Join Father Chuck Dahm, a Dominican priest at St. Pius V Parish in Chicago, with A Word of Hope for Tuesday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time. Jesus united people by proclaiming that all tells the crowd that who hear the word of God and act on it are his family, while we sometimes don't even treat our blood relatives as family. The that family is called to be a light for the world. Father Dahm reflects on what it means to put that light on a lampstand, where it can be seen and give light to others. It's something every one of us has to do. Father Dahm shares how he puts this challenge to couples preparing for marriage: you are the sacrament. You have to shine the love of God to everyone through the love you have for one another. But there's another way to be a light: working for unity. Division, anger, and separation are rampant in our country today, at every level, and St. Paul's call for unity in his letter to the Ephesians reminds us that we must be ministers of building unity. Father Dahm tells the story of a friend who recently lost her sister to cancer, only to find her family so divided that they held two separate celebrations of remembrance because they could not be in the same room. We need unity in our families, our workplaces, and our neighborhoods, and we have to be the light that helps it happen. He also points to "The Future of Peace," a book written by a Palestinian and a Jew, both of whom lost family in the violence surrounding October 7th. The two men forgave one another, and their message is simple: without forgiveness, there is no future for peace. Wherever we carry rancor or resentment, we have to forgive and ask for reconciliation. That is the only way to peace. So let us be peacemakers, and let our light shine on all who are divided. ⏱️ **Timestamps** 0:00 – Greeting from St. Pius V Parish, Chicago 0:16 – A light on the lampstand, seen by all 0:29 – Something every one of us must do 0:33 – Marriage: "You are the sacrament" 0:47 – Being a light by working for unity 1:04 – Division and anger, rampant at every level 1:15 – St. Paul's call for unity in Ephesians 1:24 – Ministers of building unity 1:30 – When families are not united 1:38 – A friend loses her sister to cancer 1:58 – Two celebrations of remembrance 2:10 – Unity in families, workplaces, and neighborhoods 2:23 – "The Future of Peace": a Palestinian and a Jew 2:50 – Two men who forgave one another 3:02 – No forgiveness, no future for peace 3:05 – Forgive and ask for reconciliation 3:26 – Be peacemakers and let your light shine 🙏 If this reflection encouraged you, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs a word of hope today. Turn on notifications so you never miss a new reflection. 📖 Today's Gospel: Luke 8:19-21 📅 Tuesday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time (September 22) 📍 Recorded at St. Pius V Parish, Chicago, Illinois #AWordOfHope #CatholicReflection #GospelOfLuke #Luke8 #LetYourLightShine #FatherChuckDahm #Dominicans #Unity #Forgiveness #Reconciliation #Peacemakers #Peace #Ephesians #FamilyOfGod #SacramentOfMarriage #DailyGospel #CatholicHomily #Scripture #BibleReflection #CatholicFaith #Chicago