“If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains.”

But you can't have faith unless you know what it IS. And even a great mind like Jordan Peterson seems to be missing something in his definition. Faith can't be reduced to a moralistic view of obeying the rules and it demands that we let go of any skepticism about the existence of God.

Our relationship with God is not conditional and our faith can't be, either.

In this reflection, I want to set the record straight on what faith is, what faith isn't, and some practical steps we can take to grow in our faith.

At its core, faith is clinging to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, even when we don’t fully understand, even when we fall short, even when we can't prove it.

If you struggle with your faith, pray the powerful words of the man whose son was healed by Jesus: "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief."

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The world tells you that dependence is weakness, but it's actually what makes us human. The truth is, you can’t live without being dependent. From the moment we’re born to the moment we die, we’re relying on other people.

And that’s OK! In fact, it’s the way God intended.

In this episode of The Chris Stefanick Show, I sit down with Catholic writer Leah Libresco Sargeant, to discuss her new book "The Dignity of Dependence: A Feminist Manifesto." Leah challenges the lie of autonomy and makes a bold case that dependence isn’t weakness—it’s the key to a thriving society.

Together, we unpack why dependence is not a burden, why our world is literally built for men, what modern feminism gets both right and wrong, and how a Catholic vision of dignity shows us that men and women are equal in worth, but not interchangeable.

This is an important conversation that touches on so many fundamental aspects of human life. Leah is ultimately asking what it would take to build a more caring world where everyone—men, women, the unborn, the elderly, and the disabled—can flourish together.

God doesn’t want us to hide our need for help. He loves us in our weakness and created us to love each other in those weaknesses as well. That's what real love is all about—depending on one another and on God—not pretending we can do it all on our own. This is a Christian reality that secular society loves to ignore.

Living through the lens of interdependence can help us to be a little bit more compassionate and Christ-like in everything we do.

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

0:53 Leah's Tolkien role-playing game

2:48 Why Leah wrote The Dignity of Dependence

3:32 How the world is literally built for men (and why that matters)

10:21 The lie of autonomy vs. the truth of dependence

16:42 Prioritizing interdependence in the workplace

22:18 What mainstream feminism gets right and wrong

30:10 How the cult of autonomy fuels euthanasia

34:39 Why we are obsessed with being independent

37:14 Why men struggle to admit need (and how it’s killing them)

44:06 Leah's hopes for her new book

Get Leah’s book The Dignity of Dependence here: https://amzn.to/4pLjF74

Explore her Tolkien-inspired game Back Again from the Broken Land: https://cloven-pine-games.itch.io/back-again-from-the-broken-land

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Support the creation of this content by becoming a Missionary of Joy with a monthly gift to Real Life Catholic: https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

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The Chris Stefanick Show will soon be premiering on EWTN+ Streaming! You can start watching more great content at: EWTN.com/ondemand/

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✈️ To learn more about Real Life Catholic Pilgrimages, visit: https://reallifecatholic.com/pilgrimages/

Can money actually buy happiness? Believe it or not—Jesus says yes.

In this reflection, Chris Stefanick unpacks Matthew 25 and Luke 16, where Jesus makes it clear: a big part of our final exam before God will be about whether or not we loved and served the poor.

The story of the rich man and Lazarus is a sobering reminder: if our hearts are closed to the suffering right in front of us, they’re not open enough to receive heaven.

But here’s the twist—modern research actually backs this up! Studies prove that spending money on others brings more joy than spending it on ourselves.

So your money CAN buy you happiness...if you give it away to help others.

What you'll discover:

Why serving the poor is essential preparation for eternal life
How generosity changes your happiness right now
The one thing God will never forget about you
Watch now and start investing in the only thing that lasts: love.

❓DISCUSSION QUESTIONS❓
1. Jesus tells us in Matthew 25 that the “final exam” is about how we serve the poor. How does that challenge or affirm the way you’ve been living your faith?

2. In the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16), the rich man isn’t condemned for being wealthy but for ignoring the suffering at his doorstep. Who are the “Lazaruses” God has placed at your doorstep?

3. God forgets every sin we repent of, but he never forgets a single act of love for the poor. How does that truth change the way you view generosity and service?

4. Research shows that giving money to others brings more joy than spending it on ourselves. Can you share a time when generosity—big or small—brought unexpected joy to your life?

5. What is one way you could “reorder your dreams” to align more closely with how Jesus calls us to use our resources?

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Living Joy by Chris Stefanick: https://real-life-catholic.myshopify.com/products/living-joy-hardcover

✉️ Sign up for Chris’s Daily Anchor for free daily encouragement: https://mailchi.mp/reallifecatholic/daily-anchor-landing-page-20

Help us transform hearts for Jesus! Join the mission as a monthly donor (a Missionary of Joy): https://moj.reallifecatholic.com/

Come on Pilgrimage and Retreat with me in Assisi! https://canterburypilgrimages.com/1226