Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

A Word of Hope

25 Nov • The Transient & The Eternal: A Thanksgiving Reflection

A Word of Hope

on the transient nature of life and the importance of focusing on the eternal. Inspired by a Gospel passage and a powerful personal anecdote involving a near-miss accident, Father Andrew Carl reminds us that "none of us is promised the next five minutes." As we approach Thanksgiving, this reflection urges us to look beyond the temporary and embrace the essential blessings that truly come from God.

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**Chapters:**
0:00 Welcome & Introduction (Father Andrew Carl Wisdom, Last Week of Ordinary Time)
0:00:17 Gospel Message: The Passing Nature of All Things
0:00:53 Personal Anecdote: A Life-Changing Car Accident
0:01:47 The Core Message: "None of us is promised the next five minutes"
0:02:16 Treasuring Life: Focus on the Essential and Eternal
0:02:25 Thanksgiving Reflection: Being Grateful for True Blessings
0:02:48 Conclusion & Happy Thanksgiving

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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:

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  •

    8 Aug • Walk on water

    Jesus bid Peter to come join him and walk out on the water. Peter did, but then doubted and started to sink, but Jesus caught him. Do we have the faith to follow Jesus out on to that water when he bids us "come"?
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    6 Aug • Move on, transfigured

    Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on the mountain and was Transfigured. Peter wanted to stay there and hold on to the moment, but Jesus gave it to them to prepare them for what was to come. Do we seek grace to hold on to, or to prepare us for the work of being a Christian?
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    4 Aug • Listen anew

    A Word of Hope by Fr. Charles Bouchard, OP.
    Jesus was discounted by the people of Nazareth because he was too "familiar." Is Jesus' message too "familiar" to us or are we willing to listen to it anew?
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    3 Aug | Don't judge, benefit from differences

    A Word of Hope by Fr. James Marchionda, OP
    Jesus shares the parable of the wheat and the tares growing together to let us know that we are not to judge those who are different from ourselves, that is God's job at the end of time. But can we benefit from learning from people who are different from us?
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    A Word of Hope for July 31, 2023

    Jesus's parables liken the Kingdom of Heaven to a tiny mustard seed that grows into a large bush and yeast, which grows to fill the dough. Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP points out that in both of these, the Kingdom grows from something small over time, so that we have to be patient and let the Kingdom grow around and within us.
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    A Word of Hope for July 29, 2023

    Martha, Mary, and Lazarus became such close friends of Jesus that their home was a refuge for him and set a context for one of his greatest miracles, the raising of Lazarus. Pointing to this reality, Fr. Yamil Samalot Rivera, OP encourages us to try to create such a close friendship with Jesus so that we might be able to be witnesses to the resurrection to a society that is so easily marred by death.
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    A Word of Hope for July 26, 2023

    The Israelites grumbled against God in the desert, and God heard them and sent manna. Fr. James Marchionda, OP thus reminds us to be honest in our prayer, praise when we can, and grumble when we have to, because God hears and responds to it all.
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    A Word of Hope for June 25, 2023

    The mother of James and John asked Jesus to sit at his right and at his left in the Kingdom. Fr. James Marchionda, OP asks us to think about what we ask God for? Is it riches and fame, or to be fruitful in our ministry?
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    A Word of Hope for July 23, 2023

    Commenting on the parable of the weeds and wheat growing up together, Fr. Brian Walker, OP reminds us that we all have choices, and as Christians, we need to make sure that our choices reflect our faith, lest we go astray and lead others astray as well.
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    A Word of Hope for July 22, 2023

    On the Feast of Mary Magdalen, Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP extolls how here close friendship with Jesus allowed her to endure his crucifixion and to be the first to experience his resurrection and receive the instruction to go out and preach about it. She can be a model for all of us, who are similarly empowered by our friendship with Jesus to go out and speak about his resurrection to those who need to hear the Good News.
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    A Word of Hope for July 21, 2023

    Moses did not feel himself worthy of the task God called him to, but God gave him the grace to do it. In the same way, Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP reminds us that God calls each of us, sinners though we might be, and provides us with the grace to do the task God needs us to do.
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