Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

Know Before You Go

The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time: The Beatitudes & Intentional Discipleship

Remote video URL

Focusing on the powerful message of the Beatitudes from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew Chapter 5).

As we transition into Ordinary Time and prepare for Lent, this video asks us to "consider your own calling" (1 Corinthians) in light of Jesus' mission statement. Discover how the Beatitudes, with their blessings for the poor, the sorrowful, the merciful, and the peacemakers, challenge us to a life of intentional discipleship, even if it means living a "voluntarily marginal life" with a "cost of discipleship."

The speaker unpacks Pope Francis' programmatic document, Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), highlighting its three main themes: mercy, peacemaking, and the vital importance of deep listening and dialogue. Learn about the concept of "inverted preaching" – where conversion and community dialogue inform the pulpit – and the call to "preach in the purple zone," embracing nuance and seeking convergences rather than black-and-white divisions.

This reflection underscores how the Holy Spirit guides us through difficult processes of listening and dialogue, leading us more deeply into intentional discipleship. The Sermon on the Mount remains a treasure, inviting us to consider what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ today.

---

Timeline:
  0:00:00 Welcome & Introduction to the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
  0:00:25 Liturgical Calendar: Ordinary Time leading to Lent
  0:00:33 Gospel Focus: The Sermon on the Mount & The Beatitudes
  0:00:52 "Consider your own calling" (1 Corinthians)
  0:01:20 The Expressions of Blessing in the Beatitudes
  0:01:48 The Price of Discipleship: Persecution for Righteousness
  0:02:12 The Prophet Zephaniah: The Remnant in Israel
  0:02:43 The Beatitudes as Jesus' Mission Statement
  0:02:50 Pope Francis' Evangelii Gaudium and Intentional Discipleship
  0:03:23 Discipleship as a Voluntary Choice: The Narrow Path
  0:03:54 Pope Francis' Themes: Mercy, Peace, Deep Listening & Dialogue
  0:05:05 Vatican II & The Scriptures as Sources
  0:05:27 The Importance of Preaching in Evangelii Gaudium
  0:05:50 The "Inverted Preaching Life": Conversion Before Preaching
  0:06:40 Preaching as the Summit and Source of Deep Listening
  0:07:09 The Cost of Discipleship & Living a Marginal Life
  0:07:38 "Preaching in the Purple Zone": Embracing Nuance & Dialogue
  0:08:12 The Holy Spirit Guides Listening & Finds Convergences
  0:08:33 The Sermon on the Mount: A Treasure for Intentional Discipleship

---

#Hashtags:
#Catholic #OrdinaryTime #Beatitudes #SermonOnTheMount #PopeFrancis #EvangeliiGaudium #IntentionalDiscipleship #Mercy #Peacemaking #Dialogue #DeepListening #Preaching #HolySpirit #CostOfDiscipleship #ChristianLife #CatholicFaith #GospelReflection #KnowBeforeYouGo #BiblicalReflection #1Corinthians #ProphetZephaniah #VaticanII #MissionaryDisciples

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.

Sign up

You can receive an email each morning with the daily Word of Hope and Know Before You Go once a week:

* indicates required

Email Format

  • Pentecost Sunday

    Fr. Luke Barder, OP breaks open the readings for Pentecost, the birth of the Church, reminding us that God is still working on building up his house and furnishing it will every good thing.
  • Sixth Sunday of Easter

    Fr. Don Goergen, OP, opens up the readings for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, exploring what is means that God is Love and we are to love one another just as Jesus has loved us.
  • Fifth Sunday of Easter

    Fr. Brian Walker, OP breaks open the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, reminding us that, because Jesus is the vine and we are the branches, we are all connected and in this together.
  • Third Sunday of Easter

    Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP breaks open the readings for the Third Sunday of Easter, challenging us to mirror the mercy of God in our own lives, thus calling all people to faith in Jesus Christ.
  • Divine Mercy Sunday

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the Gospel for Divine Mercy Sunday, relating how in the story of Doubting Thomas we see Jesus reaching out, doing what it takes to help Thomas believe.
  • Easter Sunday

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the readings for Easter Sunday, reminding us that as impressive a job the Apostles had to follow in Jesus' footsteps, this is our task now—and God judges us ready for it!
  • Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

    Fr. Don Goergen, OP opens up the readings for Palm Sunday, taking us from the joy of the triumphant entry into Jerusalem to the sorrow of the crucifixion, reminding us that all of life is joy and sorrow combined.
  • Fourth Sunday of Lent

    Fr. Brian Walker, OP opens up the scriptures for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, reminding us that God sent his only son to save each of us, and we can trust that when the going gets tough.
  • Third Sunday of Lent

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP, Prior Provincial of the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great, breaks open the story of Jesus's expelling the moneychangers from the Temple to let us see the radical change God is asking of us this Lent.
  • Second Sunday of Lent

    Fr. Don Goergen, OP illuminates the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent, challenging us to open up to questions raised by them and by our faith journeys.
  • First Sunday of Lent

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP, the Promoter of Media for the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great breaks open the readings for this Sunday, reminding us of the purpose of our Lenten practices.
  • Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Andrew Carl Wisdom, OP breaks open the Sunday readings for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, drawing a parallel between the pandemic and the plight of lepers in biblical times, challenging us to be, like Jesus, on the side of the lepers and victims.
  • Second Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP unpacks the readings for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, reminding us as we begin the liturgical year that we must remain open to learning more about God each day, forever building and deepening our faith.
  • The Baptism of the Lord

    Fr. Brian Walker, OP, opens up the readings for the Baptism of the Lord, reminding us that we were made in the image of God, and so, like Jesus, are beloved by God.
  • The Epiphany of the Lord

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP opens up the readings for this solemnity, reminding us that it is not enough to believe, it is what we do with that belief that matters.