Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

A Word of Hope

A Word of Hope

In the Letter to the Hebrews we read that the word of God is able to discern all things. This election season, let us use it as our standard rather than some political ideology or social theory.

Based on Hebrews 4:12–13:

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.

(New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org)

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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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    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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    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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