Br. Joe Trout, OP recalls how the authorities of Jesus' day sought to trip him up by asking him trick questions, and how Jesus refused to play their games. In the same way, we should not feel a need to respond to people who are just looking for a fight.
Br. Joe Trout, OP unpacks the complex story of Jesus cursing the fig tree, wrapped around the cleansing of the Temple, with a note about prayer at the end. Confused? You won't be after today's episode of A Word of Hope: https://www.opcentral.org/hope
Br. Joe Trout, OP recalls how Paul and Barnabas were horrified for being worshipped as gods themselves, and asks us to think about how we define "success" in our own lives.
Br. Joe Trout, OP looks at the struggles in the early church to build a community that is just and effective, and asks us each to ponder our own roles in the present-day church.
Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for Good Shepherd Sunday, explaining how God protects us and frees us from sin so that we can join in the salvific work of God and have life more abundantly. Also, we enter into this state through Jesus, who is the gate, though the Sacraments.
Br. Joe Trout, OP ponders the meaning of not celebrating the Eucharist on Good Friday, a day in which the Church "pauses" from celebrating this sacrament so that we can ponder better the sacrifice that made it possible.
