Dominican Friars

Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

A Word of Hope

6 July • Sent to Share God's Welcome

Jesus sent out 72 disciples to take nothing with them but his message of peace and welcome. Whenever they were not welcomed, they were to simply move on in hope that the next town would welcome them. As we celebrate Independence Day, let us remember that our great nation has always been a place of welcome and opportunity for those seeking a better life. Where do we need to extend that charitable welcome today? Where is God sending us?

00:00 - Welcome from Fr. Brendan
Greeting from Southern California on Independence Day weekend.

00:13 - Sent Two by Two
Jesus sends disciples with open hearts, not baggage.

00:34 - Sharing Across Cultures
Called to bring the Gospel to all, even strangers.

01:01 - Living Our Baptismal Call
We’re sent to share Christ, even in rejection.

01:14 - Signs of Freedom & Mission
Flags and boats as symbols of being sent.

01:34 - Shake Off Rejection
Move on when not welcomed—stay faithful.

02:05 - Hope in Our Hearts
Pray for openness and courage in mission.

02:21 - Immigration & Welcome
A personal story of risk and hospitality.

02:44 - Muddy Sandals & Division
Acknowledging pain and choosing unity.

03:02 - Let Go of Baggage
Carry Christ’s spirit, not our burdens.

03:18 - Be Christ’s Hope
Be the hands and voice of Christ today.

03:33 - Holiday Blessing
Blessings for Independence Day weekend.

A Word of Hope with dove

Every day the Chicago Dominicans offer "A Word of Hope" video to bolster our faith through these trying times. We welcome any feedback you have at hope@opcentral.org . You can see them all below, or you can see other preaching by a particular person by clicking on his name, and you can have them emailed to you each morning by signing up for our email service:

24 Sept • Grow your family

Sep 24, 2024 by Fr. Brendan Curran, OP

Jesus said that whoever does the will of God is his mother and brother and sister. Can we extend our own notion of family to embrace all of God's people? Wouldn't that make for a better world?
23 Sept • Let your light shine

Sep 23, 2024 by Fr. Brendan Curran, OP

Jesus tells us to that no one lights a candle and puts it under a bushel basket. Do you let your light shine, so that others may see the glory of God working through you?
22 Sept • The first shall be last

Sep 22, 2024 by Fr. Louis Morrone, OP

While Jesus was teaching his disciples that he had to die, they were more concerned with who among them was the greatest. Jesus pointed out this disconnect and challenged them: ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’
21 Sept • You never know where life will lead

Sep 21, 2024 by Fr. Brian Walker, OP

On this Feast of St. Matthew, we are called to look at how his life went in such a different direction because Jesus called him to follow. God has surprise blessings for all of us, and we cannot know how our life will unfold. But we can look at it and be amazed and say "Thank you."
20 Sept • Faith in what you cannot prove

Sep 20, 2024 by Fr. Brian Walker, OP

Paul encouraged the Corinthians to believe in the resurrection of the dead. We cannot prove this to anyone, but we believe in it, and we can feel that it is true in our heart. This is the way of faith, and it gives us hope.
19 Sept • Seeing the person in front of us

Sep 19, 2024 by Fr. Dominic Holtz, OP

A sinful woman wept at Jesus' feet, washing them with her tears. Jesus saw God's grace and forgiveness working in her, the Pharisee with whom he was dining only saw her sinfulness. Do we see God's grace working in those around us and in ourselves, or do we just notice the sins?
8 Sept • Love is the highest gift

Sep 18, 2024 by Fr. Dominic Holtz, OP

Paul tells us that the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of love (charity), which is the capstone of every other gift.
17 Sept • Together we are the Body of Christ

Sep 17, 2024 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Paul reminds us today that though we are many different parts, together we are the one Body of Christ. So we do not approach God individually, but as a part of the Church. Let us celebrate the gifts God has given each of us as well as gifts God has given others, so together, we can be more than any of us are individually.
16 Sept • Members of the One Body of Christ

Sep 16, 2024 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Paul upbraids the Christian community at Corinth for allowing division among its members when celebrating the Lord's Supper. Do we let our personal preferences get in the way of fostering unity in the Church even today?

