Fr. James Marchionda, OP

Join Fr. James Marchionda, OP as he breaks open the readings for the Know Before You Go video for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Some of the themes explored are: Faith over sight, Preparedness for God's presence, Responsibility that comes with blessing, Daily discipleship, Biblical study for 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

On the Feast of St. James, we hear the words of St. Paul in his Second Letter to the Corinthians, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed." Jesus did not come to remove suffering or to have us ignore it. He came so that, knowing his power and presence, we would be empowered to choose hope even in the midst of suffering.

Jesus said, "to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away." He was speaking of faith, not material wealth. Do we have a faith that is open to growing and increasing? If not, we will lose it.

Join Fr. James Marchionda, OP in this Know Before You Go video for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. In our first reading from Deuteronomy, we learn that God's Law is already inside us. We don't need to go looking for it.
In the second reading from Paul's Letter to the Colossians, we hear of how Christ is the center of all things.
For a Gospel, we have the classic parable of the Good Samaritan, and are confronted with the question of who is our neighbor today? If it is the one in front of us in need, it seems as if the answer in the United States is the recent immigrant. What should we do about that as faithful Christians?

God placed his hope in Abram, and so Abram placed his trust in God. Even when we head down the wrong path, God still hopes in us with unshakable confidence. Find that hope in yourself today so that you can place your own trust more firmly in God, no matter the challenges.

John the Baptist was created by God blessed with a particular mission and wonderfully made to be able to carry out that mission. You and I are also called to great things and greatly gifted by God to be able to carry them out. Ponder that today.