Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

Know Before You Go

The Fifth Sunday of Easter

Know Before You Go

šŸŒŸ Welcome to this weekā€™s "Know Before You Go," a program by the Dominican Central Province of St. Albert the Great. Join Fr. Jim Marchionda, OP (from St. Pius V Priory, Chicago, recording at the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, NY) as he unpacks the powerful readings for the Fifth Sunday of Easter.

šŸ“œ This Weekā€™s Key Themes:

1ļøāƒ£ LOVE THAT WITNESSES (John 13:34-35)

  • Jesusā€™ command to ā€œlove one anotherā€ isnā€™t just about feelingsā€”itā€™s a radical call to live in a way that points others to God.
  • ā€œDoes your love make people ask, ā€˜Whatā€™s different about you?ā€™ā€

2ļøāƒ£ PERSEVERANCE IN HARD TIMES (Acts 14:21-27)

  • Like Paul and Barnabas, weā€™re called to encourage one another amid persecution, division, and a broken world.
  • Fr. Jimā€™s challenge: ā€œDo your actions contribute to ā€˜no more death and mourningā€™ā€”or add to the pain?ā€

3ļøāƒ£ HEAVEN STARTS NOW (Revelation 21:1-5)

  • Godā€™s promise of a ā€œnew heaven and new earthā€ isnā€™t just for the futureā€”it begins today through our choices.
  • ā€œGod dwells with us NOW. Are we building His kingdomā€”or tearing it down?ā€

šŸ’¬ Reflection Questions:

  • How can you love more intentionally this week?
  • Where is God calling you to heal instead of hurt?
  • Do others see Christā€™s light in youā€”or the worldā€™s noise?

ā±ļø Chapters: 0:00 - Introduction 0:45 - The Gospelā€™s Call to Love 3:12 - Acts of the Apostles: Perseverance 5:50 - Revelation: Heaven on Earth 8:30 - Final Challenge & Blessing šŸ™ Support This Ministry: Like šŸ‘ if this homily inspired you! Comment šŸ“: ā€œHow will you live this weekā€™s message?ā€ Share šŸ”— with someone who needs hope! #CatholicHomily #SundayMass #EasterSeason #ChristianLove #BibleStudy

Dominican recording video

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 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.
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    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.
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    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.
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    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.
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    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?
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    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.
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    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.
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    The Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, suggesting that we look to the example of the saints to find real answers to the difficult question of how to love our neighbor in a confusing and broken world.
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    The Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Brian Walker, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Jesus tells us, "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." Each of us has to find our own way to balance that.
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    The Twenty Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the parable of the Wedding Feast in the Gospel of Matthew and its parallel in Isaiah, pointing out that God is preparing a banquet in heaven and all are invited, but those who want to go are challenged to respond properly to the invitation.
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    The Twenty Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, in which Jesus reworks Isaiah's parable of the vineyard, making the point that anyone is welcome in the vineyard of the Lord as long as they produce its harvest of justice.
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    The Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, with Jesus' parable about the vineyard owner who hires people all through the day, but ends up paying them all the sameā€”a full day's wage. In the end, God is equally grateful to everyone who Join in the mission of saving the world, no matter how long they have been doing it.
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    The Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP breaks open the readings for the Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, explaining that to pick up our cross and follow Jesus means more than "suffering, for the sake of the Gospel," but to have the wisdom to know God's particular call for us and to have the courage to act on it.
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    The Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time, in which Jesus tells us he is only here for the Children of Israel and Paul tells us he is here for the Gentiles. WHo are we here to serve?
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    The Feast of the Transfiguration

    Jesus was Transfigured on the mountain in order to strengthen Peter, James, and John for the his death and the task that lied ahead of them. Fr. Charles Bouchard, OP breaks open the readings for the Feast of the Transfiguration to say that this vision should strengthen us all to face our own death and the death of those we love with realistic hope and faith.
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    The Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

    Fr. Brendan Curran, OP breaks open the readings for the Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, where Jesus uses a series of agricultural parables to teach how how to grow into true holiness, helping others to grow into it as well.
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    The Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time

    Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP unpacks the readings for the Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, with its classic reading, "Come to me all who labor and are burdened, and I shall give you rest." Fr. Scott interprets this using the first reading from the prophet Zechariah, who speaks of a humble saviour, who does not come on a war horse, but on the foal of a donkey, and banishes all of the instruments of war. Embracing this saviour brings peace.
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