:46 Acknowledging Discouragement and Hopelessness

36:30 Signs of Lacking Hope

37:25 The Importance of Dreaming with God

38:58 Living with Hope and Avoiding Cynicism

41:26 Balancing Grief and Hope

59:51 Daily Habits to Cultivate Hope

01:05:27 Final Thoughts and Encouragement