Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

Know Before You Go

The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Know Before You Go

Join Fr. James Marchionda, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our first reading from Deuteronomy, we learn that God's Law is already inside us. We don't need to go looking for it.

In the second reading from Paul's Letter to the Colossians, we hear of how Christ is the center of all things.

For a Gospel, we have the classic parable of the Good Samaritan, and are confronted with the question of who is our neighbor today? If it is the one in front of us in need, it seems as if the answer in the United States is the recent immigrant. What should we do about that as faithful Christians?

Timeline:

00:00 - Introduction: Welcome and overview of the readings
00:30 - This Sunday’s Readings: Deuteronomy, Colossians, and Luke
01:00 - Deuteronomy: The Law is within you—listen with urgency
02:12 - Colossians: Christ at the center of all creation
03:23 - Luke’s Gospel: The parable of the Good Samaritan
04:27 - Jesus' dialogue with the lawyer: Love God and neighbor
05:00 - The story retold: Priest, Levite, and Samaritan
06:00 - Who was the true neighbor? The one who showed mercy
06:26 - Urgency today: Being first to show mercy in a divided world
07:07 - The Gospel asks more: Beyond the minimum of the law
08:03 - Deuteronomy and Pope Francis: Acting from the heart
09:00 - Wrestling with the Gospel: Immigrants as modern-day Samaritans
10:08 - A challenge: Rethink our attitude toward immigrants
11:41 - Final invitation: Research, pray, and act from your heart
12:15 - Blessing: May God help us be instruments of mercy

Know Before You Go

Dominican recording video

Know Before You Go is a ministry of the provincial office to help people prepare to hear the readings and preaching of the approaching Sunday's Mass. We welcome any feedback you have at know@opcentral.org . You can see them all below, or you can see other preaching by a particular person by clicking on his name.

Sign up

You can receive an email each morning with the daily Word of Hope and Know Before You Go once a week:

* indicates required

Email Format

  •

    Sixth Sunday of Easter

    Fr. Don Goergen, OP, opens up the readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, exploring what is means that God is Love and we are to love one another just as Jesus has loved us.
  •

    Fifth Sunday of Easter

    Fr. Brian Walker, OP breaks open the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, reminding us that, because Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, we are all connected and in this together.
  •

    Third Sunday of Easter

    Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP breaks open the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter, challenging us to mirror the mercy of God in our own lives, thus calling all people to faith in Jesus Christ.
  •

    Divine Mercy Sunday

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the Gospel for Divine Mercy Sunday, relating how in the story of Doubting Thomas we see Jesus reaching out, doing what it takes to help Thomas believe.
  •

    Easter Sunday

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the readings for Easter Sunday, reminding us that as impressive a job the Apostles had to follow in Jesus' footsteps, this is our task now—and God judges us ready for it!
  •

    Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

    Fr. Don Goergen, OP opens up the readings for Palm Sunday, taking us from the joy of the triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the sorrow of the crucifixion, reminding us that all of life is joy and sorrow combined.
  •

    Fourth Sunday of Lent

    Fr. Brian Walker, OP opens up the scriptures for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, reminding us that God sent his only son to save each of us, and we can trust that when the going gets tough.
  •

    Third Sunday of Lent

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP, Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great, breaks open the story of Jesus's expelling the moneychangers from the Temple to let us see the radical change God is asking of us this Lent.
  •

    Second Sunday of Lent

    Fr. Don Goergen, OP illuminates the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent, challenging us to open up to questions raised by them and by our faith journeys.
  •

    First Sunday of Lent

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP, the Promoter of Media for the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great breaks open the readings for this Sunday, reminding us of the purpose of our Lenten practices.
  •

    Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Andrew Carl Wisdom, OP breaks open the Sunday readings for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, drawing a parallel between the pandemic and the plight of lepers in biblical times, challenging us to be, like Jesus, on the side of the lepers and victims.
  •

    Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP unpacks the readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, reminding us as we begin the liturgical year that we must remain open to learning more about God each day, forever building and deepening our faith.
  •

    The Baptism of the Lord

    Fr. Brian Walker, OP, opens up the readings for the Baptism of the Lord, reminding us that we were made in the image of God, and so, like Jesus, are beloved by God.
  •

    The Epiphany of the Lord

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP opens up the readings for this solemnity, reminding us that it is not enough to believe, it is what we do with that belief that matters.
  •

    Fourth Sunday of Advent

    Fr. Don Goergen, OP breaks open the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, encouraging us to be open and receptive to the grace of God working through us and transforming us.
  •

    Third Sunday of Advent

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP, Promoter of Media for the Province of St. Albert the Great, opens up the readings for the Third Sunday of Advent, calling us to make straight the way of the Lord within ourselves to renew our hope in a better world.
Subscribe to Know Before You Go