Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

Know Before You Go

Know Before You Go is a ministry of the provincial office to help people prepare to hear the readings and preaching of the approaching Sunday's Mass. We welcome any feedback you have at know@opcentral.org . You can see them all below, or you can see other preaching by a particular person by clicking on his name.

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  • The Third Sunday of Easter

    Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter, exploring how the Resurrection shows that it was God's plan all along to bring back to life his beloved children, and that Jesus is the way God accomplishes it.
  • Easter Sunday

    Happy Easter to You and Yours! Today, Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for Easter Sunday, pointing out that with the Resurrection, we enter the End Times, and every time we open ourselves to God coming "from above" we bring more life into the world.
  • Palm Sunday

    Fr. Charlie Bouchard, OP breaks open the readings for this Palm Sunday, noticing how embodied all of the readings are. Jesus gave his body for our salvation. Can we give our bodies, just as they are, for the salvation and faith of others?
  • The Fifth Sunday of Lent

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, pointing out what is different in the "new covenant" that the prophet Jeremiah says God will place in our hearts. Through embracing suffering we will learn obedience to God, as Jesus did, and God will give us the grace to endure and overcome.
  • The Fourth Sunday of Lent

    Fr. Brendan Curran, OP shows the progression in the readings for this Sunday: the first reading shows the brokenness of our world; the second shows it's hope in the grace of God; and the Gospel presents the choice: Jesus came on the side of redemption, not condemnation–which side will we choose?
  • The Third Sunday of Lent

    Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Third Sunday of Lent, pointing out that when Jesus overturned the tables in the Temple, he was underscoring what had been lost in the understanding of the Ten Commandments—that our greatest gift is to spend time with the God who made and saves us. Opening ourselves to spending time with God without the distractions of pursuing other goals is how we both receive this gift from God and give this greatest gift to God.
  • The Second Sunday of Lent

    Fr. Brian Walker, OP breaks open the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent, the sacrifice of Abraham and the Transfiguration, which challenge us to see the violence in our world and in ourselves, and work to change our hearts so that the world might be healed.
  • The First Sunday of Lent

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the readings for the first Sunday of Lent where we hear of Jesus's temptation in the desert, where he was tempted to give up up on God. That is the basic temptation, and Jesus refused to let go of God. Can we hold on to our own faith as well, whatever hardships and challenges come our way?
  • The Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Fr. Charles Bouchard, OP breaks open the readings for the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time—the healing of lepers, noting that Jesus healed not just people's physical ailments, but their spiritual ailments as well, and anything that isolated them from other people. May we also work to reach out to people who are isolated, bringing them back in communion with others, so that we all might be a part of the Kingdom of God.
  • The Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time, pointing out that life can sometimes be a drudgery, but if we look deeper, we can find God even in there. We simply need to be honest and clear in our view of the world.
  • The Third Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, pointing out how Jesus, Paul, and Jonah all preach a message of urgent repentance. These messages were headed in different ways in different situations, but people reformed their lives. Will we?
  • The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord

    Fr. Jim Marchionda, OP brings out the radical nature of the story of the magi coming from the East and finding the baby Jesus, foreigners in a foreign land, foreshadowing the gentiles being accepted into the faith as equals to the Jews, so that we can all become lights to the nations, welcoming everyone into the grace of God.
  • The Solemnity of the Holy Family

    Fr. Charles Bouchard, OP breaks open the readings for the Solemnity of the Holy Family, pointing out that the Holy Family did not exist simply for itself, but for also showing God's presence incarnate in the world. May our families give witness to how, in some way, their imperfections can be made perfect through the grace of God.
  • The Fourth Sunday of Advent

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, in which God puts King David in his place and the angel Gabriel announces the Good News to Mary that she will bear a son, Jesus, who is the center of salvation.
  • The Third Sunday of Advent: Gaudete Sunday

    Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for Gaudete Sunday, reminding us that Isaiah knew his role was to bring good news to the poor, and John the Baptist knew his role was to prepare the way. Each of us should be open to understanding our role in this unfolding drama of God's plan.
  • The Second Sunday of Advent

    Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Second Sunday of Advent, pointing out that the readings challenge us to try to become whole and holy, and to allow God to heal us.
  • The First Sunday of Advent

    Fr. Brian Walker, OP opens up the readings for the First Sunday of Advent, reminding us not to rush to thoughts of Christmas , but instead, ask ourselves how we need to change to prepare for Christmas, so that we might recognize God's coming in the face of others who are different than us.
  • Solemnity of Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the word for this great Solemnity, assuring us that God has invited us to participate in his work of bringing about the Reign of God. Our part, if we choose to accept it, it is care for the poor, feed the hungry, and serve those who are in need. Are you on board?
  • The Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the parable of the talents from the scripture for the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Jesus left the church to carry on his work, and will come back at the end of time and judge us for what we did with what we were given.
  • The Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Thirty First Sunday in Ordinary Time, with Jesus' famous statement, "call no one on earth your father, for you have one Father in Heaven." Jesus was warning those who would have a role of leadership in the Church not to exploit their privilege, but to humbly serve others for the sake of the Gospel. Today, we might also take the opportunity to name the ways in which our community has been hurt because of these abuses.