Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

A Word of Hope

3 May • Learning to believe

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On this Feast of the Apostles Philip and James, we hear a Gospel passage where they struggle to understand what their faith in Jesus means. We are all always doing the same, learning what it means to believe. Let's keep up the struggle.

John 14:6-14

Jesus said to Thomas, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.’
Philip said to him, ‘Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, “Show us the Father”? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

(Scripture passage from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright 1989, 1993, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.)

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:

  • 8 Aug • Walk on water

    Jesus bid Peter to come join him and walk out on the water. Peter did, but then doubted and started to sink, but Jesus caught him. Do we have the faith to follow Jesus out on to that water when he bids us "come"?
  • 6 Aug • Move on, transfigured

    Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on the mountain and was Transfigured. Peter wanted to stay there and hold on to the moment, but Jesus gave it to them to prepare them for what was to come. Do we seek grace to hold on to, or to prepare us for the work of being a Christian?
  • 4 Aug • Listen anew

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  • 3 Aug | Don't judge, benefit from differences

    A Word of Hope by Fr. James Marchionda, OP
    Jesus shares the parable of the wheat and the tares growing together to let us know that we are not to judge those who are different from ourselves, that is God's job at the end of time. But can we benefit from learning from people who are different from us?
  • A Word of Hope for July 31, 2023

    Jesus's parables liken the Kingdom of Heaven to a tiny mustard seed that grows into a large bush and yeast, which grows to fill the dough. Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP points out that in both of these, the Kingdom grows from something small over time, so that we have to be patient and let the Kingdom grow around and within us.
  • A Word of Hope for July 29, 2023

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  • A Word of Hope for July 26, 2023

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  • A Word of Hope for June 25, 2023

    The mother of James and John asked Jesus to sit at his right and at his left in the Kingdom. Fr. James Marchionda, OP asks us to think about what we ask God for? Is it riches and fame, or to be fruitful in our ministry?
  • A Word of Hope for July 23, 2023

    Commenting on the parable of the weeds and wheat growing up together, Fr. Brian Walker, OP reminds us that we all have choices, and as Christians, we need to make sure that our choices reflect our faith, lest we go astray and lead others astray as well.
  • A Word of Hope for July 22, 2023

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