Dominican Friars

Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

A Word of Hope

5 August • Overcoming Fear with Faith

In our Gospel today, the disciples are in a storm at sea and Jesus comes walking on water towards them. Frightened, Peter asks Jesus to prove it is really him by having him come to him over the water. Peter starts to come, but then is afraid, and has to be rescued by Jesus.

Life is often frightening, but Jesus is always beckoning us to leave the safety of our boat, to trust in him, walk towards him over unsafe waters, to do the work we need to do. And Jesus will always be there to catch us if we fall. Have faith and overcome your fear.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Childhood Memory: Learning to Swim
00:28 - Introduction: A Word of Hope
00:35 - Gospel Reflection: Jesus Walks on Water
00:53 - Peter’s Leap of Faith
01:14 - Peter Walks on Water
01:37 - Connecting Faith to Personal Fear
01:56 - God Believes in Us
02:25 - Jesus Calls Us Out of Despair
02:49 - Walking Toward New Life
03:01 - Faith Over Fear: God's Gentle Call
03:26 - Final Reflection and Blessing

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:

12 Jan • Jesus' compassion trumps all

Jan 12, 2024 by Fr. James Marchionda, OP

When a man was lowered through the roof to be healed by Jesus, he did not interrogate the paralytic to see if he was worthy of a healing—he healed him. May we also be moved by compassion rather than judgement.
11 Jan • Anger at injustice turned to compassion

Jan 11, 2024 by Fr. Yamil A. Samalot Rivera, OP

Jesus, when confronted by a leper, seems angry at many things. But in the end, his compassion for the man won out over his anger. Can we say the same?
10 Jan • Open to serve all those who need

Jan 10, 2024 by Fr. Yamil A. Samalot Rivera, OP

In today's Gospel, Jesus heals Simon Peter's mother-in-law, who not only gets up to serve Jesus, but opens up the house to be a center of healing for all those who needed it. Are we willing to open our hearts and our homes to all who need?
9 Jan • Jesus uses his authority to save souls

Jan 9, 2024 by Br. Ed Van Merrienboer, OP

Jesus used his authority to cast out demons and save people. Is our authority always at the service of saving souls?
8 Jan • The baptism of the Lord

Jan 8, 2024 by Br. Ed Van Merrienboer, OP

When Jesus got baptized in the Jordan by John, he identified with sinners, and God sent a divine sign of his approval. When we meet sinners, do we identify with them and help them to become more than they are right now, or do we separate ourselves from them?
7 Jan • Searching for an Epiphany

Jan 7, 2024 by Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP

On this Feast of the Epiphany, we recall that the magi found Jesus because they followed the signs and looked for him. If we follow the signs that God gives us and search for Jesus, we also will find him, and have an epiphany of our own.
6 Jan • Truth is complicated

Jan 6, 2024 by Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP

On this optional memorial for St. André Bessette there are at least 12 options for the two readings at mass. Which truth is for us today? We each need to honestly search our hearts for what seems to be the deepest truth and follow that today.
5 Jan • Come and See

Jan 5, 2024 by Fr. Charles Bouchard, OP

When his future disciples doubted who Jesus was, he challenged them to "Come and See." May we open our own eyes to see the people we encounter in the light of truth rather than the light of prejudice.
4 Jan • What do you seek?

Jan 4, 2024 by Fr. Charles Bouchard, OP

Ask yourself ahead of time what you seek from Jesus, so that if you meet him on the way, you will know what to ask.
3 Jan • Behold the Lamb of God

Jan 3, 2024 by Fr. Louis Morrone, OP

John the Baptist recognized Jesus as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. But, as lambs are both peaceful and sacrificed, we ask that God might give us peace in the face of the challenges we will find in this coming year.
2 Jan • Who are you? We all need to decide.

Jan 2, 2024 by Fr. Louis Morrone, OP

When asked who he was, John the Baptist answered by citing his relationship to Jesus. As Christians, we are also invited to find our identity in Jesus.
1 Jan • Mary, the Mother of God

Jan 1, 2024 by Fr. Luke Barder, OP

On the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God ("Theotokos" in Greek), we ponder how closely that connected her with God, and then, remembering that we are also God's children by adoption, we are invited to acknowledge our own closeness to God.
31 Dec • The Domestic Church, where we learn our faith

Dec 31, 2023 by Fr. Luke Barder, OP

On this Feast of the Holy Family, we reflect on how we learn our faith and how to love and how to forgive in our families, which is why it is called the "domestic church."
30 Dec • Anna the Prophet proclaims Jesus

Dec 30, 2023 by Br. Joseph Trout, OP

Today's Gospel tells of how when Jesus was presented in the Temple, Anna the Prophet spoke about him to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. May our speech point out what is good and holy in the world, rather than gossiping about what is wrong about it.
29 Dec • See in the light

Dec 29, 2023 by Br. Joseph Trout, OP

Jesus is the light of the world, not like Christmas lights shining in the dark, but like the sun revealing the true beauty of the world. Open your eyes to see the world in the light of Christ.
28 Dec • Stand against the darkness

Dec 28, 2023 by Fr. Andrew Carl Wisdom, OP

On this Feast of the Holy Innocents, remembering when King Herod had all of the young boys in Bethlehem murdered, we are challenged to stand against the violence and injustice that we encounter in our world today.
27 Dec • Remember to trust God

Dec 27, 2023 by Fr. Andrew Carl Wisdom, OP

On this Feast of St. John the Apostle, we turn from Jesus' birth to his Resurrection, being reminded on that in both instances, what was needed was trust in God. Evelyn is a nurse who calms her patients by reminding them to trust their faith.
26 Dec • The first Christian martyr

Dec 26, 2023 by Fr. Greg Heille, OP

On this Feast of St. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, we pray for young Christians who will undoubtedly have their faith tested, that we might help them to grow through this towards a deeper more mature faith, and that we can let them know that they are signs of hope for us.
25 Dec • The promise of a sunrise

Dec 25, 2023 by Fr. Greg Heille, OP

Christmas has finally come, where we celebrate the birth of the savior bursting forth like the sunrise, with a promise of a new day, a new season, new life, and renewed hope.
24 Dec • In the quiet of the night

Dec 24, 2023 by Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP

In the readings for Midnight Mass we hear the story of the savior being born in a little town, laid quietly in a manger, noticed only by his parents and shepherds brought there by the proclamation of angels—God not coming with trumpet blasts, but unfolding over time from this quiet beginning.
23 Dec • God helps families

Dec 22, 2023 by Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP

The holidays can be stressful for families, but the prophet Malachai assures us that God will "To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers."
22 Dec • Each day a new day

Dec 22, 2023 by Fr. Brian Walker, OP

In the Magnificat, Mary says, "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord." We could acclaim that every day id we could perceive the graces given to us in each new day.
21 Dec • Blessed are those who remain faithful

Dec 21, 2023 by Fr. Brian Walker, OP

In the Visitation, when Elizabeth sees Mary, she says, "Blessed are you." Mary was indeed blessed because she trusted God. We are called to trust God, and can be blessed in that as well.
20 Dec • The Lord is with you

Dec 20, 2023 by Fr. Brendan Curran, OP

The Angel Gabriel appeared unto Mary and declared, "Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" If we had eyes to see, we would know that the Lord is with us as well, every moment of every day.

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