Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

A Word of Hope

6 July • Sent to Share God's Welcome

A Word of Hope

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:

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    18 Oct • The still-too-small Kingdom of God

    Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Luke, the Evangelist, who worked with Paul to spread the Christian Church around the vast Roman Empire. 2000 years later, the Roman Empire is gone but the Church remains—but now, like then, the Church struggles to be heard amid the noise of the wider society. May our life in Christ animate us to be sign of the Kingdom of God so that it might spread throughout our society and around the world.
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    17 Oct • Can we change?

    In today's Gospel, Jesus again condemns the Pharisees for being on the side of those who killed the prophets, demanding that they change on the inside, hear his critique, and thus change the way they behave. They do not listen to him. Are we open to Jesus' challenge to change our hearts, and will this change be reflected in new actions that show our love for God, for ourselves, and for those most in need?
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    16 Oct • Are we a burden or a blessing?

    In today's Gospel, Jesus condemns both the Scribes and the Pharisees because they love honor and legalism more than helping others. In the first reading St. Paul tells us that we should look at the fruits of our actions to know if they are in line with the Spirit: are our actions full of love, joy, and patience, helping others live better lives?
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    15 Oct • Get outside of yourself

    In the Gospel today, Jesus challenges the Pharisees to see beyond themselves, helping others by giving to the poor rather than worrying about being seen as adhering to externals such as following the letter of the law. Then they will be right with God. This is an ongoing challenge to you and me, that today we might give alms and be made more as God would have us be.
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    14 Oct • Our faith must always grow

    In today's reading, Jesus tells his detractors that they will be condemned because they have closed their minds to a greater truth about God that he was teaching. Are we open to learning something new about God, or might Jesus level the same charge at us?
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    12 Oct • Become more united in faith

    When someone praised his mother, Jesus said "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it," welcoming all believers to be equal members of his family, united in faith. United in faith, we can be better witnesses and stronger against the evil one.
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    10 Oct • Trust in prayer

    Does God really respond to our prayer? Jesus promised us that "if we knock the door will be opened." Our head might believe this, but our hearts sometimes doubt, and that gets in the way of prayer. Trust.
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    9 Oct • Find your voice

    Jesus taught his disciples the "Our Father" when they wanted to know how to pray. This is a prayer that does not supplant our own voice, but guides it into looking for the right things from God. Find your own voice in prayer. Ask for what you truly want and need.
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    7 Oct • Our Lady of the Rosary, pray for us

    On this Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary and marking one year since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, we join with Pope Francis to make this a day of fasting and penance, asking Mary to join in praying for peace in our world. She, who invoked a powerful miracle from Jesus with her comment "they have no more wine," will surely get a response when she tells him "they have no more peace."
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    6 Oct • Dependent on God's Mercy

    Jesus said, "whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it." Children are dependent on others for the basic needs of their lives, and they know it. We are dependent on God's mercy to to be able to live in the kingdom of God. Do we always remember that?
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    4 Oct • Seeing the beauty inside

    On this Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, we hear a reading about how God sees everything and we do not. But Francis had a talent for seeing the inner goodness of a person, even when the exterior was a little gruf. Can we grow in our ability to do this?
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    3 Oct • Finding the deeper truth

    Job's friends "know" he must have sinned if God's hand is against him. Job "knows" that he will see his vindication with his own eyes, and so he and his friends talk across each other. The deeper truth of the Book of Job is beyond either of these positions. The point of the Synod on Synodality is to get to the deeper truth beyond what either "side" thinks, because that deeper truth can transform us, our Church, and our world.
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    2 Oct • God has many ways to protect us

    Guardian Angels represent God's particular love and care for each one of us, as our needs differ one from another and over the course of our lives. So don't be afraid to ask God for what you need today, know that God has all sorts of ways to provide for you, including Guardian Angels.
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    1 Oct • The Little Flower

    On this memorial of St. Theresa, the Little Flower, we remember her "little way," doing little things with great faith, and how it helped her to overcome adversity, loss, and sickness to becomes a model of faith and grace. All of us get beset by troubles from time to time, and that is when we can remember St. Theresa and her "little way" and ask God's grace to invade our lives.
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    29 Sept • Cast it away, but not so far away

    We have two sayings of Jesus today, one of inclusion and one of exclusion. The deeper truth lies somewhere in between.

    You can find out more information about the Oct. 24 Provincial's Dinner at: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/knch6p/event/provincialsdinner2024/

    Based on Mark 9:38–43, 45, 47–48;
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    27 Sept • Jesus died for each of us

    Jesus revealed to his disciples that he had to suffer and die for the salvation of humanity, but what they missed is that he was to suffer for them. Do we each see that Jesus did not merely suffer for humanity in general, but for us individually? That changes things.
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    26 Sept • Reignite your faith

    Saints Cosmas and Damian knew that their martyrdom would spread sparks far and wide to ignite the faith of the Christian community and thus embraced their faith. Let their example and their prayers reignite your own faith this day. Even though all things might seem hopeless, they are not for nought with the help of God.
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