Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

A Word of Hope

18 May • The Kingdom of God within the Empire

A Word of Hope

As we finish the Book of Acts, Paul proclaimed Jesus as Lord in the center of the Roman Empire, where Caesar was proclaimed to be Lord. You and I have the same task living in modern empires.

Based on Acts 28:16-20, 30-31

When we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him.
Three days later he called together the local leaders of the Jews. When they had assembled, he said to them, ‘Brothers, though I had done nothing against our people or the customs of our ancestors, yet I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. When they had examined me, the Romans wanted to release me, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case. But when the Jews objected, I was compelled to appeal to the emperor—even though I had no charge to bring against my nation. For this reason therefore I have asked to see you and speak with you, since it is for the sake of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain.’
He lived there for two whole years at his own expense and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

(New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org)

A Word of Hope with dove

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:

  •

    30 Nov • Feed your faith

    On the Feast of Andrew the Apostle, we hear of Andrew's initial call, when he dropped his nets and immediately followed Jesus, and we are reminded to remember back to the time when we first heard The Call of faith and reignite those flames.
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    27 Nov • Text and context

    Jesus comments that, with two small coins, the widow donated more than all the rich people because she gave what she needed to live on. When we look at the context, Jesus clearly thinks this is a bad thing. When deciding right from wrong, do we pay attention enough to the context?
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    26 Nov • When did we see you Lord?

    Jesus tells the parable of the sheep and the goats, saying that when you did or did not do something for those in need, you did or did not do it to him. These days the needy are all around us. Will we do something? Elaine welcomed immigrant families into her home.

    Also, a reminder that our Provincial's Dinner is this coming Thursday, November 30, at the Union League Club of Chicago. To find out more, go to: https://www.opcentral.org/news/6th-annual-provincials-dinner or just email Fr. Scott at media@opcentral.org . This year we are honoring Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP, just back from the Synod on Synodality.
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    25 Nov • The family of God

    The Sadducees question Jesus about a woman who had been married seven times and died childless, which allows Jesus to talk about the Resurrection and our preacher to raise the further point that people without their own children can nonetheless be parents of many in the family of God.

    Also, a reminder that our Provincial's Dinner is this coming Thursday, November 30, at the Union League Club of Chicago. To find out more, go to: https://www.opcentral.org/news/6th-annual-provincials-dinner or just email Fr. Scott at media@opcentral.org . This year we are honoring Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP, just back from the Synod on Synodality.
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    24 Nov • We are temples of God's presence

    A Word of Hope by Fr. Andrew Carl Wisdom, OP.
    In today's reading, Jesus purified the temple. After the Resurrection, Christians themselves became the privileged temples of God's presence in the world. Living this out, acknowledging God's presence in ourselves and in others, will go a long way to solve the violence that plagues our world today.

    Also, a reminder that our Provincial's Dinner is this coming Thursday, November 30, at the Union League Club of Chicago. To find out more, go to: https://www.opcentral.org/news/6th-annual-provincials-dinner or just email Fr. Scott at media@opcentral.org . This year we are honoring Fr. Timothy Radcliffe, OP, just back from the Synod on Synodality.
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    22 Nov • Hearing the music

    If you saw only what the martyrs give up, it would make no sense. Yet they hear a beautiful song of which they are but one part, and the beauty of this song makes sense of every part, even their own deaths. Can we hear that greater melody?
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    21 Nov • Are we ready for the Lord?

    Jesus told Zacchaeus the tax collector that he would dine at his house, and to make himself ready, Zacchaeus gave half of what he had to the poor and promised to pay back anyone he defrauded four times over. Are there things we need to do to make ourselves ready for the Lord to come dine with us?
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    18 Nov • A God of Mercy?

    Jesus told his disciples the parable of the unjust judge who nonetheless rendered justice for the persistent widow out of fear. Is our image of God even worse than that of the unjust judge? What king of faith do we have in God?
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    14 Nov • Working through the aches and pains

    The Book of Wisdom tells us that God formed us to be imperishable, but as we get older and get aches and pains, we certainly don't feel imperishable. We need to work through the aches and pains and changes in our life to keep building up what is imperishable: the Kingdom of God.
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    10 Nov • Money for friends

    Jesus commends the unjust steward for being "prudent" with his master's money, getting himself out of his looming financial crisis. If only his own disciples could be so prudent about the looming spiritual crisis.
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    9 Nov • Every day grace

    On this Feast of the Dedication of St. John Lateran, we hear the vision of the Prophet Ezekiel of water flowing from the Temple turning the Dead Sea to fresh water. How can a trickle of water do this? By being constant, moment to moment, day after day, year after year. Such is God's grace to us, and such should be our gift of grace to those we meet.
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    8 Nov • Mercy in the midst of trials

    Jesus challenges his disciples not to look back, but to keep going whatever comes. To be Christian, we must find mercy and love in our hearts in the midst of trials, even if no one else respects that, for love and mercy is our call and our ultimate gift to the world.
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