Dominican Friars
Province of St. Albert the Great, USA

A Word of Hope

21 Nov • Pointing to God

A Word of Hope

In today's Gospel, Jesus says, "whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." His mother, Mary, lived in such a way as to always point to God rather than to herself. We should do the same.

Based on Matthew 12:46-50

While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’ But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ And pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’

(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)

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Every day the Chicago Dominicans offer "A Word of Hope" video to bolster our faith through these trying times. We welcome any feedback you have at hope@opcentral.org . You can see them all below, or you can see other preaching by a particular person by clicking on his name, and you can have them emailed to you each morning by signing up for our email service:

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    A Word of Hope for July 31, 2023

    Jesus's parables liken the Kingdom of Heaven to a tiny mustard seed that grows into a large bush and yeast, which grows to fill the dough. Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP points out that in both of these, the Kingdom grows from something small over time, so that we have to be patient and let the Kingdom grow around and within us.
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    A Word of Hope for July 29, 2023

    Martha, Mary, and Lazarus became such close friends of Jesus that their home was a refuge for him and set a context for one of his greatest miracles, the raising of Lazarus. Pointing to this reality, Fr. Yamil Samalot Rivera, OP encourages us to try to create such a close friendship with Jesus so that we might be able to be witnesses to the resurrection to a society that is so easily marred by death.
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    A Word of Hope for July 26, 2023

    The Israelites grumbled against God in the desert, and God heard them and sent manna. Fr. James Marchionda, OP thus reminds us to be honest in our prayer, praise when we can, and grumble when we have to, because God hears and responds to it all.
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    A Word of Hope for June 25, 2023

    The mother of James and John asked Jesus to sit at his right and at his left in the Kingdom. Fr. James Marchionda, OP asks us to think about what we ask God for? Is it riches and fame, or to be fruitful in our ministry?
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    A Word of Hope for July 23, 2023

    Commenting on the parable of the weeds and wheat growing up together, Fr. Brian Walker, OP reminds us that we all have choices, and as Christians, we need to make sure that our choices reflect our faith, lest we go astray and lead others astray as well.
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    A Word of Hope for July 22, 2023

    On the Feast of Mary Magdalen, Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP extolls how here close friendship with Jesus allowed her to endure his crucifixion and to be the first to experience his resurrection and receive the instruction to go out and preach about it. She can be a model for all of us, who are similarly empowered by our friendship with Jesus to go out and speak about his resurrection to those who need to hear the Good News.
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    A Word of Hope for July 21, 2023

    Moses did not feel himself worthy of the task God called him to, but God gave him the grace to do it. In the same way, Fr. Samuel Hakeem, OP reminds us that God calls each of us, sinners though we might be, and provides us with the grace to do the task God needs us to do.
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    A Word of Hope for July 19, 2023

    God called Moses in the Burning Bush and challenged Moses to trust that he would accomplish all that God wanted. In the same way, Fr. Scott Steinkerchner, OP asks us to trust God first, knowing that we might not get an affirmation that we are on the right path until our work for God is completed.
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    A Word of Hope for July 18, 2023

    Jesus said "woe to you" to those who witnessed his great deeds but did not heed them, so Fr. James Marchionda, OP reminds us to pay attention to the great deeds that people are doing around us each day, because these loving and often heroic actions of individuals are a living sign of our loving God.
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    A Word of Hope for July 13, 2023

    Joseph (of "The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat") was sold into slavery by his brothers, but when the tables were turned and they were in need, he forgave them. Jesus sent out the disciples telling them to take nothing with them, no sack nor extra pair of sandals. Fr. Brendan Curran, OP reminds us that we all tend to carry around a lot of baggage that we need to put down if we are do the Lord's work, and we particularly need to learn to forgive one another.
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    A Word of Hope for July 11, 2023

    In today's Gospel, we see Jesus caring for those who are suffering, because they are like sheep without a shepherd. Fr. Yamil Samalot Rivera, OP points out that Jesus wants to do something new to help them, and asks us if we are open to God working in new ways to heal the brokenhearted today?
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    A Word of Hope for July 10, 2023

    Fr. James Marchionda, OP advises us to take our troubles to God in prayer. God will answer them. Even if we do not get an answer just as we expected, but we will know that God is with us, helping. So bring your burdens to the Lord.
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    A Word of Hope for July 9, 2023

    Jesus tells us, "Come to me all who labor, and I will give you rest." Fr. Jim Marchionda, OP explains that Jesus does not promise to take away our burdens, but to lighten them. Our burdens might remain, but they will feel lighter with the help of Jesus.
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