Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

A Word of Hope

18 July • "I Desire Mercy, Not Sacrifice"

A Word of Hope

In our Gospel today, Jesus argues with the Pharisees and declares definitively that God desires mercy more than following the letter of the law. In our dealing with ourselves and with others, are we more concerned about making sure that everyone is following the rules or about helping the people who are suffering?

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Welcome from Fr. Scott at St. Patrick’s, South Bend
00:19 Dominicans Assisting Between Pastors
00:31 Jesus vs. the Pharisees – Law vs. Mercy
00:40 Sabbath Scene: Disciples Pluck Grain
00:51 Pharisees Object to Breaking the Sabbath
01:00 Jesus Clarifies the Law’s Flexibility
01:07 “I Desire Mercy, Not Sacrifice”
01:20 Pharisees Miss the Point of Mercy
01:27 Law and Sacrifice Must Serve Mercy
01:39 Innocence of the Disciples – Feeding the Hungry
01:56 Feeding the Hungry Is Never Wrong
02:06 Mercy: Meeting Real Human Needs
02:14 Law Has Its Place, But Not Over Compassion
02:27 When Law Must Yield to Love
02:35 Seeing the Suffering of Others
02:45 Mercy as the Heart of Christian Action
03:01 Applies to Personal Life and Public Policy
03:14 Governing with Compassion Over Legalism
03:23 Let All Laws Serve Mercy and Healing
03:39 A Call to Be People of Mercy
03:48 That’s What God Desires Most

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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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    24 Sept • Grow your family

    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?
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    22 Sept • The first shall be last

    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.’
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    21 Sept • You never know where life will lead

    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."
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    19 Sept • Seeing the person in front of us

    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?
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    17 Sept • Together we are the Body of Christ

    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.
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    15 Sept • Solid in His Faith

    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.
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