Br. Joseph Trout, OP

In proclaiming Mary as the Mother of the Church, we acknowledge that the Church is her son, Jesus, and all of us who are part of the church, are part of the Body of Christ and have God dwelling in us.
So we do not have to go looking for God, we can find God dwelling within ourselves.

In building the Tower of Babel, people were trying to wall themselves off from others and impose unity through force. That kind of unity never works and in the end always falls apart. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit united people by dwelling inside them, thus uniting each to God. This unity lasts unto eternity, and it also sends us out right now to encounter others rather than walling us off from them.

We often imagine a devout person passing away and entering a "heavenly reward" or peaceful, disembodied rest. Yet, in the Acts of the Apostles (cf. Acts 9:36-43), when the beloved and charitable Tabitha (Dorcas) dies, St. Peter miraculously raises her back to this life. Why would he do this if she was already destined for heavenly peace? Was it simply so she could continue her work?

What does it truly mean to receive the Eucharist? Br. Joe Trout, OP, explores Jesus' challenging words in John 6 about eating His flesh and drinking His blood. This Easter season reflection from "Word of Hope" highlights a key difference: unlike ordinary food, the Eucharist is the living Christ. Discover how receiving this divine life transforms us, makes us new, and is the source of our hope for resurrection. It's not just bread; it's the power of Christ's eternal life within us.

In this insightful homily, Br. Joe explores the Gospel of John (John 21:1-19), where the Risen Jesus appears to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. Why did Simon Peter go back to fishing? Br. Joe delves into the disciples' confusion after the Resurrection and how Peter returned to what he knew. Discover how this moment becomes a "second calling," mirroring their first encounter with Christ and commissioning them for a new ministry.

Discover St. Paul's profound insight: we don't just pursue God; we can pursue Him because He has already possessed us through His grace. Learn how understanding that our lives belong to God frees us to work for good without carrying the world's weight, trusting in His ultimate plan and the glorious inheritance He promises.