Based on 1 Corinthians 11:17-26, 33
15 Sept • Solid in His Faith

Sep 15, 2024 by Fr. Bob Keller, OP

Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah, but then rebukes him when Jesus predicts the suffering and death he must endure. Jesus is solid in his faith and so can accept the violence of others and respond in love. Peter is not solid in his faith. Are we? If we follow Jesus, we will not be ashamed when the world bullies us, or taunts us, or inflicts violence upon us, and we, like Jesus, will respond with love.
14 Sept • The cross, a sign that violence is best counteredred with nonviolence

Sep 14, 2024 by Fr. Bob Keller, OP

On this Feast of the Exultation of the Cross, we are pushed to ponder why we should celebrate this violent means of death. One thing it teaches us is that by dying this way, Jesus shows us a better way to counter the violence we see in the world by not responding in violence, but through inner strength, keeping our eyes on God's plan and responding to all things with love.
13 Sept • Follow and become like Jesus

Sep 13, 2024 by Fr. Jordan DeGuire, OP

Jesus asked his disciples to follow him and learn to be like him. We do not have to be perfect disciples when we start, we simply need to keep learning from the one teacher, Jesus, and to lead others to follow him as well.
12 Sept • Loving your enemies is not easy

Sep 12, 2024 by Fr. Jordan DeGuire, OP

Jesus told his disciples that they must love their enemies, just as God is kind even to the wicked. This is no easy thing for us, but we can start by recognising that we are already loved, and thus can reflect that love to others. Then, we can practice by loving others with an open hand, or in secret expecting nothing in return.
11 Sept • Blessed are you!

Sep 11, 2024 by Br. Ed Van Merrienboer, OP

In Luke's version of the Beatitudes, we learn that God loves those who are materially poor, and Jesus challenges us to do something to help them here and now and to live with integrity.
10 Sept • Better to be cheated than to quarrel with one another

Sep 10, 2024 by Br. Ed Van Merrienboer, OP

When the Christian community began cheating one another and fighting among themselves, Paul called them to remember that they left that quarrelsome life behind when they became justified in the name of Jesus.
9 Sept • St. Peter Claver and the law of love

Sep 9, 2024 by Fr. Yamil A. Samalot Rivera, OP

Jesus was criticized for healing on the sabbath, but the law of love is the highest law and must come first and foremost. This dedication is shown in the life of St. Peter Claver, SJ who cared for enslaved people in the New World.
8 Sept • Break the barriers that hold back mercy

Sep 8, 2024 by Fr. Yamil A. Samalot Rivera, OP

In healing a deaf man who was not Jewish, Jesus broke down barriers to God's mercy. May we also not look to the law but at how best to share God's love to those who need it most, whomever and wherever they are.
7 Sept • Honor the intent of the law

Sep 7, 2024 by Fr. Paul Whittington, OP

The Pharisees criticized Jesus because his disciples picked grain to eat on the sabbath, and Jesus proclaimed himself lord of the sabbath. Following Jesus is more important than following the letter of the law.
6 Sept • Appreciating those whom God has put in our lives

Sep 6, 2024 by Fr. Paul Whittington, OP

St. Paul tells us that he does not care about being judged by any human tribunal. The only judgement that counts os God's. Do we judge other people or worry how they judge us?
5 Sept • Lift your expectations of God and yourself

Sep 5, 2024 by Fr. Charles Bouchard, OP

After a long night of catching nothing, Jesus miraculously provided his new disciples with a miraculous catch of fish. Sometimes we can be discouraged by low expectations for ourselves and for the world, but we are encouraged to trust that God's expectations for us are high, and that our expectations of ourselves and God should be even higher.
4 Sept • Can we work together for the good?

Sep 4, 2024 by Fr. Charles Bouchard, OP

Paul admonished the Christian community at Corinth because they let their differences become divisions, so that they could no preach the Good News effectively. Can we work through our differences this political season so that we might choose the candidates that will best unite us, rather than further divide us?
3 Sept • Should I worry about demons?

Sep 3, 2024 by Br. Joseph Trout, OP

In Luke's Gospel we hear of Jesus expelling demons. Is demonic possession real, or was it just some form of mental illness? What we can certainly say is that if demons are real, we don't have to worry about them if we trust in Jesus, because Jesus has power over all.
2 Sept • The humility to be open to learn

Sep 2, 2024 by Br. Joseph Trout, OP

The people of Nazareth thought they already knew Jesus, and so could not accept that he was more than they thought. We can discover amazing things by being open to being taught by God rather than holding on to our small ideas.
1 Sept • The religion God wants

Sep 1, 2024 by Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP

The readings today are all about what proper religious observance looks like: following God's law in caring for the vulnerable people in their afflictions. This is a simple message, but one that often gets overlooked in religious discussions.

Subscribe to A Word of Hope