Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

A Word of Hope

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Lydia, a rich believer, invites the disciples to stay with her in her home and they accept. She is just one example of many benefactors that assist the apostles work, just as they assisted Jesus' work. To further the Good News, we need to avail ourselves of the gifts of all God's people, not just some.

Acts 16:11-15

We set sail from Troas and took a straight course to Samothrace, the following day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, which is a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We remained in this city for some days. On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us.

(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)

Every day the Chicago Dominicans offer "A Word of Hope" video to bolster our faith through these trying times. You can see them here, and you can have them emailed to you each morning by signing up for our email service:

  • A Word of Hope for June 4, 2024

    For Trinity Sunday, Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP sits down with his mother, Arlene, to explain how parents are a good image of the Trinity—we don't have to understand them, we simply thrive living in the love that they provide.
  • A Word of Hope for June 3, 2023

    Br. Joe Trout, OP recalls how the authorities of Jesus' day sought to trip him up by asking him trick questions, and how Jesus refused to play their games. In the same way, we should not feel a need to respond to people who are just looking for a fight.
  • A Word of Hope for June 2, 2023

    Br. Joe Trout, OP unpacks the complex story of Jesus cursing the fig tree, wrapped around the cleansing of the Temple, with a note about prayer at the end. Confused? You won't be after today's episode of A Word of Hope: https://www.opcentral.org/hope
  • A Word of Hope for June 1, 2023

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP shares a reading from Sirach about the beauty and wisdom of God's creation, and relates this vision of the world to that of evolution, suggesting that the more beautiful picture is when these come together.
  • A Word of Hope for May 29, 2023

    On this feast of Mary, the Mother of the Church, Fr. Andrew Carl Wisdom, OP points out that Mary receives this particular grace not because she first said "yes" to God in the Annunciation, but that she continued to cooperate with God's plan every day, even at the foot of the cross. In the same way, we need to say "yes" to God every day, in everything we do.
  • A Word of Hope for May28, 2023

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP notes that at Pentecost, people from different lands speaking in different languages came together, and through the work of the Holy Spirit, they were united and could understand one another. In the same way, when we are doing God's work, we cannot let differences divide.
  • A Word of Hope for May 27, 2023

    On his last day as Provincial, Fr. James Marchionda, OP recalls how the apostle Paul preached even while in jail, and challenges us all to life up to our call to preach the Good News every day, despite whatever challenges we face.
  • A Word of Hope for May 26, 2023

    Fr. Brendan Curran, OP recalls how Jesus gave Peter a second chance after he denied him three times, so if we feel as if we have failed as a Christian, we should "try, try again", trusting that God will always give us another chance.
  • A Word of Hope for May 23, 2023

    Fr. Dominic Holtz, OP reminds us that Jesus shared everything that he knew of the Father with us in order to deepen our friendship with God, because, friendship deepens the more we know about the other.
  • A Word of Hope for May 21, 2023

    Fr. Yamil Samalot Rivera, OP recalls the disciples doubting right up to the Ascension of Jesus, and challenges us to use the occasion to strengthen our own faith in the full message of Jesus so that we can challenge our own fear and proclaim his message to the whole world.
  • A Word of Hope for May 20, 2023

    As do the readings for today, Fr. James Marchionda, OP celebrates the continuation of ministry in the Church down to our present day, and offers thanks to those who have helped our province expand its ministries.
  • A Word of Hope for May 16, 2023

    Fr. Brian Walker, OP reminds us that as we look around and see emptiness, no signs of what we pray for and hope for, in reality, we need to remember the empty tomb of Jesus, which was a sign that he is risen and is already gone ahead of us and is everywhere.
  • A Word of Hope for May 13, 2023

    Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP notes how Paul is constantly adapting his preaching as he goes out to different places, and asks us to think if we are adapting our own message to the people we are trying to reach, so that our own preaching can be more effective.