Videos

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.

Explore the counter-intuitive connection between hope and vengeance in Catholic teaching. Br. Joe Trout explains how Jeremiah's cry reflects a deep trust that God is good and will not let evil stand unaddressed. Learn why this belief in divine justice, tempered by mercy, is crucial for maintaining hope in difficult times.

Join Br. Joe Trout, OP as he reflects on the readings for the Fourth Sunday of Lent and how God works to make us better people. Time and again we see in the scriptures that the people God chooses are not necessarily the best people. They are not perfect, but God works with them to fix their faults and make them into better people.

Jesus was led into the desert to fast for 40 days, and only at the end of that fast are we told that he was hungry and needed to resist the temptations of the devil. Lent is a time to prepare to resist temptation when Lent is over.

The prophet Isaiah exhorts us against malicious speech which revels in the evil in the world and tears people down. Instead, we should mourn evil and seek God's help in making it better.

Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings for the Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time, explaining how sometimes God's words are hard to understand, and sometimes they are hard to do. It is easy to turn our backs on the needy and on our opponents, but it is important to nonetheless live up to our call as Christians.

Readings: 1 Samuel 26:2, 7–9, 12–13, 22–23; 1 Corinthians 15:45–49; Luke 6:27–38

Herod had John the Baptist killed because he felt cornered by previous bad choices. Sin reduces our possibilities, leading us into one bad choice after another. Grace opens us up to see the infinite possibilities for the good that exist at any moment.

Jesus sent out the twelve two by two to proclaim repentance and to heal people. Most of us know something in us is not what we want it to be. This call of repentance is a joyful wake up call to us that Jesus is ready to help us overcome our own darkness.

Br. Joe Trout, OP breaks open the readings on this Sunday which celebrates the Word of God Sunday, in which the people of God realize how they had wandered far from the obeying the Word of God, and were struggling to come back. But in Good News, in the New Testament, Jesus offers us a new way to fulfill this calling together.

Readings: Nehemiah 8:2–4a, 5–6, 8–10; 1 Corinthians 12:12–30; Luke 1:1–4; 4:14–21